Under the Spotlight

by Angie Stanton

  She turned away and drank from her water bottle. This was going to be a long night.

  When she turned back again, Garrett was ushering everyone out of the control room, except for Logan and Darren.

  A minute later Garrett returned.

  “Okay, they’re gone, and I promise they won’t be back.”

  “I’m sorry I’m such a drama queen,” she said, her eyes downcast, embarrassed at needing everyone to leave. She couldn’t win.

  “You’re fine. I should have anticipated this. I’ve got Tim sitting outside the control room, so the only people in there will be your crew. Are you okay with that?”

  She rubbed her hands on her pants again. “I feel like such an idiot.”

  Garrett reached out and touched her arm. “Don’t. You haven’t done this in a long time. You’ve put in a ton of work.” His gray eyes settled on hers. “Riley, you have no idea how much I believe in you. You have an enormous talent, you’re beautiful, and everyone wants to be around you.”

  Her breath caught. He called her beautiful. Did that mean he thought so, too? But she didn’t care what he thought, she reminded herself.

  “I know you can do this, and even though the process can be grueling at times, I’m positive it will come out great.”

  She looked away, unsure how to respond to his generous words. He lifted her chin.

  “I mean it. Whatever it takes to help you relax, we’ll do. If you need anything at all, you tell me.”

  She nodded, wanting to hug him for understanding her psycho freak-out.

  “Now, if it’s okay with you, can I plug the mic back in, so we can work?” He smiled.

  “Yes.” She laughed, liking this new side to him.

  As Garrett returned to the control room, she took a couple of deep breaths to let off some stress and let go of the jumbled emotions Garrett had just stirred up. She wasn’t used to compliments and support from him. What the heck was she supposed to do with it? She slipped the headphones back on.

  Garrett’s voice sounded in her ears. “All right. We’ve cleared out the place and now we can relax and have some fun. Let’s start again, and this time we’ll play all the way through just for a warm-up. I don’t care if you make up lyrics about watermelons and warthogs or sing with a French accent.”

  Riley giggled. Darren and Logan smiled. Garrett had successfully washed away most of her anxiety.

  Logan cued the music, and she sang the whole thing through. It was far from perfect, but she loved the song and the beat, and felt much better about the whole process.

  “That was great. We’re going to start from the beginning and work through it phrase by phrase.”

  Now the real work began. Most people didn’t realize it, but music was rarely recorded start to finish. They worked through the song trying one line or phrase several different ways so that Garrett would have a variety of options when mixing the final song.

  They worked for three hours and took one half-hour break to eat burgers that Tim brought in. A few hours later, when her throat began to tire, Garrett called it a night.

  “Great work, Riley. You gave us some awesome stuff,” he said with satisfaction, leaning back in his chair and smiling at her.

  Logan gave her a thumbs-up.

  She sighed in relief at his compliment and felt a shift in her heart, as if something was now there that wasn’t before.

  40

  Garrett had to give Riley credit. The girl worked like a dog and never complained. That was unless she disagreed with him, which happened constantly. But if it came to long hours, or dozens of takes, she didn’t comment. Considering she was pulling double duty working on the Christmas album for half the night and then switching over to work with him, she must be exhausted. He wondered how long she could keep up this pace.

  Every time she entered the room wearing her corny Christmas sweater he smiled. Luckily, Jamie Halloway had taken a week off for a family event, which opened up Riley’s schedule and made their lives simpler.

  Riley was in the booth laying down tracks for the third song on the album. After her first-day jitters, Logan brought in a picture of a kitten and pinned it to the wall of her sound booth to cheer her up. Ever since then, everyone started bringing in different forms of distraction, from pin-up pictures of male models to a giant inflatable dinosaur. Garrett’s least favorite item was a life-size cutout of the Jamieson brothers, but Riley laughed so hard he let it stay.

