He paused. “What can I do to help now?”
She looked at Rory. “You could takeyou-know-whoto the b-e-a-c-h. I think he’s depressed.”
Rory hadn’t been to the office in weeks and had been sulking around the apartment.
“Who wants to go to the beach?” Cary held up his leash.
Rory sprinted to the door like,Well? Let’s go already.
A chime sounded from Tyler’s phone. She glanced at it, then gasped.
“Oh my god.”
“What?” Cary spun toward her.
“Yestown’s song was the most added at radio this week!”
“Really?”
“It looks like you might get that number one.” She was already texting. “I have to tell Kim and Allie.”
“I’m happy for them,” he said. “But—”
“There’s abut?” She looked up from her phone.
“I want my own number one,” he said. “I’m recording Bert’s song. The Christmas one. I want it ready for the holidays.”
“I didn’t realize you were releasing it as a single. I thought you hated playing other people’s music.”
“It’s not a cover. It’s never been released.”
She blinked into manager mode. “My dad doesn’t have a publishing deal. I don’t even think that song’s registered.” She grabbed her phone again. “I’ll set him up with ASCAP and talk to your publisher about a single-song deal.”
Cary smiled. “What would I do without you?”
She shrugged. “Hopefully you’ll never have to find out.”
Reggie told you to put a ring on it.
By the time Cary and Rory had returned from the beach, Tyler’s bedroom was packed. Her life seemed small stacked in cardboard boxes, but the lack of space and budget had forced her to downsize with every move. But it was fine by her since she hated clutter and tchotchkes and non-functional items. The only stuff she kept, other than her clothes and toiletries, were the photos of her family, an impressive vinyl collection, and a signed edition ofAll You Need to Know About the Music Businessby Donald S. Passman.
“Good job,” Cary said, admiring the boxed-up room.
“How was your walk?” she asked.
“Great. Sorry we took so long but Rory had to say hi to everyone. It’s funny, when I’m walking him no one looks up.” The light shone through the window at a perfect angle, catching the gold specks in his eyes. “I feel well-rested, like a normal person,” he added.
“Just think about how you’ll feel after August,” she said. “Are you sure you won’t get bored?”
He shook his head. “I’m going to write and get back into taking pictures. Putting this exhibit together has really piqued my interest. But I haven’t asked . . . will you miss it here? I mean, I know you won’t miss Vancouver’s hockey team.”
“Only the weather and truffle popcorn,” she said. “Oh, and Vij’s, I suppose.”
“We can get Indian food in Winnipeg, and we’ll find you truffle popcorn,” he said. “Any regrets about moving here?”
“None,” she said. “If I didn’t come here I wouldn’t have you—or Rory, for that matter.”
Vegas and Kim arrived later, and he loaded the U-Haul while Tyler checked her apartment to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything. She stood in the middle of the empty living room and took one last gander.
