Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 75243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
She’s right.
It’s light blue and fitted. I put it on this morning for good luck. The last time I wore it was when Eloise was accepted into the school of her dreams.
“I think I’ll wear it more often.” I tug on the bottom hem. “I think it brings me good luck.”
“You don’t need luck,” she scoffs. “You have talent.”
I point toward the door of the café. “The mornings are still cool. Let’s go inside and warm up.”
“I’m all for that.” She laughs. “I’ll handle it if an onslaught of your fans rush us.”
I look into the window of the café at the very short line of people waiting in line. “I think we’re okay for today.”
She turns to face me. “Promise me you won’t forget me when you’re famous.”
An instant lump forms in my throat. I swallow past it. “I’d never forget you, Eloise. I love you.”
“I love you too.” She pushes a strand of my hair back behind my ear. “Speaking of love, are you there yet with Hot Dad?”
I laugh at the nickname she won’t drop.
I can’t confess what I’m feeling to her. I haven’t even told Berk that I’m falling in love with him.
“I like him a lot,” I say.
“You like him a lot and then some.” She smiles. “Life is good to you right now and, I, for one, couldn’t be happier about it.”
I couldn’t be either.
Everything I’ve ever wanted is within my grasp, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
Every dream comes with a sacrifice.
I replay those words over and over in my mind as I cross the street on my way to Crispy Biscuit.
It’s a diner that Berk asked me to meet him and Stevie at for lunch.
He sent me a text message less than thirty minutes ago asking me if I’d be okay with eating there.
I don’t care where we dine. All that matters to me is spending time with Berk and his daughter.
The last time I saw Berk, he was leaving my apartment early this morning.
So much has changed in those few short hours.
I spoke to Heidi. She was very clear about her desire to sign me to a recording contract. The focus will be on streaming services, although she’s excited to produce a vinyl rendition of the album that she thinks will be a perfect tie-in to a marketing campaign that focuses heavily on my position as the owner of a “trendy, quaint record shop in Manhattan.” That’s a direct quote from her.
I’ve always viewed Vinyl Crush in the way she described it, but when she continued talking about her plans for my future, my stomach dropped.
It was a lot to take in, so when I saw my dad’s name flash across my phone screen as soon as the call with Heidi ended, I answered.
Everything poured out of me, including the proposed record contract, my feelings for Berk and Stevie, and the future that seems so unclear now.
My dad offered me the same words today that he did on the day my mom left to pursue her music career.
“Every dream comes with a sacrifice, Astrid,” he said.
It’s true.
If I chase the dream Heidi is offering to me, it comes with a sacrifice.
It’s one that I’m not sure I can make right now or ever.
Chapter Fifty
Berk
“She’s here!” Stevie screams as soon as Astrid walks into the diner.
I huff out a laugh. Every other person sitting in this diner does the same thing.
Stevie springs to her feet and sets off toward Astrid.
I watch as they fall into an embrace.
I could get used to the sight of that.
As they near me holding hands, I push up to stand.
“You can kiss her hello, Dad,” Stevie says as she brushes past me on her way back to her chair. “I know you kiss each other.”
I smile. “I’ll do that.”
I give Astrid a soft kiss as I stare into her eyes.
I’m looking for a clue about the phone meeting with the record company executive, but her expression isn’t giving anything away.
“Have you been here before?” Stevie asks as she touches the edge of the menu in front of her.
When we were seated, I told her we would wait to order. She agreed, but she wanted to see a menu to plan out her meal.
I was surprised given the fact that she always orders a plain burger and fries whenever we come here.
“I haven’t,” Astrid says, taking a seat in the vacant chair. “What’s good on the menu?”
“If I were you, I’d order a plain burger with fries,” Stevie suggests. “That way, you can add all the ketchup you want.”
She taps a finger against the plastic ketchup bottle in the middle of the table.
Astrid offers her a quick nod. “I think that sounds like a perfect lunch to me.”
I reach for Astrid’s leg under the table. I give her thigh a slight squeeze drawing her gaze to me. “Were you able to talk to the record executive this morning?”