Page 21 of Worth the Fight

I stare at him as he tosses back the amber liquid, and the sights and sounds of the bar buzz around us. He doesn’t give me more than that, and I accept it without prying further.

“You want to tell me why Jett was speaking about you as if you were still together?”

I sigh and finish off my drink. “Our agent wants us to keep our split under wraps.”

“You have the same agent?”

“Yeah.” I snort. It sounded good at the time to have the same one. I can only hope that’s still the case once this project is done.

“Why would they want you to keep quiet?” He looks as confused as I felt when Ava made the request.

“While Jett’s bad-boy reputation may play well with his audience, the label isn’t too fond of it.”

“Why do they care so long as he sells albums?”

“Selling albums is one thing. Being manageable is a whole other matter. Jett is far from manageable. When an artist has a hard time recording an album, let alone promoting it, because his antics get in the way, it’s a problem.” I sigh. “Temper tantrums where he’s trashed the studio when a song isn’t working. Refusing to show up and record a song because I’m not in town to be there. It’s just⁠—”

“He sounds like a real winner, Dylan.”

I glare at him, feeling like I’m being judged while justifying in my mind that he doesn’t know Jett like I do. He doesn’t understand him. And then I roll my eyes at myself. How stupid does that even sound?

“There’s a part of him that’s all image. Then there’s the guy he was before he hit it big.”

“Uh-huh.” He doesn’t sound convinced. “So where do you fit in all of this? Why does your agent need you to keep up the charade?”

“Because I was told I ‘soften’ his image. I’m the only one who tames him. The label knows I’ll deliver. The producer will work with me, not Jett. Ava fears that if they know we’ve split, they’re going to delay or table the album like they threatened to from the get-go.”

“So let them table the album. Maybe he deserves to be taught a lesson,” Grady says, giving the most logical commentary .

“I’m not sure anything will change him. It’s obvious he hasn’t learned from any of the repercussions he’s faced before, but when he’s punished, I’m punished. Tabling the album would damage my career and livelihood too.”

“How so? It’s not your fault he’s unmanageable.”

I think of the contract Ava constantly reminds me about. I think of the billing statement in my inbox from the rehab center. I think of this surreal bubble bursting that I’ve actually made it in this business when Jett fucks up and the album isn’t delivered on time.

But I don’t say any of those things. Instead, I toy with the edge of my cocktail napkin and refuse to meet his eyes.

“You know you don’t owe him anything after what he did to you, right?”

“You’re right. I don’t.” I mentally shake myself from my thoughts. “I sound like a doormat agreeing to our agent’s request, but I assure you, I’m not.”

“You’re the furthest thing from being a doormat, and yet . . .” He lifts his eyebrows as if he’s disappointed in me. It’s a look so very similar to one my brother would give that it has my back straightening.

“Look, I’m not proud that I misjudged him. I’m not proud that I agreed to pretend to still be with him.” I take a sip of water before I look up to meet his eyes. “What I am proud of is that I’m a damn good songwriter, and I have the reputation to match it. I’m proud the label knows it can depend on me to deliver the songs it asks for, quality songs, as well as songs for their other artists. The last thing I want to do is jeopardize that relationship because of Jett. I’m between a rock and a hard place, and the only way to survive is to try to climb up using the only hand I have extended to me. Swallow my pride and pretend for a little while, so in the end, I’m the one who wins. I come out with songs that will net me royalties, and I get to keep the door open to keep my career going beyond him.”

He stares at me for a beat, and the intensity of those aqua eyes bearing down on me makes me shift in my seat.

“You finish the album with Jett, then what?”

“Long-term? I sell songs to other singers. I make a name for myself beyond Jett’s cowriter.” I shrug. “But for now I need to get through this current mess.”

“And you think you can do that and come out the other side unscathed?”

I angle my head and stare at him, hating being questioned but knowing it’s a valid point. “I can play the game that needs to be played while at the same time protecting my heart. But it doesn’t make seeing the things he said in that interview any easier. All the things he never said to my face but that I needed to hear.”

“I’m sure it’s brutal.”

“It’s hard not to feel like a coward for heading for the hills, but I couldn’t stay.”