  Riley was turning into a great partner. She was humble and funny, with an inner beauty he hadn’t noticed before. Everyone she worked with seemed to fall in love with her. It’s as if she wove some spell that drew people to her. Each day he looked forward to their banter. Riley was quickly turning into the most interesting girl he’d ever known.

  “Was that take better?” she asked after singing a phrase for the umpteenth time.

  “That’s exactly what we were going for. Nice job,” he said over the talk-back speaker.

  A soft knock sounded at the door. He looked to see Tara with a group of people. Tim, their runner, who Riley had allowed back in the room, opened the door.

  “Guests here to see Riley,” Tara said.

  “Riley doesn’t want outsiders watching,” Tim responded.

  “We’re friends of Riley’s. I’m her roommate,” said a girl with curly dark hair.

  “It’s fine. We were about to take a break anyway,” Garrett said, curious to meet Riley’s friends.

  In filed the girl and two guys. He had expected a group of girls. The presence of guys caught him off guard.

  The newcomers scanned the room, the high-tech equipment, and then stared through the window at Riley in the sound booth. Before Garrett could introduce himself, Riley spotted her friends and squealed, the sound amplified into the control room.

  “I think she’s glad to see you,” Garrett said to her roommate.

  Riley whipped off her headphones and flew out of the sound booth, past the dinosaur, and into the control room like a flash.

  “Erika, you’re here!”

  “You said you might not hate me if I came by, so I took a chance and brought backup protection.”

  “Hi guys.” Riley smiled, and hugged them all.

  Garrett wondered who they were and what their connection was to Riley.

  “You want a tour?” she asked.

  They all nodded eagerly.

  “Oh, I should introduce everyone,” she said. “This is Erika, her boyfriend Chad, and his friend Bennett. Meet Tim, he takes care of us, brings me caffeine, and does late-night nacho runs.” They smiled in greeting.

  “Logan, he’s working the control board for the first time.” He nodded his greeting.

  “Darren is our engineer.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Darren said. “I think I’ll step out and catch a smoke while we’re taking a break.”

  “And this is Garrett. He’s producing the album.”

  Their eyes widened.

  “Hi, nice to meet you,” Garrett said, standing to shake each of their hands, and sizing up Bennett, who couldn’t take his eyes off of Riley.

  “I’ve heard so much about you, I think I could write a whole piece for the Inquirer,” Erika said. Riley elbowed her in the side.

  He raised an eyebrow. What exactly had Riley said to her friend?

  “She’s kidding. I’ve barely mentioned you,” Riley said.

  Garrett laughed at her discomfort. “I’ll take that as my cue to leave. Nice to meet you all.” He was so used to having Riley all to himself that it was odd to see her with friends. He stepped out of the room, followed by Logan.

  “Do you think she’s dating that Bennett dude?” Logan asked.

  “I have no idea. He doesn’t really look like her type.” At least Garrett hoped he wasn’t. He didn’t like the idea of Riley hanging with some other guy, and it had never occurred to him before that she would, which was stupid, because she was pretty, smart, and a ton of fun.

  “If she’s not, it’s
not because he doesn’t want to. Did you see how he was looking at her?”

  Garrett grunted. “We’re back in ten minutes. Be sure to tell Riley.”

  “Will do.” Logan went back to break the news to Riley’s clan.

  Garrett didn’t want them getting too comfortable. He had an album to make.

  He took the opportunity to step outside and call his dad with an update. It was almost like having him here for the whole process.

  Fifteen minutes later, Garrett stepped back inside. Riley and company were in the reception area saying their good-byes. Bennett gave her a hug that seemed way too familiar for just friends. Garrett overheard Bennett talking to Riley.

  “I was wondering if you’d like to go out one night this week.”

  Garrett didn’t wait around to hear the answer. Why should he care what Riley did with her free time? But he did, and it didn’t sit well with him. Not that she had much time off. In fact, he could make sure she didn’t have any extra time in the next few weeks to meet with Bennett or any other guy.

