Page 64 of Rock Out Together
“Is that your ‘O’ face or is your Zoom frozen?”“
~ Jake Steele
Jake
“Come on, Amelia. Travis White tours with his girl,” I said, toweling off my wet hair. I’d run from the shower when I heard my phone ringing. Of course the boss would call when I was rubbin’ one out before my Zoom with Emily. I had to take precautions, or I’d only last five minutes. The thought of seeing her face, even through the computer screen, was enough to make my heart race.
I took the call, though. Shit, I’d jump through whatever hoops necessary to get the okay for Em to come on tour for the summer. I was using every argument I could think of.Travis White, one of Clarke Records’ biggest names, toured with his girlfriend andHidden Voicessecond place winner, Jody Boyd. But shit, Em wouldn’t be a performer like Jody. I should’ve thought that one out better …
“You’re not on your fifth world tour, Jake. I backed Steele Horizons when the board didn’t want to sign you. And this is how you repay me? Trying to wrangle a plus one on the tour bus?” Her sharp voice was a reminder of how much we owed her, but I wasn’t backing down.
Amelia was Amelia Clarke, CEO of Clarke Records and the woman who singlehandedly pulled Steele Horizons from obscurity.
I could picture her on the other end, pacing back and forth in that swank office of hers at the top of Clarke Tower, pivoting from one end to the next on those crazy-ass stiletto heels she always wore. In fact, I was pretty sure I could hear them clicking on the floor in the background.
“I’m not asking Clarke to foot the bill. This will be on my dime.” I kept my tone firm, determined to make this work for Emily and me.
She sighed long and hard across the line. After five seconds of silence, I knew I had her.
“Okay, Steele. She’s your responsibility. Clarke won’t insure her if something goes wrong, and she signs something agreeing to it.” Yeah, that was definitely her toe tapping in the background.
“Deal!” I shouted before she could take it back, pumping my fist in the air.
“Jake?” a voice from the other room called.
Oh, shit!
It was showtime.
“Amelia, I gotta run,” I said, hanging up on her shocked gasp over being dismissed. That was a woman who did not like to be told what to do. Her reaction made me grin, but my focus was already on Emily.
I ran into the other room and sat in front of my computer. Emily’s face filled the screen. Her smile was my solace, soothing the chaos of my day.
“Hey, baby!” I turned my camera on and saw her eyes light up with excitement.
Right back at cha, babe.
Seeing Emily—even if it was from over a thousand miles away and with a computer screen between us—was the highlight of my day.
Every day. That’s how often we talked. I refused to let a night pass without connecting with her, especially since—once the tour officially kicks off—our schedules will be so fucked, we’ll be lucky if we can catch a glimpse of each other. The thought of being apart from her made my chest ache, but I was determined to make this work.
“Hi!” She waved her adorable little nerd-girl wave. Fuck, she was cute.
Wait … what the fuck was she wearing?
“Em, what’s all that lacy shit?” I asked, grinning from ear to ear. “You got a surprise for your boyfriend?” I licked my lips, ready for whatever she had in store. Her boldness through the screen was new for her, and I was here for it.
Instead of a striptease, her eyes nearly bulged out.
“Boyfriend?” She swallowed hard. “Are you my boyfriend?”
“No, I’m a figment of your imagination you dial into every night.” I rolled my eyes. She wasn’t going to get away with this. “What did you think we were doing?” Her uncertainty was adorable, but I needed her to know I was all in.
“I-I-I didn’t k-k-know.” She swallowed hard. “I mean, I’m just a frickin’ English major at FU and you’re … you’re fucking Jake Steele, sexiest goddamn rockstar on Earth!” Her voice went from squeaky to raging at the end. Her entire apartment building probably heard her screaming my name.
Hell, yeah.
Her outburst made me laugh, but it also made me want to reassure her she was more than enough for me. I let her calm down and take a breath. “Did you hear the news?”
