Page 165 of Between Never and Forever
“I think red’s always been your favorite color.”
She rolls her eyes playfully, but she doesn’t deny it. She doesn’t argue.
“Want some potentially good news?” she says after a minute.
There is a subtle lightness in her voice that I know she only half feels.
“I was going to wait to tell you until it was all figured out, but now’s as good a time as any.”
I lie back on my bed and hold the phone above me. Savannah is sitting on a chair on what looks like a porch or a deck of some sort. It’s around noon where she is, and the weather looks beautiful.
“Tell me your good news, Rockstar.”
“I think we’re going to be able to negotiate a new contract with the label. I’ve got the band on my side now. We don’t want to break up. We want to tour more. Keep making music. But we can’t keep going on like we’ve been, you know? Hammond had a new contract drawn up and everything. He’s even threatened to walk and come with us if we leave.”
“He did?”
I’m shocked, actually. From what I’ve heard of him, he definitely struck me as a label puppet. I wouldn’t have expected him to try and help. Savannah nods, eyes wide as she watches something just off the side of the phone screen.
“I know. But in his defense, he did tell us not to sign that first contract.” She shrugs. “Should have listened to him. The new contract requires a year down time between touring and one third less shows. Control of all our masters for the next two albums, and the right to re-record the songs on our previous albums when the original contract expires.”
My jaw drops. That sounds...impossible. Amazing, but impossible. There’s no way the label will go for that. Savannah must read my thoughts on my face because she laughs.
“I know. Ham says they’ll probably try to renegotiate parts of it, but he thinks we have a shot. They don’t want to lose the hottest band in music, especially now that they know we’ll gladly take our talent elsewhere instead of break up, and they don’t want to lose Hammond.”
She scrunches up her nose and bounces a little in her seat.
“We got a shot, Levi. We’ve got a real shot at this working. And then for once, finally, we can do things our way. No more running on empty and killing ourselves for deadlines. No more living in busses and hotel rooms for ten months out of the year. Less stress. Less tension. Just music, and the band. And fuck, Levi, that’s all I’ve wanted since we started this thing. It really, truly, might work.”
I give her a smile. I try to let her excitement fuel mine.
Do I want this for her? I meant it when I said she belongs on that stage. But she also belongs with me. How can we work if she goes back to the band? Touring, recording, and whatever else famous musicians do. How long could we possibly last?
She chose that life over me once. Would she do it again?
“I’m happy for you guys. I really hope it works out for you.”
I say it, but part of me doesn’t mean it.
“How’s Paul Northwood?”
I need a subject change, but I don’t know why my brain went to Hollywood’s golden boy. I want to wince, but I don’t. Instead, I focus on the way Sav’s lips twitch into a smirk.
“Jealous again, Weenie?”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes, but I can’t fight the scoff. She giggles and waggles her brows at me.
“We had a great scene today. I was half-naked. There was red wine and chocolate. It was really sexual.”
I grit my teeth. I did this to myself.
“Or at least it was. Until I stabbed him in the back with a chef’s knife and shoved him off the balcony of the villa.”
I bark out a laugh, and she shrugs.
“You got nothing to worry about, Levi. No one competes with you. No one ever has.”
I smile and work to control my breathing.
