Page 25 of Of Heartbreak and Harmony
I sit up and sigh. “You’re doing a shit job at selling it.”
Sav shrugs. “I’ve learned honesty is the best policy.”
“Consider it a favor for a favor,” Torren says.
“And what favor are you doing for me?”
“You help us get through this PR disaster, and we make it so you don’t have to work so much. We both get something out of this arrangement that we need.”
When I don’t answer right away, Hammond speaks up.
“Sixty thousand dollars isn’t incentive enough?”
His question fills me with defeat. The truth is, sixty thousand dollars is all the incentive I need. I’d mentally agreed the moment the figure left his mouth. A disappointing fact is that I can, and now have, been bought.
Awesome. So much for integrity.
I nod slowly. “Okay. I’ll do it. But I have stipulations.”
“We’ll consider them,” Hammond says.
I swallow hard, channel all of Glory Bell’s boldness, and begin.
“I want my own space on the bus.”
“We’ve already arranged to give you the big room on our bus,” Sav says, gesturing between her and Mabel. “Mabes and I will take the bunks, and you’ll have your own room when we stay in hotels, too.”
I furrow my brow, momentarily surprised. I’m getting the star’s room? I almost tell her that’s not necessary, but I choke it back. I’m going to need my own space if I’m going to make it through this emotionally unscathed.
“I also want the first two-week payment up front. I need to leave something with my mom and sister if I’m going to be gone.”
“Done,” Hammond says.
“And I, um...” I glance at Sav briefly, then back at Hammond. “I don’t want to be around drugs. Especially anything with needles.”
Sav groans immediately, and I flick my eyes back to her. Mabel is biting her lip to hide a smile, but Sav is staring at the ceiling.
“Why is that the one thing everyone seems to remember? One stupid magazine in the fucking UK prints the lieone time, and it’s all anybody remembers. Why couldn’t theadrenaline junkieorsex fiendarticles be the ones that stuck in people’s heads?”
Mabel laughs outright. “You thought it was hilarious at the time.”
Sav shoots Mabel a glare. “That was before I knew it would follow me into sobriety.”
My surprise once again spikes. “It was a lie?”
Sav rolls her eyes. “Yes, it was a lie. I hate needles. Can’t stand the sight of them. They make me queasy. That’s even why my tattoos are all on my back. Heroin was never my drug of choice.”
“So...the alcohol and pills? The cocaine?”
She gives me a smirk. “That was true. Mostly whiskey and Xanax. Cocaine if I went too hard on those two.”
“Bullshit. Cocaine before every show,” Mabel says, and Sav laughs.
“That’s because I always went too hard the night before every show.”
“Touché.”
“Anyway,” Sav continues, looking back at me. “I’m sober. I don’t even drink.”
