“Fuck,” I said with a grim smile. “I didn’t think he was all that great believe me.”
“You’d be right. I know him or knew him, I guess. I didn’t realize he was your manager since he’s never been on tour with you. Didn’t you wonder why he never showed up?”
“Yeah, but he said he didn’t need to, managers rarely do.” Joe nodded again. He looked like he was trying to decide how much to say. “What is it, Joe?”
He looked at me in the rearview mirror and then back at the road. “I’ll tell you what I told Cynda. I used to work for Symmetry and I knew Rod, in fact he’s Cynda’s dad’s manager or was before they fired him. He doesn’t really work for you, he’s a company man. He gets kickbacks to do their dirty work, bring on bands and getting them to signcontracts that aren’t in their best interest. I couldn’t handle it. I was a scout for them before, and I’d find these great bands and watch them get torn apart. So I left when my wife got sick.”
“Fuck. I should have known.”
“No, you shouldn’t have. Hell, he messed with established bands too, groups that should have known better. You’re young, starting out, you didn’t have a chance. Trust me. Cynda and I were going to see if we could find an attorney to help if you wanted out of the contract. She had some things she wanted to look into as well, but like I said yesterday, it’s up to her to tell you.”
I didn’t think it was possible for me to feel worse than I had when I came to talk to Joe, but I was wrong. We signed the contract because I said we should, and now I’d fuckin’ screwed us. At least now I had something to focus on, I’d get us out of this mess with Symmetry somehow, even if it took until after the tour. We’d worked too hard to throw it all away now.
Cynda…I promise you, I’ll fix this somehow.
“Joe? Did you get the name of the lawyer?”
“No, Cynda’s friend was working on it, since she was here with you.”
I nodded, knowing he could see me in his mirror. Thank God Flame and Michelle were still together. Obviously he was a lot smarter than me, but I had an idea, and I’d be making my own calls once the sun came up and it wouldn’t be to Rod Dixon that’s for sure. “Do you know Cynda’s dad? I mean could you get in touch with him?”
“I don’t know. I used to, but it’s been years. He probably wouldn’t remember me.”
“Could you try, once we get to Virginia and you rest? I have an idea but I’m going to need your help.”
“Sure, if I can you’ve got it. Why do you think I volunteer to drive you guys? I just didn’t like to leave my wife on the long trips but now that’s she’s gone…”
“I’m sorry, Joe. I had no idea.”
“Hey, don’t worry about it. We had a great life, I hope you can find a love like ours—I hope you all can.”
I was pretty sure I already had, but would I be able to win her back? If this idea worked, then maybe, but it was a long shot.
“Thanks. I’ll let you get back to driving.” Things might turn around yet. For the first time since I’d walked in on the cat fight in the suite I actually felt some hope. This had to work, please God, I’m not a praying man, but please just this once.
Back in the room, I pulled out my laptop and started researching attorneys and sent an email to Jack and Sally, explaining things and seeing if they could help. Jack had been in the business world a long time and he knew people who knew people, or at least that’s what he always told us. I was fucking counting on it now.
I also Googled Joe and was surprised to see all that came up. I can’t believe we never fuckin’ knew. He’d been huge, discovered tons of bands, including The Hurricanes. Preston Mitchell would remember him, you don’t forget the man who starts your career—too bad mine was Rod Dixon, I’d do all I could to fuckin' forget him when this was all over.
I did a bit more research on the computer, and then checked the weather for the show. It was going to be hot, but no rain, which was great since the Jiffy Lube Live was an outdoor amphitheater. I really hated playing in the rain. It fucked up everything.
Grabbing my phone I pulled up Twitter. I’d been checking it on and off since I’d found out about Sweets’ posts. It looked like the picture wasn’t showing up anywhere else, which was good, and he could have kissed her when he realized she hadn’t put Cynda’s name on the tweet, just that she was the songwriter for the record company. He knew Symmetry would be pissed but he hoped he could take care of that too. If he could make sure there was no fucking blow back on Cyn it’d be enough, even if she didn’t forgive him. She deserved to be happy and he didn’t know if he could keep from fuckin’ that up.
The music was still laying on the table. I spread it on the bed and grabbed my guitar going back to work on the song. It needed to be fucking perfect.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Cynda…
Ugh, seriously? The buzzing in my head was driving me fucking crazy, why wouldn’t it stop? Squinting at the clock I was shocked to see it was after ten and the buzzing was my phone ringing. Shit.
I cleared my throat a few times, trying to sound awake. “Hello?”
“Cynda Pearson, please.”
“This is she.”
“Please hold for Mr. Warner.”
