Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 57804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
I started out as a solo artist, wielding my own musical power and influence as I saw fit, and I expected myself to stay a solo artist. It made me a bit wary to team up with some band I didn’t know, who had multiple members that could try to overthrow me in the songwriting process.
“I figured I would just keep making music on my own. It’s worked well so far, right?” I replied as I tangled my fingers together on my lap in an uneasy manner. It wasn’t recommended to say no to the record label, but if I could put my foot down in the studio, I could assert some control here in Mark’s office too. Respectfully.
“Well, yes, but we want you to really shine! To push boundaries and bring your music to more people. Collaborations are a surefire way of doing that, and I bet you and the band would come up with a rocking, hot new single!” Mark said with an encouraging grin on his face. He then turned to his computer and clicked around a few times. “There. I’ve sent you their press kit. Check out their music. Get a… what do you kids call it… vibe!”
It was hard to say no when Mark was so enthusiastic. None of his ideas had failed me yet, so maybe I could give this a try.
“Alright. I’ll look into them,” I promised.
Mark clapped his hands together.
“Great! Now, let’s go over some numbers.”
After going over some of the more tedious topics, I was sent home to do my research on Amos and the Collectibles, landing me in my bed with my laptop in my lap. The rest of my one-bedroom apartment that was tucked in one of New York’s luxury apartment buildings remained quiet and still.
I was so used to people always being around me. Growing up in a small town meant knowing nearly everyone and even chatting up strangers like it was part of the daily routine. Somehow, I moved to a huge city and felt lonelier than ever before.
How did that work?
Shaking my head, I clicked the link to the press kit and selected the first song available to play, immediately hearing an energetic melody of guitars, drums, and bass. Each strum and beat melded together into a head-nodding symphony, and I found myself lifting my eyebrows in surprise.
Okay, it was pretty good.
The lead singer’s voice had that alluring grit to it that was a hallmark of country music. Instead of singing about drinking beer under the stars or losing a girlfriend, he sang about feeling lost and wandering through life looking for a purpose.
A weight settled in my chest as I listened to the lyrics closely, taking in every word as the instrumental carried his voice. With my own music, I let my inner thoughts and emotions flow through my lyrics. I subtly mentioned my struggle of becoming the person who I am now, of leaving my past behind.
Maybe me and the band would be able to connect over something, and we could make a great song others could connect to as well. That was my reason for going into music in the first place. It was my outlet, my way of being heard. The problem of living in a small town was that everyone thought they knew me and what I wanted for my life.
They were wrong.
“Let’s see what you look like,” I murmured as I clicked on the photos and videos tab on the press kit website. A picture of five men standing on rocky terrain at different distances from the camera popped up first. I leaned close, letting my eyes sweep over each of them. They all were handsome in their own way and looked about a few years older than me to almost a decade older.
My eyes settled on one man that was closer to the middle on the right of the picture, my heart jolting at the sight of familiar short, dirty blonde hair, pale blue eyes, and a half-smile that I had seen more times than I could count.
It couldn’t be. No way it was him!
I brought up the band’s biography, and my jaw dropped. They were from Chalice Falls, my hometown! That meant the lead guitarist was Ryder Overton, the brother of my childhood best friend, Brianna. Usually, that wouldn’t be a problem for anyone. I had known Ryder pretty much all my life because of his sister.
But the problem was… I had a raging crush on my best friend’s brother as a teenager. And that uncontrollable desire led to a decision that made Ryder and I split apart and never see each other again for years.
One night, with our bodies hovering close and our lips lingering even closer, we indulged in each other, and I let him be my first because there was no other man in the entire world that I trusted more than Ryder Overton.