“Are you with Mackenzie?” Jessica asked, all business, no holiday.
“Yeah.” Tucker glanced to her.
“I’ve been trying to reach you since yesterday,” Jessica continued.
It’s not like Tucker had any reason to be in contact with his manager over Christmas.
“My cell’s been off. It’s Christmas. I’m enjoying the family,” Tucker responded. Though, truthfully, he’d mostly enjoyed Kenzie.
“Go someplace she can’t hear,” Jessica directed, like this was a CIA spy call.
Tucker’s stomach pitched, and not in a good way. What the hell was going on?
“Sure.” Tucker stood and headed for the kitchen. “What’s up?”
“Mackenzie told Eileen you’d do a song for a movie. Signed a contract with the studio that says once you agree, she gets lead credit.”
That was what she was getting at in the truck. And back at the premier. None of this was real. This was Kenzie using him to get her way. To advance her career.
“That doesn’t sound right. I think you’re mistaken.” Although, in all the time he and Jessica had worked together, Jessica had never been mistaken.
“She didn’t mention doing a song for a movie?”
Well, yeah, she had.
“I don’t think it’s like that.” God, he hoped it wasn’t like that.
He walked to the doorway and glanced to Kenzie. She looked up, her expression concerned.
He did his best to appear relaxed. Even crossed his ankles and leaned against the doorjamb.
“Got a copy of the contract right here. Says she’s got until the new year to get you on board. Rumor has it, she went to Colorado to get under your skin. Make this happen.”
“Who sent it to you?” Tucker asked.
“I’ve got people watching all corners of the industry. It’s my job.”
“You’re sure?” Of course she was sure. This was Jessica.
“I’m sure.”
“Thanks for the heads-up.” Tucker turned off his phone. Stared at Kenzie while she laughed at something his sister Cassidy was saying.
The room went from warm and happy to a slow-motion massacre. The massacre being to his heart.
Kenzie glanced to him again. Her eyebrows puckered. “Tucker?”
She’d probably said his name, that’s what it looked like she’d said. But there was no sound in the room right then. Not for him. Not when his world was flipping upside down.
“Kenzie.” He was going to ask her. Right here. This involved his family, too. They deserved to know if she’d done this. “Jessica said she has a contract you signed with Eileen that says you’re only here to get me to agree to write a song for her movie. Is that true? Is this all pretend?”
There. He’d asked.
Kenzie froze. Her eyes got big. Her mouth fell open, but she quickly caught herself. She licked at her lips and turned to his mother, who looked as confused as Tucker felt.
“Tell me it’s not true,” Tucker continued.
Please, God, let her tell him it wasn’t true. That Jessica had fucked up.
