Page 20 of Saving Graces
“You were amazing tonight,” she said to Cassidy.
“Thank you.” Cassidy smiled. She grinned at her band, sharing the compliment.
“Have you got a manager?”
Kinsey looked up. The woman was white, in her early thirties. Her coloring looked Irish, black hair, pale skin, hazel eyes. She was dressed casually, but her clothes were expensive and effortlessly cool.
“Not yet,” Kinsey said. “Why?”
The woman considered her. She pulled up a seat.
“I’m Hailey,” she said. “Hailey Driscoll. I manage a few artists around the place. I think we should talk.”
The next morning Kinsey met up with Cassidy for lunch at what had become their favorite diner. It was supposed to be breakfast, but Kinsey had followed through on the drinking she’d felt might soothe her ruffled feelings, only to find that waking up with a seedy belly and a headache did not, in fact, improve things.
“So I googled Hailey,” Cassidy said, leaning toward her over the table. “She’s the real deal. She’s got a website and everything.”
Kinsey laughed.
“A website? Wow she’s definitely legit.”
Cassidy narrowed her eyes.
“I also sent a message to Leon.” Leon was the lead singer of an up and coming band they’d opened for. Cassidy’s voice got faster and more excited. “He says she got them a lot of their bigger gigs, and she’s the reason they got signed.”
“To a low-key indie label,” Kinsey said, still hesitant in the morning light. “Which is awesome, but we’re going to go higher.”
“You’re so confident.” Cassidy sighed. “It’s not that I don’t believe you. I do believe you. Like, I believe in us-”
“Okay, Ted Lasso.”
“I just think we have to start somewhere. And she seems nice. Like we could trust her.”
“Hey ladies,” a voice broke in, the waitress finally arriving to take their order. She stopped and stared at Cassidy, doing a clear double take. “Oh wow, has anyone ever told you that you look exactly like a young version of Savannah Grace?”
Cassidy went pink. Kinsey’s mouth dropped open.
“Oh my god,” she said. “I always knew you reminded me of someone! I just couldn’t put my finger on it.”
“Thanks,” Cassidy said, her eyes falling to her menu. “That’s a great compliment - she’s gorgeous - I should definitely be so lucky. But thank you,” she smiled charmingly at the waitress. “I’ll have the mac ’n’ cheese please.”
“Maybe we should be a Savannah Grace cover band,” Kinsey joked after the waitress had walked away. God, no wonder she thought Cassidy was hot; Savannah Grace was in her top five celebrity crushes for sure, maybe even top three. Cassidy didn’t laugh. Her jaw was clenched tight. Kinsey frowned. She hadn’t meant to hurt her feelings. “I’m just teasing you,” she reassured her. “I love the songs we’re coming up with. Pretty soon we’re not going to have to do any covers at all.”
“And Hailey?” Cassidy asked, clearly keen to move on. Kinsey rested her chin against the heel of her palm, brows furrowed. So far, they’d made pretty good decisions together and she wasn’t exactly keen to hand over the reins to anyone else.
“We could give her a try,” she said finally. “Like a trial. But if either of us feels uncomfortable with her direction then we’re out.”
“Deal,” agreed Cassidy. She picked up her phone and sent a message.
“Did you literally just text her already?”
“I’m done with waiting around,” Cassidy said. “I’m ready. Aren’t you?”
Chapter Eight
Hailey was the real deal, Cassidy decided, as they got ready to walk on stage for their biggest show yet. They’d finally had a real sit-down meeting with their new manager a fortnight ago. Hailey worked out of a home office so they’d met her at a fancy restaurant downtown. Hailey had paid.
“Here’s what I think,” Hailey said, after she listened to the two of them talk about what they wanted, where they wanted to go. “I think you’re talented performers,your songs are great and you’re both super easy on the eye,” she smiled, though Cassidy noted her eyes fall on Kinsey as she said it. “You look like stars to me. I want to represent you because I know I can help you, but I also want to, because honestly, I think you’re going to make my career.”
