Page 21 of Broken Melody
“Why? What are your concerns? It’s only fair,” Rocco says.
“She,” I say with as much sarcasm as possible,” has no experience other than singing karaoke in a bar. Why would we ask her for an opinion?” Part of me feels like shit for asking, especially when Nixon curses and Henley shakes his head, but hell it’s true. I open my mouth to explain further, or maybe mouth off to Nixon or Henley, I’m not sure, but Rocco stops me.
“So, youdothink it will be Sailor. Alright,” Rocco holds up a hand. “I get what you’re saying, even though I think you sound like a dick.”
“Seriously, man?” Henley asks Rocco likely pissed off that Rocco agrees with me.
“I don’t assume that her opinion will be invaluable, but what I think Maddox means to say is that we need to set up some boundaries.”
“I think you both sound like assholes,” Nixon says. “She seemed like a cool chick. I get that this isn’t what we’d prefer, we’ve established that several times over, but this is where we are like it or not, so we may as well get the fuck over our shit and deal with it. And I think it’s hard to imagine anyone having any better sound. I think Sailor is the obvious choice.”
Rocco and Henley look at Nixon like he just spoke in Italian because usually Rocco’s the one with the voice of reason. I join their gazes. He shakes his head and gives us the finger at our looks. I realize that my plan is not going to be as easy to implement as I had imagined. No, they are already fixating on Sailor joining the group. Good thing I’ve created an opportunity to disrupt their plans.
“He’s right. She’s going to be a member of our band, like it or not,” Rocco says. “And honestly, she didn’t ask for any of this shit. It’s not right to resent her for something that isn’t her fault.”
“Whatever. That doesn’t mean that she automatically has equal status to the rest of us. We’ve been doing this for a few years, professionally, and years more before that. And we are the experienced ones, need I again remind you? Hell, if it wasn’t for us she wouldn’t even have had this chance, so there’s got to be something for that.” I add.
“All I’m saying is don’t assume she won’t have something to offer other than her voice. She may actually have a good idea now and then – who knows. We’ll continue to make the majority of the decisions for the band as a whole, as we’ve always done, after all, her role is only a temporary one. At least that’s the way I’m looking at it,” Rocco says and we nod.
“That’s the way it is,” I say sternly.
“And let’s be honest. What is there really for us to decide anyway? The label leads us around by our balls and we just go and do and say whatever the hell they tell us to,” Henley says in annoyance.
“True that,” Nixon agrees.
My phone dings and I look down at the screen. Speaking of the devil. I snatch it off the table. ‘Just making sure we are still on for dinner, that plans haven’t changed,’ reads a text from Sailor. I type out a quick response telling her I’ll be there, then press the button to make the screen lock and set it down again. It lights back up and dings again with another text from her. ‘Okay, see you soon’. I don’t respond and set it back down. When I notice the guys all looking at me curiously I clear my throat. It dings again when she sends a smiling faced emoticon. I don’t respond to her again, but ask the guys, “Alright, are we done here then?”
“Why? You in a hurry to go somewhere?” Henley asks and I shrug not answering him.
“Yeah, what are you up to tonight?” Nixon asks. “I might be game to hang out. I have nothing going on.”
“Sounds good to me,” Rocco adds.
“Don’t you have…I don’t know…more music to work on for Sailor’s part?” I ask not liking at all where this is headed.
“I could use a break,” he says while the other two continue to stare at me.
Suddenly, my phone alarm sounds loudly, making all of us jump. Before I can grab it, Henley beats me to it. “What the hell is so important?” he asks looking at my screen. I know the exact second he reads the description I typed to go with the alarm because he looks at the screen, and then back at me, then at the screen again. “What the fuck is this all about?”
I don’t say a word and I’m not sure if it’s because I’m struggling for something to say, or if it’s because I don’t feel like I owe him an explanation. Maybe a combination of both. “What is it?” Nixon asks curiously while he and Rocco both keep looking between the two of us trying to determine what’s going on.
“Maddox is meeting Sailor for dinner,” Henley says as he turns my screen to face them displaying the evidence.
“What?” Nixon asks his eyes getting large. “How come?”
“Well…”
“No, Mad. Absolutely not,” Rocco interrupts.
“What?” I ask confused.
“Don’t do this.”
“Do what?” I ask having no idea what Rocco is trying to say.
“You’re going to try to fuck her, literally or figuratively or both,” Henley says.
“Jesus,” Nixon curses.
