“I’m so fucking excited for you! I can’t wait to hear it. When can I?” she asks.
“It’s finished. If Sarah trusts you, so do I. Let us make a digital copy, and we’ll send you one soon.”
She does a little happy dance. “Can’t wait.”
Adam laughs as he walks away, leaving me more alone with Maggie. We stare at each other, both not needing to say a word. She knows how big this is for me, how long I’ve wanted it.
Another tear slips down my cheek when she says, “Love you, girl.”
I blow her a kiss. “Love you too.”
“Go back to your rock-star hottie. Call me later.”
“I will.”
We hang up, and I inhale a deep breath, trying to calm the absolute glee running through me.
Adam wraps me in his arms, tightly holding me. “I’m proud of you,” he whispers with his lips pressed against my forehead.
I bury my head in his shoulder, holding him tighter. “Thank you for doing this. Thank you for including me. You have no idea what this means to me.”
His hand runs down my hair. “But I do. Music has been my healing too. I’ve felt those same feelings. Allow yourself to enjoy it.”
“What happens now? Are we going to actually do something with it?” I ask, making him chuckle under his breath.
“Of course we are. I’ll send it to my record label, get their feedback on what we have going here, and hopefully, they’ll press for more. Jack and I have a few other songs we worked on that day.”
My glee fades instantly when reality comes back full force. I close my eyes, trying to remember why I’m here, why I’m doing this.
I have to have faith …
I wince when I ask, but I need to know, “What if they don’t like it?”
“Then, we put it out anyway on social media and YouTube. Let the fans tell us themselves what they want.”
I pull back to meet his eyes. “Seriously?”
His shit-eating grin tells me all I need to know. “Hell yeah, I’m serious. Do you know how many views our songs get daily on YouTube? We don’t need the record company to help us. It’s just a courtesy really at this point. At least, that’s what my manager said.”
I step back, surprised to be hearing this. “You already talked to your manager about me?”
He pulls me back into his chest, and I feel it shake with his laughter. “Yes, I’ve done this a time or two before. The only difference this go-around is you.”
“That’s a big difference though.” I try to pull back, but he keeps me up against him.
“Nah. They’ll love it. Just like I do.”
I give in, holding him tighter, letting the moment sink in for just a little longer.
* * *
I’ve been floating high ever since we got back to his place. That is, until I heard a ring over the intercom of his front gate. I glance at the camera system, and when I see my sister’s car parked out front, I almost drop the glass I’m carrying.
Adam turns to me, concern written all over his face when he sees my reaction. “I take it, you know who this is?”
I inhale and set the glass down. Of course she would show up. I’ve been ignoring her calls, but I never thought she’d have the nerve to show up at his place like this. I know she’s here to try to make peace, but some things just can’t be obtained. It’s time I be the person I want to be.
I close my eyes, inhaling, readying myself to be on the defensive. “Yes. Give me a second.”
