Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 60750 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60750 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
“Songwriting symposium?”
“Short notice, I know, but don’t worry. I already cleared it with Gregory. It’s not going to interfere with his plans for our mini-tour,” he continues. “It’s just something I like to do to keep my pen sharp, comparing what I’m working on to other people’s portfolios. It’s a good way to meet some more industry friends, too.”
“Sounds good—”
“The only thing is that it’s going to be in San Francisco,” he continues. “And since it’s going to be for the whole weekend, we’ll need to get a hotel, too.”
“…Sounds great,” I reply, before I let out a nervous chuckle, every part of me feeling like it’s suddenly on fire as I think about spending a weekend in San Francisco with Van.
Friends. Friends. Friends.
You and Van can just be friends. You and Van can just be friends. You and Van can just be—
Fuck.
Who the hell am I kidding?
“Wait, why are you freaking out about spending the weekend with Van?” Marina asks on the other end of the line. “Van’s the one guy in this band I actually like for you.”
“Because I’m trying to do better, Marina!” I remind her. I’m leaning against the nearest wall in the hotel lobby while Van checks us into our rooms for the weekend. I decided to call Marina for a bit of moral support, even though it’s starting to seem like this is a total backfire. “Remember? How I’m not trying to let a relationship with a guy in the band ruin my whole career? Or my life?”
“Yeah, but doesn’t that just apply to Rhys?” Marina replies. “Who cares if you have a little fun with Van? Or does he have a psycho girl waiting in the shadows, too?”
“Geesha Riley isn’t a psycho,” I murmur. “She’s just…territorial.”
“Which is something that psychos are.” Marina chuckles. “Hey, what’s the weather like up there, anyway? I was thinking about taking a trip myself, just to see it—”
“Marina! Focus!”
“What do you want me to say, babe?” Marina sighs. “From how much time you’ve told me that you two have been spending together, I honestly thought that you’d already hooked up once or twice. And again, for the millionth time, I like Van for you.”
“You haven’t even met him!”
“Yes I did! Briefly, when he dropped off those notes. I’ll check him out more at your next show. Promise,” she replies. “Speaking of, you can get me VIP backstage passes for that, right? You’re not going to make me sit in the cheap seats with the people who haven’t known you since high school—”
“Yes, of course I can get you VIP passes, Marina—”
“Great!” Marina excitedly shouts. “Okay, then. Talk to you later, babe. I need to help one of my friends do her makeup for this audition. From the looks of it, she’s caked on so much of the wrong foundation color she’s starting to look like a goddamn orange.”
I chuckle now too, amused by Marina’s assessment of the situation with her friend.
“Talk to you later, Marina,” I say, before ending the conversation. “And thanks for all the advice.”
“Anytime, babe!” Marina hangs up on her end, the sound of silence suddenly ringing in my ear.
“Okay, so, I’ve got good news and bad news,” Van starts, as he walks up to me with a frustrated expression on his face.
“What’s the good news?”
“The good news is that we’ll definitely be attending the symposium; the registration people have our information and they’re ‘excited to welcome such successful artists’ for the weekend,” he replies. “And…the bad news is that the hotel accidentally overbooked, meaning that the suite I got for you is no longer on the table.”
“So, what? I have to find a hotel room somewhere else?”
“Yeah, that’s not really going to be possible.” Van frowns. “This is the biggest songwriting symposium in the nation and the biggest one for the year. The concierge said all the nearby hotels are booked solid, too.”
“Are you saying that I don’t have anywhere to stay tonight, Van?” My eyes go wide. “Because I’d rather get on a plane back to L.A. than spend the night sleeping on the lobby floor—”
“You can stay in my room for the weekend, Alyssa,” he interrupts. “It’s a suite, too. I mean, there’s only one bed, but there’s also a pretty comfortable couch.”
“…Are you going to make me sleep on the couch?” I ask, already frowning. “Is that why you’re trying to sell me on how comfortable it is before you pitch the idea?”
Van chuckles in response. “God, Alyssa. How little do you think of me? No, I’m not going to make you sleep on the couch. You can have the bed.”
“Okay. Phew. Thanks.” I let out a sigh of relief as I grab the handle of my roller suitcase. “Then let’s get this show on the road.”
Chapter 9
Rhys
“Fuck!” I curse underneath my breath while standing on the other side of the hotel lobby. I then tuck myself behind a nearby wall, trying my best not to be spotted by either Alyssa or Van.