Page 86 of Living on the Edge

“And you make money doing that?” Sam asks curiously.

“More than I’ll make working atRock Harder,” Ryleigh says.

“So why bother working with a magazine when you have your own thing going on?” Tate asks, cocking his head.

She hesitates.

“It’s complicated,” she finally admits. “There’s a legitimacy to it. My dad wanted me to be a…real journalist. He made me promise before he died. And the other thing is the benefits, like health insurance.”

There’s a moment of silence as everyone mulls that over. News got out that Ryleigh didn’t go to the doctor because she doesn’t have insurance, so I know they’re thinking about that.

“I never realized how privileged some of us are,” Kirsten says. “That my family could provide it for me.”

“Or that Hart Records provides it for all of us,” Sam adds. “And for Nobody’s Fool as well.”

“Exactly,” Ryleigh says. “A group plan is a lot cheaper, both for the individuals and the company providing it. That’s a big part of the reason why I want to be hired full-time withRock Harder. It also opens doors that might otherwise be closed. If I reach out to a management company and ask for backstage passes, it sounds so much better to say, ‘hi, I’m Ryleigh withRock Harder Magazine,’—a news source everyone has heard of—versus, ‘hi, I’m Ryleigh from the Rockin’ with Ryleigh social media channel…’”

“That makes sense,” Mick says, talking with his mouth full again.

“Would you swallow already?” I demand.

“That’s what he said!” Tate and Jonny quip together.

Then everyone laughs, including Ryleigh.

“So now you know the whole sordid story,” she says, picking up a plate and starting to get food.

“Do you think you’ll be happy working forRock Harder?” Tate asks her.

She shrugs. “I won’t beunhappy. And I can still do the social media stuff, which is way more fun.”

“But will they give you assignments like this or will you have to come up with your own ideas?”

“Both. Sometimes opportunities come up, and my understanding is that they try to be fair in giving everyone a chance. Most of the staff writers are older guys, in their thirties and forties, several of whom have families, so I might get an edge being that I don’t have responsibilities keeping me at home. But other times they’ll get first dibs because they’ve been there longer.”

Everyone settles at the long table set up where we can eat, and they continue asking Ryleigh questions aboutRock Harderand Rockin’ with Ryleigh. I don’t know if this is a good thing, though, because while they were friendly with her before, they seem a lot friendlier tonight. It can’t be a coincidence that now that they know we’re together, they’re a lot more curious about her work.

“I can’t believe you did exactly what I warned you not to do,” Tate murmurs under his breath when Ryleigh excuses herself to the restroom.

“Last time I checked, I didn’t need your permission to date someone.”

“I just feel like this could go wrong in so many ways.”

“If it does, I’ll deal with it.”

“Like you dealt with keeping your identity a secret?”

I sigh. “I really hoped at least you would let that go.”

“I have, but it still happened. And if you break her heart, how hard will she go after the band?”

“What if she breaks my heart?” I demand, scowling at him.

He just laughs. “Yeah, right. Your cold, black heart is unbreakable.”

Damn.

That’s low.

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