Page 108 of Unbound By Shadows
“You know this show is important to me. There might be industry people there.”
“So you’ve said.”
“You had all day to pull everything together.”
Selene’s eyes narrowed as she watched him in the mirror hanging on the wall. “I told you I haven’t been feeling like myself this week.”
“How convenient.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It’s just that… well,” Kevin plucked at the beaded bracelets around his wrist. His eyes were accusatory as they met hers in the mirror. “It would be nice if you could support me for once!”
Selene paused as the words rang her ears. Slowly, she set down her hairbrush and turned to face him. “What did you just say?”
“You heard me. This is my dream we’re talking about, and you’re acting like it’s nothing.” He kicked the footboard of their bed.
“That’s not true,” she said.
“Then show me that you want me to succeed here.”
“I’m trying—”
Kevin stepped closer to take her hand. “Try harder, Seleney.”
Selene jerked her hand out of his grip. Anger ripped through her like a shot—more urgent and closer to the surface than ever before. It sizzled through her veins. She leveled her gaze until Kevin paled and looked away. Then she pushed past him to march into the living room. She began to grab handfuls of merchandise from the stacks of CDs, LPs, stickers, and coasters littering the room.
“Forgive me for neglecting my duties!” she snapped while tossing Kevin’s things into a plastic bin near his guitar case. From the corner of her eye, she thought she saw a black shadow dart toward her, but it dissipated when Kevin followed after her.
“Hey! Be careful. Aren’t you going to inventory those?”
“Are you going to dock my pay?” Selene continued filling up the bin. Her skin felt hot, though the air conditioner was on. After all that she had done for Kevin, she couldn’t believe his nerve.It’s never enough.Seeing so clearly how he was trying to manipulate her felt as though she were waking up from a long sleep.
She went to the coat closet and pulled out the metal cash box she used for making change and threw it against the carpet. How many shows had she lugged that thing around? She even carried it into the bathroom with her to prevent someone stealing Kevin’s “hard-earned” profits. Next, she grabbed the folding table with the wobbly leg and set it near the front door with athud.
Finally, she picked up the big vinyl sign leaning against a wall with the KEVIN P. NORTON logo she had commissioned. Shoving it into Kevin’s chest, she said, “All done!”
He swallowed. Carefully, he took the sign from her hands then set it on the floor. “What’s wrong with you?”
“I’m done beingyour manager.”
Kevin gaped at her. “What do you mean?”
Gesturing around, Selene said, “This. Coordinating your schedule. Running your social media, booking your shows, hauling your gear. I don’t want to do it anymore.”
Kevin’s mouth open and closed, but no sound came out.
“I quit,” she said.
He looked shocked. “But… I thought you loved my music.”
“This isn’t about your music.”
“I don’t understand.”
“It’s about my time. You wanted a break, so here you go.”
The confusion in Kevin’s face turned to a sneer. “What’s your problem? You’ve been weird all week.”