  Several hours later Garrett glanced at Riley, relaxed on the couch in the control room, listening while he and the guys at the board did their thing. They had finished up with a studio musician laying tracks for the next song.

  After the bass guitarist packed up, Logan struck the minimal set in the recording studio and left to put the mics and equipment in storage.

  “See you tomorrow.” Darren waved as he and the guitar player took off.

  Garrett joined Riley on the couch, stretching his long legs out in front of him and leaning his head back with his hands behind his head. “It feels great to get out of that chair after so many hours.”

  Riley sat with her legs curled under her and her head resting comfortably on the couch. “Is it hard for you, not to be recording?”

  “Hmm?” He rolled his head in her direction.

  “You’ve recorded what? Four albums? That’s a lot. And now you’re not singing or playing at all.”

  “But I get to call the shots. I have total control over this album.”

  “Which I imagine is your perfect world. Controlling everything.” Her grin reached all the way to her eyes and lit up her face.

  “Of course.” He laughed to himself.

  “But what about performing? Why aren’t you playing guitar instead of hiring studio musicians? If nothing else, it would save money.”

  “Mostly because I want to concentrate on making the best album we can. I want to separate what’s business and what’s personal.”

  “That sounds like such a clinical approach. You’ve played guitar your whole life. Isn’t it strange not to?”

  He pictured all the hours he’d spent with his brothers and experienced a pang to his heart. “You know, I’ve only ever really played with them. Playing on anything other than a Jamieson album wouldn’t feel right.”

  “I think it would be awesome if you played guitar on my album. I mean, it sounds like you really miss it.”

  He sighed, reminded of the complicated relationship that he had with his brothers now. “I do miss it, but that’s my past. This is my future.” He waved his arm to indicate the studio. It had taken a while, but Sound Sync was beginning to feel like a place he belonged.

  “Do you talk to your brothers much?”

  “Nah. Adam’s traipsing through some jungle in Tanzania taking pictures, not that he’d call anyway. And Peter knows I’m still pissed at him for ending the best thing we ever had.”

  “That’s so weird that they would break up the band so suddenly.”

  “There was a little more to it than that. Peter developed vocal nodes. He even had to have surgery.”

  That was the first time Garrett had actually admitted there was more to the band’s breakup than just Peter and Adam acting like brats who wanted to quit playing Monopoly. It was such a relief to say the words. A heavy weight he hadn’t realized he carried seemed to lift away.

  Riley sat up. “That’s terrible. Is he okay?”

  “Peter’s fine now and can sing anytime, but he doesn’t want to. Says he’s tired of the breakneck speed we were working at, but in this biz you have to strike while you’re hot.”

  “Were you close with Peter and Adam?” She pushed a fallen lock of hair out of her face.

  “Yes and no. We spent practically every minute together for the past five years, and I mean every minute. We clashed a lot, probably because we never had much time to be ourselves. I’m a lot closer to my dad. I talk to him all the time. He’s the one constant I could always rely on.”

  “That’s nice. I wish I had that.”

  “Yeah, my dad gets me. He and I think alike.” Unlike his brothers, who complained that Garrett was an inflexible micromanager.

  “I think having control issues is an oldest child thing,” Riley said. “When you’re the oldest, you’re in charge of the younger kids. My younger brother’s always off creating a mess of his life, and my little sister is a sensitive dreamer who needs emotional support.”

  “I didn’t know you had sibs. Do they have ginger hair, too?” He took a lock of her hair between his fingers. He rolled its softness between his thumb and forefinger, and the strands caught the low light, glistening like spun gold. She didn’t pull away.

  “My sister’s hair is like mine, but not my brother’s. He’s lucky.”

  “I love the color of your hair. It’s so radical, especially now with your rocker stripes.” He released her hair, and it spilled over her shoulder.

  “You hated that I dyed my hair.” She pushed the stray locks behind her ear.

  “No, I was only trying to make a point.”

