Page 112 of Your Play to Call

“She doesn’t hate it. Keep going.” Claire looks from me to Erik.

“Claire. Chill out.” She makes me laugh. I know she did it because I need a laugh. “She’s right. I’m intrigued. Who is the artist?”

Erik puts his hands on the table, starting a fake drumroll. He looks around the table for everyone to join in. Everyone plays along, except Claire. Not surprising.

“Asher Wilde.”

“You’re lying.” It’s the no-filtered reaction. Asher Wilde is one of the biggest musicians of my time. He’s older than me and hasn’t had new music or a tour in at least five years. He’s been off the grid.

“I am not lying.”

“What’s the catch, Ricky?” Claire asks.

“The catch is that they want music from the most recent toured album of Willow’s. She’ll be able to play new stuff. Really, creative controlwould be with Asher and Willow. The other is the timing. We’d have to cut the current tour we’re planning short to prepare.”

“How big are they thinking?” I ask.

“Massive. Stadium tours. All over the world. Spanning almost two years. We think it has the chance to be the most memorable tour, ever. They want the whole thing: full-stage design, high-dollar tickets and experiences, and the ridiculous costume budget. It would mean a much smaller rendition of the tour we’re currently planning.”

I can’t have both. I can have part of what I was hoping for with the new album, but not both.

“How did this come up?” Claire asks.

“Asher had someone slated and they backed out.”

“Why and who was it?”

“Don’t know but their loss is our gain.”

“When do you need an answer?” I ask the room.

“I can get you three days. They want to move fast and get things rolling. I have all the proposed dates and locations here.” He holds up a folder. “And, if you agree to it, we’re going to need a contract extension. You’ll sign for both on the same day.”

Three days. That’s barely any time. Doesn’t surprise me they’d put the contract on top of it. They don’t want to get screwed out of the revenue. This thing, whoever does it, will be legendary.

“Okay.” I reach for the folder. “I can give you an answer in three days. Now, the new album, how is it coming?”

As expected, everything is going smoothly. The songs are all being mastered and getting to their final version. I’m still playing around with album titles which is something that drives the label mad. I love to keep it secret, if I know it, up until the last minute. Or I want to give myself the time and freedom to find something that fits perfectly. The perfect title hasn’t hit me yet, but I know it will. It always does.

“Asher Wilde. Didn’t see that coming,” Claire says when we’re buckled into our car, Seth driving.

“He’s like, one of your idols, right?” Emilie asks.

“To be fair, he’s almost everyone’s idol. He’s an icon,” I reply.

I’ve waited to open the folder until it is only my team. I look at the dates and locations. They weren’t joking. This is three US legs, plus substantial international dates. There are chunks of tour where I wouldn’t see my house for weeks. Claire peers over my shoulder.

“This is bruuuuutal. But probably an opportunity of a lifetime,” Claire says, scanning the list of dates.

“Can I see?” Emilie asks. I pass her the folder. Her eyes go wide when she sees what we’re talking about.

“Thoughts?” I ask her.

“Really? You want to know what I think?”

“Of course.”

“Well, on one hand it sounded like the exact opposite of what you were trying to do, but on the other, it sounds like a once in a lifetime opportunity.” She flips through the rest of the pages. “Honestly, it might be a nice Tripp distraction.”

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