“I didn’t tell you this before guys, but I sent your original demo recordings to a friend of mine in New York. He passed it onto a radio DJ he knows, who played it on his show. It’s gone wild over there. They want you in the Big Apple as soon as possible.”
I take a step back, sobering up quickly. “Is this a joke?”
“Not a bit. New York City wants you guys. It’s happening for you.”
“This is a wind-up, right, Bern?” Max says, “It has to be! Our demo was crap quality.”
“I wouldn’t wind you up about something so important Max. I’m serious.”
Everyone in our little kitchen is silent. Even Dani is quiet. Eyes roam around the room as we try to take in what Bernie is saying, until Mum shouts at the top of her voice, “My boy is going to New York!”
“Oh my God, Mum. Are you drunk?”
“You’re going to New York Ashton and you’re worried if I’m drunk? Of course, I bloody well am. Now, where’s the rest of that Champagne? We need to celebrate!”
I grab Mum for a hug, then we dance around the room. Our tiny party explodes with excited hollers all over again. We’re jumping around in a circle, our arms around each other, acting like complete loons. We carry on, for what seems like hours, dancing, singing, drinking. When Tommy lets go of me to get another bottle of Champagne, I note the look on Cal’s face when Mum says to her, “They’re off to New York of all places. Can you believe what is happening?”
Shit. I’m over the moon she’s excited about this, but I wish Mum would pipe down a little. I feel like an idiot for nottaking Cal to one side straight away, but then, there hasn’t been a chance. We got swept up in the moment.
I break away from the circle, taking Cal's hand as I go. When we get in the hallway, I wrap my arms around her, and she rests her head against my chest. We stay this way for a minute or two.
“Wow, you’re going to New York, you lucky devil.”
“We’re going, you mean.”
She doesn’t answer and instead steers the conversation another way. “Bernie’s pretty excited, that’s for sure.” She smiles, but I have to confront what is really on my mind.
“I’m sorry Cal, I can see this is a shock for you, and believe me, it is for me too. I never expected anything like this to happen.”
“Don’t be sorry for being a success. You deserve this, Ash.” I sense how she swallows hard. “Look, before we talk about the nitty-gritty, you should get back in there and enjoy the moment with the people who helped make it happen.”
I pull back to take in her beautiful features, which is when I notice tears running down her cheeks.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing Ash, I’m just so happy. Happy for you, for them” She lifts her chin towards our party in the next room. “You must be floating on air.”
“I don’t know what I am.” I sigh, then run the pad of my thumb under her eye as a tear bursts against my skin. “Don’t cry Cal, this is good news.”
“Ash, this is so much more than just good news; it’s the best news. Honestly, I’m not sad. I’m all sorts of things, but definitely not sad. Promise.”
I believe what she says, but I also get a sense of what might go through her mind and where this leaves us. I’m nipping this one in the bud before doubt gets the better of her.
“Good, because you know this is just the start for us and I don’t mean the band, I mean you and me.”
She looks down to her hand now lying flat against my chest. “Let’s not talk about it now. I want to enjoy the night with your mum and the boys.”
“Yeah, yeah, sure. But I want you to be okay with everything first.” I duck down a little to catch her eyes. They glisten towards me, smiling back as she takes my arm.
“I’m more than okay, my boyfriend is about to go global. What girl could be sad about that? Now come on,” she says, pulling on my arm. “We’re missing all the fun.”
And that’s how we left it. From there, we danced all night, even spilling onto the street, singing, dancing and making a nuisance of ourselves until one of our neighbours threatened to call the police. Then, in the early hours, when the sun was lining an orange glow over our small part of the world, we went inside and partied some more.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CALLA
I’msure someone snuck into the house during the night, opened my head and left a hamster running on one of those annoying little wheel things. At least, this is how it feels. My head is spinning. There’s a heavy arm draped across my chest, and when I open my eyes, I see Ash’s pools of blue staring back at me.
