“You earned it. Now, I want to set the right expectations. This will be a demanding role, but it comes with a pay bump that should make it worth it. Since you’ve done so well with Last Rites, I have another artist that I’d like for you to focus for the next few months. The Mycophiles. They’re a very promising rock band from New Orleans. You’ll start with them next week.”
Next week.
It left me with just a few days to say goodbye.
Something told me they would be the hardest days of my life.
* * *
Mason and Kaz were waiting for me when I got home. I didn’t even get a chance to get my shoes off before the questions came.
“What the hell, Mol?” Mason demanded, his hair a mess on his head, as if he’d spent the past few hours dragging his hands through it. “Did you know they were going to pull you off our team?”
I sighed as I nudged my sneaker off with my other foot. “I didn’t know for certain, but it wasn’t exactly a surprise. Me helping you was always meant to be temporary.”
Kaz was leaning against the doorjamb, his feet crossed at the ankles. He wore a dark expression that told me he was just as angry as Mase. “Maybe in the beginning, but now we all realize this arrangement has to be permanent. We’re not leaving LA without you, Molly.”
Frustration began to bubble inside of me. “You’re kidding yourself if you think Trinity will send me on tour with you. It’s not even up to her. Errol will be the one making the ultimate decision, and I can guarantee you he won’t take your side.”
“There has to be a way for us to convince him. He can hire you directly.”
I scoffed and brushed past them on my way to the living room. “He’s not going to steal Trinity’s employee.”
Mason followed me. “He will if he wants us to sign the deal. Look, we’ll take care of it.”
I whirled around. Why couldn’t they see the impossibility of our situation? “I don’t want you to take care of it. Trinity just offered me the promotion I’ve been after this whole time. I’m not going to throw it back in her face for something that’s never going to work anyway!”
“What does that mean?” Kaz’s voice dropped low.
“It means that you just became superstars with one of the best deals I’ve seen in this industry,” I said, flinging my hands out. “Your life is about to change in ways you can’t even imagine. You’re going to be on a non-stop circuit of shows, studios, parties, signings, and God knows what else, and there just isn’t room for me in any of that.” I was yelling now, my voice shrill with frustration.
Kaz scowled at me. “That’s bullshit. You’re our priority. We will make it work.”
“No, we won’t! We’ve been together for what amounts to a tiny little blip in our lives. We don’t even know what this is, and you want me to leave everything behind to go on tour with you? I can’t do that.” Maybe there were those who’d take the risk, but all I saw was uncertainty. This promotion would finally allow me to feel secure in my life. I couldn’t throw it away.
“We’ll tell Errol we’re not touring until we’re ready for it,” Mason ground out.
“And if he says no, we’ll just have to find a better option,” Kaz added. “Fuck the deal. There will be others.”
Ice exploded through my veins. “You promised me you’d always put Last Rites first.”
“Goddamn it, Molly.” Kaz ran his hands over his face. “It doesn’t fucking matter.”
“Of course it does,” I hissed. “I am not going to be responsible for you blowing the best deal you can possibly get.” There was no way I’d be able to live with myself if they refused the deal on my behalf. I wasn’t going to be a burden on them or anyone else. “If you do something insane like that, I promise you, I will walk away. You won’t just lose me, you’ll lose your career.”
A tense silence filled the room. “Fine,” Mason said softly. “We won’t kill the deal. But what do you want us to do, Molly?”
I felt cold all over. “I want you to walk away from me. I want you to go on tour, live your lives, and make your dreams come true. I’m not going to stand between you and that.” I already knew what it felt like to keep someone I loved from chasing after their dream, and I’d sworn I’d never be in that position again.
Kaz was shaking his head. “This is bullshit. I thought we meant something to you.”
They meant everything. Which is exactly why I had to walk away.
I picked my backpack up off the floor. “I’m sorry.” My gaze caught on my hoodie tucked into the corner of the couch. At some point, this house had become my home, but I’d left home before. I could do it again.
“Screw your apology.” Kaz was looking at me with glassy eyes, his hands curled into fists.
“Molly, please,” Mason said numbly.
