Page 45 of Love Me Till Wednesday

‘It worked out well. It’s a novel idea for getting noticed anyway. Fair play to Ed.’

‘Is that your expert marketing opinion?’

‘Don’t knock it. I’ve got clients who’d love to go viral. It’s not something you can engineer.’

‘I don’t think Ed thought it would work out quite like it has.’

‘Are you all set to be plunged back into the spotlight on Friday?

‘Friday?’

‘That’s when Andy’s chat show’s broadcast, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, of course. I keep forgetting it doesn’t go out live. Talking of which, how’s your bass playing?’

He looked at her long and hard.

She raised her eyebrows. ‘Well?’

He put down the mug, leant back on the sofa and crossed his arms. ‘That sounded like a loaded question.’

She shrugged. ‘It might be.’

‘I thought you guys were auditioning for a replacement for Jonny?’

‘We did that yesterday. They were all crap.’

‘I’ve got a business to run. And I’m not looking to spend weeks on tour away from Ally and the girls either.’

‘I’m not expecting you to. We only need you for Thursday night’s recording.’

‘And a rehearsal tomorrow as well presumably.’

‘Yes, but Pete’s booked the studios around the corner for that. We can carry on looking for someone permanent after the show. But we can’t play live without a bass player. Pete reckoned he could add the bassline in on the keyboards …’

Jim finished her sentence. ‘But it won’t sound as good.’

‘I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t sure you could do it it’s just one song. Love Me Till Wednesday. It used to be your party piece.’

‘When I was eleven! Have I got time to think about it?’

‘Not really.’

He sighed.

‘Look, if you don’t want to do it that’s fine. I don’t want you to be stressed by it all.’

‘It’s ok. It’ll make a good anecdote, I suppose. I’ll do it. But you owe me one.’

26

Late Thursday afternoon went like clockwork. Ed and Tez arrived at Lisa’s on time. They loaded their gear into the hearse outside Lisa’s house, much to the interest of the neighbours. And despite the heavy rush hour traffic, they made it across London to the studio much faster than the satnav predicted. Jim had phoned to say he was on his way.

‘I told you this hearse was a great idea,’ Ed said as he pulled out in front of someone else who’d flashed their headlights to let him into the traffic. ‘You wouldn’t get this level of consideration in a Ford Transit.’

‘You’re unloading your own gear?’ The security guy who greeted them at the rear of the building said.

‘Yeah. Is that a problem?’

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