Page 14 of Strum Me

He’s got that goddamned right.

“But it is to please me,” Phil speaks up.

“So what am I here for?” I try to say lightly, not wanting them to hear my impatience.

“You’re here to accept your new assignment. Six weeks following the band, covering the launch of their new album and their European tour,” Phil says, without a hint of a joke.

“No,” is my immediate response, shaking my head. Over my dead, rotting, stinking body.

“Yes. It’s the kind of assignment you’ve been begging me for,” my editor says plainly.

“Abso-freakin’-lutely not.” My head shakes are double time now.

“Give me one reason why not.”

“Because I’d rather have my intestines sucked through my nostrils and then wrapped around my throat than be a glorified groupie.” I don’t add, “To my ex-best friend slash one-night stand.” It’s probably not pertinent.

“You won’t be a groupie, you’ll be reporting and writing an in-depth piece on the Rock Chamber Boys, music’s biggest stars right now,” Dennis says, seemingly oblivious to the ridiculousness of it all. But I know him. Even eight years ago he was wily as a fox.

“Says you,” I sneer.

“Says the two Grammys they just got, and an album they’re about to launch that’s going to get them their third one.”

I scoff, because it’s the closest thing I can do to show my disgust without having to lie and say they suck. The truth is, he’s probably right.

Fuck. Any other band and this’d be my dream come true. As it is, nightmarish would be the only way to describe it. Why them? Why now?

“Emily. This isn’t a chance I’m going to give you again,” Phil says, softly, but firmly. “This is it. And it’s perfect for you. The kind of article you want to write, about the music you want to write about. You have this unexplained chemistry with the band. Don’t give up this opportunity. I can’t say if it’ll ever come again for you.”

I know he’s right. I take a step back and take Dennis’s spot on the couch. Is there any way I can make this work? Can I just focus on the job for six weeks and then move on? Do I really want to regret not taking this assignment? My phone beeps and I look down. Notifications fill the screen, among them I see news headlines, “Journalist calls Grammy winners glorified cover band”; “Rock Chamber Boys Tainted Love Battle.” I can’t help but feel a thrill at the recognition.

“So. How ‘bout it?” my editor presses.

I know I should be thanking him. He’s been supportive of me from day one. So he should know why there is more than one reason why taking on this assignment is impossible for me.

“Phil…you know why I can’t go galivanting around Europe for six weeks at a time,” I say pointedly.

“I know, and we’ll do whatever needs to be done so you can make it work.”

“But—”

“No, stop thinking of reasons to say no. Just say yes.” Yes. Say yes, Emily, my head tells me.

“Exclusivity?” I ask Dennis.

“Well, we can’t stop other outlets writing reviews and even articles, but you’ll be the only one coming along for the tour.”

“I want total access.”

“Is that your way of saying yes?” Dennis asks, a smile starting to spread across his face.

I take a breath. And hope I don’t regret my answer. “Yes.”