“Do you want to come?” He offers me his hand.
I interlace my fingers with his and we climb into the car.
We arrive at the studio and Amy’s fuming when she spots me. I hold my head high and enter with Sully.
Charlotte sits on a stool next to the producer as Ben and Lars lounge on the couch.
“Hey, Veronica.” Charlotte greets me with a hug and ushers me to the soundboard. “You have to hear this track.” She motions for the producer to play something. He nods and music starts. The song is heavy and the lyrics deep, about being lost in a world you don’t understand.
“Wow. I love it,” I say once it’s over.
“Thanks. It’s going to be the first single off the new record.”
The door opens again and slams closed. When I look over my shoulder, the temperature in the room drops twenty degrees. Gigi shrugs out of her black fur coat and tosses it at Lars like he’s part of the furniture.
“Great. She’s here early,” Charlotte mutters.
“Why is she here?” I whisper.
Charlotte rolls her eyes. “Amy and her PR games. Talked Gigi into singing on one of our new songs and dragging poor Sully to the award show tonight.” She grimaces. “I’m sorry. I said Sully should take you, but—”
“It’s fine. It’s for the upcoming tour. Nothing personal.”Right?
Gigi spots Sully sitting in the corner on a stool with his guitar. He’s been holding it silently as if he didn’t make a sound, he’d turn invisible.
“Sully! There you are.” Gigi floats toward him in her seven-inch heels like she’s walking on air.
He adjusts his guitar and strums the strings. “Hey. I’m tuning this and then I’ll be ready to play.”
She pouts and runs her thumb under the thin bra strap on her shoulder. Amy rushes to Gigi’s side. “Can I get you anything?”
Gigi blows a bubble with her gum and pops it loudly. “Coffee.” That’s when Gigi’s eyes fall on me. “Is that your job?”
I stiffen. “No.”
Amy waves a hand at me. “She’s nothing.”
Sully stands and sets his guitar on its stand. “Veronica is my guest.”
A ping hits my heart. What’s this weird feeling taking over me? Is this jealousy?
“Oh.” Gigi steals the seat next to the producer and scrolls through her phone. “Someone getting that coffee?”
Amy nods. “Yes. Right away.”
Charlotte touches my arm. “Don’t worry about her. She’s a diva.”
I nod and glance at the clock on the wall. “It’s okay. I need to be at work soon anyway.”
Sully cuts in, cupping my face in his hands. “I’m coming over after the show, okay?”
“I’ll see you then.”
He kisses me and I wave my goodbyes to the rest of the band.
I walk to the diner around the corner and ask Alice to come pick me up. As I lean against the brick wall, I glance up at the video billboard promoting the award show. To my surprise Scarlet Failure is on there with a bunch of other artists, including Gigi.
My insides feel hollowed out thinking of Gigi hanging on Sully tonight. I hate Amy and PR. I hate games to make sure bands get more exposure. And despite my best efforts, Iamfalling in love with Sully, and it makes me ill knowing my heart is placing itself on the chopping block once again.