  “Don’t you mean, acting like a control freak?”

  “I wasn’t acting like . . . fine. I’ll let you have that one.” He laughed. Riley sure called things as she saw them. “Are you getting used to being back behind the mic?”

  She looked toward the sound booth. “I’ll confess, it was really hard to start singing after so much time, but it didn’t take long for me to love it again. And working in such an isolated way, without tons of people watching, and not having to worry that I’ll be sent home, actually makes the experience fun.”

  “I’m glad.” Watching Riley live up to her potential was intoxicating. So much talent in this average girl, who, he was quickly learning, wasn’t so average after all.

  “It’s kind of insane watching all these people come together to create music that will be my record. I’m a teeny bit sorry I gave you such a hard time about it.” She gave him a half-guilty, shy smile.

  “Aw, the chase was half the fun of it. Now that I have you, I expect we’ll do great things together.”

  And without thinking, he leaned forward and kissed her.

  41

  At first Riley seemed startled, but then she returned his kiss, igniting a flame inside him. He slipped his hand through her silky hair and cupped the back of her head. He paused and her breath warmed his cheek. Her blue eyes opened. Was it wonder he read in their depths, caution, or desire? He lowered his lips to hers once more.

  Logan burst through the door. “Hey, Garrett, you have a message—”

  Riley sprung away from Garrett’s arms, and into the far side of the couch, as if scorched.

  “Oh shit!” Logan looked away.

  Garrett wanted to tell him to get the hell out, but one glance at Riley’s embarrassed blush proved their private moment had passed. He rubbed his temple. “What is it, Logan?”

  “Geez, sorry, man.” Logan shifted on his feet and held out a pink slip of paper. “I found this phone message taped to the door. Something about the opening act at House of Blues is all yours for Thursday night.”

  “Are you performing at the House of Blues?” Riley asked, having found her voice.

  “Of course not,” he replied.

  “Well, if you’re not opening, who is?” Logan asked, then realization dawned on his face. “Oh.”

  Garrett silently swore at Logan’s disastrou
s timing. They both turned to Riley.

  “What?” She looked at him.

  He’d planned on telling her soon, just not right after she’d enchanted him into kissing her. Now was as good a time as any. He cocked his head. “It’s your stage debut.”

  “No! You did not do this to me again!”

  “It’s exactly what you need right now. You’re ready.”

  Riley popped off the couch, putting distance between them. “Spill it. I want all the details.” She crossed her arms defiantly.

  “I’ve been working with House of Blues to get you back onstage. You’re only performing two songs. No big deal. You’re the opening act for Amnesia.”

  “No!”

  He loved how her cute little nostrils flared when she was mad. “I know you’re nervous, but trust me, you’re ready.”

  “Are you out of your freakin’ mind? I’m not ready, and I’m not doing it.”

  Garrett stood. “Yes, you are. We have the next few days to rehearse, but think about it. You’ve basically been rehearsing for the past week. You know the songs inside and out.”

  “I don’t care. I didn’t sign up for this. I signed up to record an album, nothing more.”

  He slid his hands in his pockets and leaned against the edge of the control board. “That’s not exactly true. You signed a contract to record an album, promote it, and tour.”

  “What!”

  “It’s all in the contract.”

  Logan whispered to her, “You didn’t read the contract?”

  “No. I didn’t read it. It was twenty pages long. The attorney guy said that everything was standard.”

  “And it is. Promoting a record and a tour are standard. It doesn’t do much good to make a record and then walk away.”

  Riley stared at him, her stubborn chin set. He felt a twinge of regret at the timing, but it couldn’t be helped. “Jamie Halloway is out of town for the next few days, so your schedule is wide open.”

  Silence filled the room. Logan looked everywhere but at Garrett or Riley. Garrett wished Logan would go away so he could talk privately with her.

  “You are horrible.” Riley turned to leave.

  Garrett caught her by the arm, but her dark, angry eyes warned him to release her.