Page 78 of Love Songs & Other Lies
The air around us feels charged, and I’m acutely aware of the fact that we are sandwiched between our grandmothers. In a nursing home. I clear my throat dramatically. “So, about the job hunt.” My eyes settle on Nonni, hoping that bringing this up in front of her is the good decision I had hoped it would be. “We actually found you one.”
“Who exactly is ‘we’?”
“Logan and I. Well, the whole band, really.” Vee pulls her hand out of mine, folding her arms across her chest.
“I’ve told you both a hundred times, I’m not qualified tomanage the band.” She sighs, and I think she wishes it weren’t the truth. “Especially now that you’re going to be negotiating the record deal, and planning a major tour. There’s all sorts of legal issues. You need someone professional.”
“Right,” I say. “We actually hired a manager a few days ago. Should be finalizing the paperwork next week,” I say.
“Oh.”
“We were thinking you could be involved in a different way, actually. Play a bigger role with the new record and the tour.”
“A bigger role than manager?” She rolls her eyes at me again, and I know I should just spit it out and tell her, but I’m having fun riling her up. “Seriously, Cam, I’m not qualified to be your publicist, either. I’m not qualified to doanythingfor the band anymore.” She punches me gently in the shoulder. “Face it. You’re a big deal now.” She’s so adorably proud of us, I can’t help but kiss her. After a quick peck she pushes me away, darting her eyes at Nonni.Right. Still in a nursing home.
“We’re going to need help when everything starts up again. Recording the album, working out the tour details, writing new songs—we’re going to need you there.”
“Of course. You know I’ll help,” she says.
“Yeah, you will. You’ll have to, actually. Because we were thinking you could go on tour with us.” I wait a second for it to sink in. “Definitelynotas our official groupie.” She’s still silent. “A co-headlining tour, Vee. We’d play songs separatelyandtogether.”
I’m waiting patiently for her to say something, but she just stares at me like I told her I was going to cut my arms off and let Anders use them as an oversized set of drumsticks. I’m not sure if it’s a good-silent or bad-silent. I’m hoping she’s just in shock, overcome with emotion. She’s still staring at my shirt, not meeting my eyes, when tears start to run down her cheeks.
“Vee?” I tilt her head up to look at me, and swipe my thumbsacross her cheeks. “Are these happy tears or sad tears? Because I’ll be honest, I’m worried you and I have too many sad tears.” She laughs and looks over at Nonni, who is beaming at her, her own eyes glistening.Maybe it’s genetic.
“Everyone is okay with this? Anders and Reese, too? You’re not just trying to find an excuse to take me on tour with you?”
“It was actually Jenn’s idea, but she told me I could pitch it. It’s an official offer from the label, but the band is definitely on board. Reese hopes to use you as a wing-woman on tour, just so you know.” She looks between me and Nonni, tapping her fingers on the armrest of her chair. Idowant her on tour. But more than anything, I want her to have everything she wants. I want the world to see how amazing she is. And yes, I want to be able to see how amazing she is every single day. Even if it’s on a stuffy, cramped tour bus.
“So what do you say, are you ready to officially become a rock star?”
Vee looks at Nonni then me, and she smiles. “Can I really say no?”
