Page 35 of Movers and Shakers

“We have to. You know how the fans are and—‍”

“Okay, okay,” Sasha said, holding up her hands. “We’ll see how it goes. But I like this. I like your sound here. Except for this one.”

“Which one?”

“It’s titled ‘the revenge track.’”

My eyes widened. Did I forget to take that out?“I wasn’t supposed to send that.”

“I’m going to call this a happy accident,” Sasha said.

“Happy accident? You said you liked all of them but this one.”

“Because Ilovethis one.”

“Oh.”

“And by the way? Fuck Blaze.”

“I . . . It was supposed to be for me only.”

“Why?”

“It’s not a huge deal.”

“Is it not? Because from the sound of this, he cheated on you.”

“He did.”

“And you’re still with him?”

“I have to be,” I said. “My fame isrootedin my love for him.”

“Or it’s your talent. You didn’t get to where you are just because of your relationship.”

“Sasha, it’s the music business. People have to have something to root for. That’s what Rick and Mia believed, and unfortunately, I can’t deny it’s worked.”

“Areyouhappy with how it’s worked?”

I opened my mouth to say I was, but the words wouldn’t come out. “Others are,” I managed to say. “That’s what matters.”

Her eyes narrowed, and it felt like she was seeing right through me.

“So we don’t release this track,” she said after a moment. “But can I at least add some stuff to it? Only for your ears, of course.”

That was a bad idea, but I could admit that hearing my revenge song as anactualsongwould feel good. “Fine. If you want to.”

“It would be my pleasure.”

Barry

Monday night rolled around, but things had been off in my family.

Ruth had been going through it, and it all started when her former rival returned to town.

Knox Price was a genius inventor who graduated with her at our old high school. He was the smartest kid in class, and Ruth always tried to knock him out of his number-one spot. She’d hated him because she never could manage to beat him consistently.

Mom and Dad quickly figured out that comparing Ruth to him was far more effective than comparing Ruth to Tom, who was in college. They mentioned him at every turn while she was in high school, shoving his success in her face to give her a reason to push herself impossibly harder.

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