"It's me, and I agree. Here's the deal. Dimefront goes on tour in three weeks," Hans said, looking only at Maya. "Sami Jo was their opening act, but she's now unable to perform."
Sami Jo was married to the Dimefront drummer, and she was a pop star in her own right. She'd had a breakout song about mozzarella sticks as a teenager, avoided all media for ages, and then broke back onto the scene when she and the Dimefront drummer connected. She was a big fucking deal.
"Sam will still be on tour with us, but not in a professional capacity," Hans added in that way managers do when they don't want to share too much information about a client, but you know the intel they've got is probably gossip worthy.
"Sam's pregnant, and she's taking it easy," Brek said, his hands folded behind his head. "Just tell her, Hans; she'll see for herself soon enough."
Hans gave Brek a look like he wasn't pleased with the interruption. "We've put feelers out for a replacement act, and given your popularity, I think you should take the job."
"You're offering to head my management team?" Maya asked, before Hans could say anything else. "Because I have some terms of my own that I'd like to bring into the mix."
Elliott looked at her like she'd lost her mind. But I had faith.
"I may be considered an overnight sensation, but I assure you I've been doing this long enough to know what I'd like in representation." Now, it was her turn to lean in and take control of the meeting.
Hans sat up a touch straighter.
Brek seemed to enjoy this turn of events, what with his shit-eating grin.
"I don't want to agree to something like a tour without understanding how it fits into the entire fabric of my career. Too many times, artists are a one-and-done because they don't have a long-term plan." She didn't even blink as she continued, "I am not a one-and-done."
"No, no, you're not." Hans steepled his index fingers under his chin. "I've got some ideas for you. I think you'll like them, but launching with Dimefront is not a bad way to kick off your solo career."
"I know. It's likely the best way. I just want to ensure that I'm not only filler. That we're working toward the same goal," Maya said.
"I'll make some calls to my record label guys. With Hans on board, they'll take good care of you," Brek said. "Let's see if we can get the gears rolling on that before the tour starts."
Elliott lifted an eyebrow, but his wry smile gave him away.
"This sounds… this sounds perfect," Maya said, sliding her gaze to meet mine.
I might've been grinning like an idiot, but damn, I was proud of my wife.
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
MAYA
Given the abundance of animals out in the world, the insistence from his management that Sloan please not say anything that could be twisted, and my resistance to being ambushed in public, I hadn't spent a lot of time outside the house lately.
But tonight was Sloan's first pre-season game as a married man at Stallion Stadium. Of course, I was attending.
Angela even flew in for the game. Seeing as Angela wasn't a football fan, I was pretty sure she was only there to check on me.
That was nice, though, because I'd be checking on her, too, if the situation was reversed.
I'd arrived early with Sloan and hung out with Angela and Elliott until the game started. That was something I never actually thought would happen. Willingly hanging out with Elliott, I mean. But he wasn't the same as he used to be. He was actually down to earth, and well, I owed him for helping me out with the management sitch.
He finagled it so Angela and I didn't even have to sit in the stands, nabbing us an invitation to stay with some of the team's significant others in their special suite high above the field. The suite was air-conditioned, had private bathrooms, and a freaking phenomenal view. The signed jerseys and signed faded photos from past seasons were a very nice touch and added a nice ambiance.
I approved.
The best part of the suite was the small buffet table at the back with the usual game day snacks you'd expect at a stadium: popcorn and hot dogs with soda and beer. I brought my own ZipZing because those things were fire. I might have an addiction to them, but I was okay with it.
"Girl, you are here, and I cannot even handle how you're breaking the internet on the daily," Nisha gushed as she slid beside me, linking her arm with mine. She was clearly taking me under her wing. Which, let's be honest, I needed.
"I'm so glad to see you." I leaned into Nisha's arm, grateful for her support, and made the introductions with Angela.
"Why do you look like you're lost?" Nisha asked me with a warm smile. "These are your people. I promise you that. We're all in this together."
