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“Fuck no, don’t do that.”
Wolfe looked at Esme in surprise. “Why?”
“Because whenever she knows there’s a chance they’re being scouted, she freezes up and can’t perform. It really upsets her.” Esme turned to me. “So, you know, if you do plan to check her out, don’t say anything beforehand.”
I nodded, because I couldn’t speak past the bile rising in my throat. Stef definitely, absolutely, one hundred percent, had not known I was there to check her out for my label. Fuck. Fuck.Fuck!
CHAPTER 8
Stefania
Iwas doing okay; I guess. I mean, come on, it wasn’t like it was a soul shattering experience, and maybe I’d overreacted the morning after. And maybe I’d struggled a bit too much over the next few days to let it go, but I’d worked through all that, and Grayson Rivers was not a problem for me anymore.
I was fine. It was fine. Everything was fine.
Sitting at Jeb’s diner, with my bandmates, the weather outside matched my mood pretty well. Blustery, gray and a bit depressing. I fucking hated it when that happened. I needed a sunshiny day full of rainbows and unicorns, goddammit.
“Hey, Moretti, you gonna get that bug out of your ass anytime soon?”
Turning back to Miriam, I forced a smile. “Sorry. Just this weather is shit, you know.”
“I guess.”
“I like the cold.”
Fucking Evan and his eternal optimism. “You like everything.”
“Not true.”
“Yeah? Name one thing you don’t like.” At least Miriam was backing me up.
“Brussel sprouts.”
“No one likes Brussel sprouts. That doesn’t count.”
Evan was just about to say something else when Jen, our agent, walked into the diner. I watched as she made her way towards us, her usually business-like manner absent. In fact, she looked excited, almost giddy, and I felt a pang of curiosity. It was so unlike her. Jen was tall and athletic, with serious hazel eyes. Today, her dark hair was styled professionally, falling in soft waves around her shoulders.
As she squished into the booth next to Evan and Reggie, Miriam said, “Hey, that’s a great dress. Red really suits you.”
“Thanks.”
“Not used to seeing you in a dress, though, not gonna lie.”
Jen flicked her hair behind her shoulder and flashed us a wide grin.
“Welll, it might be because this is a special occasion. I have some really exciting news.” Her eyes darted around the table, taking in each of our faces as if she were trying to gauge our reactions before revealing what she had to say. “Boudica has been offered a recording contract.”
The air in the booth seemed to grow thick with anticipation as we all stared at Jen in disbelief. This was it - the opportunity we had all been waiting for. Worked so hard for. The chance to takeour music to the next level and reach an audience far beyond our current fan base. It was a dream come true, and I could see the excitement reflected in each of my bandmates’ faces as they processed the news.
“Are you serious?” Miriam asked, her voice shaking with excitement. “This is huge.”
Jen nodded enthusiastically, her eyes shining with pride and joy. “Yes,” she said. “It’s everything we’ve worked for over the past few years.”
“Who’s it with? Sony? Universal? Atlantic?”
“Nice one, Reggie,” Jen laughed, pulling a file from her briefcase. She paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. “It’s Flow Records.”
Miriam’s shoulders slumped. “Never heard of them.”