Page 73 of One More Made Up Love Song
I have to be okay with that.
But the way he just looked at me. I don’t think I made it up. Something is shifting between us. I don’t know what it is. And I definitely don’t know what it means. But I know he’s never looked at me like that before.
Is it possible I’mnotthe only one feeling something?
A new feeling simmers in the tiniest corner of my heart, something warm and bright and fluttery. Something that feels a lot likehope.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Ivy
At least onegood thing about the Voltage party is that with more than half their artist roster in attendance, the room is so full of famous people that Freddie doesn’t really stand out.
After stopping on our way in for photographs, Freddie makes the rounds, shaking hands and networking with the label’s executives, meeting the teenage daughter of one investor and the daughter-in-law of another. Since this is the first album he’s done with the label, the faces are all mostly new to me, people whose names I’ve heard and seen copied in emails but I’ve never actually met in person.
Freddie makes a point of introducing me by name to every single executive, talking me up, mentioning the many ways in which I keep his career running smoothly. Eventually, we run into the artist relations manager who’s been working with Freddie, a woman named Danica Smith. She’ssomeone Ihavemet in person, when Freddie first signed his contract, but we haven’t had much interaction since then.
With Danica, Freddie lays it on thick, even going so far as to mention my music business degree from Belmont. Danica ends up offering me her card and tells me she’s always looking to expand her team if I’d ever be interested in working for Voltage Records.
“See?” Freddie says as I tuck her card into my clutch. “Easy as that.”
“Easy when I have you talking me up,” I say. “You’re a very convincing salesman.”
“You’re the one who makes it easy,” he says. “I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true.”
My heart squeezes, and I second-guess—for about the billionth time—my decision to work somewhere else. When Freddie looks at me like he is now, I don’t want to beanywherebut right here. Right beside him. Even if he never loves me back.
Okay,fine.That last part is probably just my hormones talking. Butgah,the man is not making it easy to keep my head on straight.
After Freddie and I have talked and smiled and posed for at least two dozen photographs, we finally sync up with Leo, Jace, Adam, and Laney. We find a couple of couches arranged around a low coffee table near the back of the event space and mostly keep to ourselves.
Freddie lifts his arm and puts it around my shoulders, pulling me close enough for him to ask, “Do you think Jace has a new girlfriend?”
I ignore the goosebumps triggered by his touch and force my attention across the small space to Jace, who is typing outa text. “I doubt it,” I say. “I bet he’s just texting his mom about his kids.”
“Nah,” Freddie says. “With that level of focus?”
I shoot him a look. “Have youseenthe way he dotes on those kids?” I put a hand on Freddie’s knee and use it to push myself up, then move around the coffee table and sit down next to Jace.
“Are the kids okay?” I ask.
Jace looks over, expression sheepish as he pockets his phone. “They are. Mom says your sister is hanging out with them and just made everyone homemade hot chocolate. Now she’s watching a movie with Annie while my mom gets Eli to bed.”
“Hot chocolate is one of our mother’s specialties,” I say. “And I’m sure Carina is happy to be spending time with Annie.”
He nods. “I’m sure Mom appreciates the help.”
I glance back at Freddie, giving him a look that says I wasabsolutelyright, and he smiles and shakes his head. But then Sloane shows up, pulling him into a conversation, so I sit back, content to talk to Jace as long as Freddie is occupied.
“Freddie thought you might have a girlfriend,” I say, and Jace chuckles.
“Nooo, absolutely not. I’m nowhere near ready for that.”
“Do your kids always travel with you?” I ask.
“This is the first time I’ve gone anywhere since Eli was born. Mom would have just stayed with them. But Annie has had such a hard time since her mom left. She doesn’t do well when we’re apart—even for a couple of nights. So they go where I go, at least for now.”
“You’re a good dad, Jace.”
