“Hallway’s fine, baby. I’ll do it,” he says, coming to wrap his arms around me and give me a kiss. “But I wasn’t joking about your book cover. It’s hot. It is,” he says when I roll my eyes. “And you should be prouder of that than the albums.”
I am proud. We’ve had it pretty good the last three years. We were able to buy our new, but modest home, with the necessary privacy our life demands. The band has become a household name, and I got a book deal for the memoirs I wrote, chronicling what it was like to navigate a new career, new life, and new marriage all at once. It even made the best seller list. Not the top of it, but who cares, and I’ve managed to turn it into a successful weekly blog. Because of that, I was able to quit copywriting, yet I still have the freedom to work when and where the inspiration strikes me. It works out so well when you travel with your musician husband… a lot. With every album, there is a tour to promote it, which means they are headed out again soon. And like always, I’ll join them a couple of weeks in. It’s always a rough few months, but we learned enough from the first time on how to make it work and come out the other end with love and appreciation for each other. Road life is a tradeoff we can live with. There are no other complaints.
Well, maybe one.
As I’m sure you’ve guessed, Turn it Up has long since achieved Gold status at the label. When they got really big, agents started sniffing them out. While Ron has stayed on as their manager, they’ve gotten too big for him to do that along with handling the PR, so when Eli Costa, the biggest, most successful agent in the industry came knocking, Ron strongly urged the guys to sign with him, hardly giving it a second thought. While the band loves him, the guy makes my skin crawl.
He’s always got a woman, or women around, which isn’t necessarily what bothers me. He’s just kind of a cliché big shot in that light. It’s the way he looks at girls that makes me clench, like they’re a special treat, just for him.
I try not to say anything and keep it to myself, because he is damn good at his job. He has booked the guys some seriously coveted gigs and appearances, getting them an abundance of positive attention, and the numbers speak for themselves. Their last tour sold out twice as fast as the one before Eli came along. He even scored them the job of writing and performing the anthem for the next upcoming action flick, which the guys are all over the moon about. I’m so happy and thankful for it too, truly. But still, I stay out of his presence if I can help it.
“What are we going to hang on this wall then?” I say, turning one corner of my mouth down in a half frown.
“I’ve got an idea,” Jack says, releasing me and going back to the garage. When he comes back in, he’s carrying a poster sized frame himself. I can’t see the picture as it is turned in toward him, but it’s large, probably 20x40 inches or so. When he turns it around so I can see it, I gasp so loud you’d think I’d just been under water, as my hands come up to my mouth.
“Jack!” His name is muffled in my hands. I bring them down to my chest so I can speak. “Oh my God, where did you get this?” I ask, completely bewildered.
It’s a blown-up photo of our proposal spot. Our hilltop, the grass blowing in the breeze with wild flowers scattered all throughout. It looks exactly the way it did the day Jack asked me to marry him. All gorgeous, yellow and hazy in the afternoon sun.
“I saved it on my phone. We were taking pictures, remember?” he says, stepping behind me. He puts his arms around me, and brings his lips to my shoulder, working his way up the side of my neck. I do remember. We had taken quite a few pictures of our adventure that day.
“Jack, this is so sweet…” I don’t know what else to say. I feel like I’ve been engulfed in another one of those warm, soft waves that Jack never fails to make me feel. Bring on the tour buses, the paparazzi, the crazy fans… and all the adversity that comes with them. As long as Jack and I have each other, I don’t think any of it can touch us.
Jack
I knew Mayzie would love this photo. That’s how she is. While I’d give her the world, it’s the simple things that make her happy. And I think I wanted this picture in our home more than she did, so I can always be reminded of that moment she said yes to a life with me.
If I had to make a choice between Mayzie and the music, it’d be her every time. But one of the most incredible things about her is she’s always trying to make sure I don’t have to choose. After three years, I still love her so much it hurts. I will never let her go. I will never let anything come between us. And I will always keep her safe.
The End…for now
Acknowledgments
To the exceptional author, Carian Cole. You helped people like myself that were thinking about writing a story and gave them a place where they felt like they could actually do it. You offered yourself as a mentor and a beacon to me and other aspiring writers, and every piece of guidance has been gold. Your books will always be on my shelf and your words always in my mind.
