Page 106 of Musical Games
‘He didn’t want you to worry. He didn’t want you to be distracted from what you were doing out there. How's it going?’
‘How is he?’
‘Jamie?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Dunno really. He seems pretty miserable to be honest. But then he’s been waiting on Morag hand and foot twenty-four seven and she’s been a bit of a nightmare. I know he didn’t want you to know, but I thought you’d have been in touch with him.’
‘Did he say anything about what happened in London?’
‘No. He just said the recording went well. Sam, what’s going on?’
‘I slept with him.’
‘Whaaaaaaaaaaat? Jamie?JamieJamie?’
‘Mmm.’
‘When?’
‘After the concert.’
‘Oh my god, I can’tbelieveyou didn’t tell me! Was it good? Actually, no, don’t answer that. Holy shit. Did it happen again?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Bloody hell. I know he keeps his cards close to his chest, but you? Do you like him? Duh, of course you like him, but you know what I mean. Fuck, I’m rambling. Why aren’t you speaking to him? Did something go wrong?’
Sam puffed out her cheeks. ‘We were offered a record contract, and he said no and left.’
‘Why? What kind of contract?’
Sam felt very small. ‘I don’t really know. I wanted to sign without even looking at it. I’d just found out I’d lost my job, and, and…’
‘Yeeeesssssss?’
‘I thought tying Jamie to the contract would force him to be with me.’
There was silence, then she heard Zoe drawing in a big breath. She braced herself.
‘So, let me get this straight. You tried to bully Jamie into signing his life away without reading any of the details first because you thought this was your last chance at any sort of a career and because you didn’t believe Jamie would want to be with you unless under duress?’
If Sam had been feeling bad before, this opened the festering Tupperware at the back of her mental fridge. The truth stank.
‘Yes. Are you going to shout at me?’
Zoe huffed. ‘I’m trying to decide whether to yell at you or burst into tears on your behalf. You’re so fucking awesome. You have so many options open to you. FuckElm Tree Lane. They can stick Mopeoke up their arse. Look where you are now! You’re in LA, writing music for whatever bonkers film Brad is making next. You’re unstoppable.’
Sam made a noncommittal sound in response.
‘Are you enjoying it there? Are you having fun?’
Sam thought about all the celebs she had met, all the yoga-spin-pump-fusion classes she’d attended. All the green smoothies, all the parties, all the hours watching Th’s willy wafting about underwater as he blew bubble rings.
‘Not really.’
‘Oh. Is that why you’ve been ignoring me?’