Katy Nielsen, my editor. Your work on this story gave me the confidence to put it out into the world. Thank you for your work, your skill and your determination to help make this worth publishing.
My beta readers. Rachel East, thank you for taking the time to read through and give me a reader’s perspective. Your feedback was so valuable for this debut, and I look forward to sending you the sequel.
Amy Quennell, you and your skillful knowledge did wonders for the process of completing this story. Your advice, encouragement and friendship played a priceless part in helping me to make my work the best it can be. You’ve become my friend and a trusted member of my beta team.
Author Dyan Layne, you took me by the hand and led us both through this crazy underworld of writing. You’ve guided me, supported me, and have just plain held me together during this process. I know that in you, I’ve found a true friend and writing comrade for life. I cannot wait for “Serenity” and the rest of The Red Door Novels.
Linda and the rest of her team at Foreword PR, for all of your patience as you’ve guided me through the publishing and marketing process and for presenting this book so beautifully and working diligently to get the word out.
Lori Jackson, for being so gracious and patient through the process of giving this book a truly beautiful cover. For working with me and working your magic to help achieve my vision.
Cam, my husband, for supporting me from the moment I told you I wanted to write this book, all the way until the end. This could not have been written without you doing all that you do. Thank you for loving me and for giving me my babies.
And finally, to my readers. Thank you for picking up this book and therefore giving me a chance. I sincerely hope you enjoyed Jack and Mayzie’s story, and if you did, feel free to read on in their next installment, “Still Her.”
Love and gratitude to all of you. XO
Playlist
“Havana” - Camilla Cabello
“Dizzy” - The Goo Goo Dolls
“The Waiting” - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
“Thunderstruck” - AC/DC
“Radioactive” - Imagine Dragons
“Somebody Like You” - Pop Evil
“Love Bites” -Def Leppard
“Dark Necessities” - Red Hot Chili Peppers
“Superposition” - Young the Giant
“Make you Mine” - PUBLIC
“Sweet and Low” - Augustana
“Home” - The Goo Goo Dolls
“All That You Are” - The Goo Goo Dolls
Deleted Scene
Jack
“Get the hell out of here,” my sister says, frowning at me over her tablet as we sit at her kitchen table. I look up from the blank page of my notebook and crinkle my forehead in serious confusion.
“What?” Seriously, that came out of nowhere.
“I’m so sick of seeing that look on your face,” she drops her head back and rolls her eyes. “You’re depressing the shit out of me with your desolate notebook, and that look of frustration that I think has taken up pe
rmanent residence on your face.”
“Give me a break. I used to spew out lyrics like a faucet, and you’re welcome for fixing yours by the way,” I wave my hand in the direction of her kitchen sink while she raises her eyebrows and shrugs while I continue. “So when one day it just stops,” I throw my hands out to express my irritation, “it’s a little disconcerting. To have words flow out of you day after day, and then one day, just… nothing. And when you do try to write anything, all that comes out is garbage.” I run my hand through my hair in defeat as I look down at the notebook again. I swear, it’s mocking me.
My emotional declaration doesn’t faze her. Much. But I can tell she’s sympathetic when she sighs and says, “I know how frustrating that must be Jack, but could it be because you’ve been doing nothing but work, sleep, and stew over your notebook?” Sarah watches so many reruns of Friends she sounds like that Chandler guy without meaning to. “Think about it, you do the same thing every day. It’s gotten mundane and your brain doesn’t know what the hell to do with itself,” she returns her gaze to her tablet as if to signify she’s right, and that’s all there is to it.
“That’s my life! What do you want me to do? Go to an amusement park? Or go bungee jumping?” I’m being cynical, and she doesn’t even blink at it.
“Something.” She shrugs, still looking at her tablet. Eventually she looks up and her expression softens. “And that doesn’t have to be your life. Start with just getting out of the damn house and go from there. And by out of the house, I don’t mean out of mine and then straight into yours.”
“Alright, fine.” I drop my hands and switch my tone to one of petulance. “I don’t need to take this abuse anyway,” I say standing, jamming my phone in the back pocket of my jeans. I reach for my notebook but she snatches it away before I can grab it. She gives me a look, arching an eyebrow. “Fine,” I say again, waving her off as I turn and walk out of her house.
See Her (Turn it Up Book 1) Page 30
