Page 26 of Waste Some Time
“So what can I help you with? All I know is Katie said you could use some financial advice. I’m not an official adviser, for the record, and I don’t specialize in any kind of entertainment finance, but I can maybe help guide you to what you need and who could help with that.”
Rachel didn’t answer immediately. She just grinned and studied Sydney in the most peculiar way.
“Did I say something wrong?”
Rachel shook her head. “Not at all. It’s just how you said her name.”
“Who?” But Sydney could feel her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
How had she said Katie’s name? What had given her away?
No. There was nothing to give away.
Except for every ounce of reason she’d thrown aside with that kiss two days ago.
“I’m sorry,” Rachel said. “But are you also pretending there’s nothing between you? I figured it was just Katie being a goober.”
“Sydney!”
Saved by the barista.
Sydney jumped to her feet and retrieved their order. When she returned, Rachel was still grinning at her but didn’t say anything as Sydney placed a cup in front of her. The caramel and coffee aromas were warm and rich, but the smell apparently wasn’t strong enough to distract Rachel from the line of questioning she’d had a moment ago.
Sydney tried shifting the conversation in a more comfortable direction. “So what is it that I can help you with?”
“I don’t know what Katie’s told you so far, but basically our band manager has been handling everything herself. Booking gigs, organizing and setting up PR stuff, and collecting and dispersing our payments.”
“Sounds like a lot for one person.”
“Too much,” Rachel agreed. “And with a new big tour coming up, she needs to take some things off her plate. She wants to do the stuff she’s good at, the planning and organizing, but she’d like someone to handle the money. Especially while we’re on tour.”
Sydney processed it all while she tapped the sides of her mug with her neatly trimmed fingernails painted in a pinkish nude polish. “So you need bookkeeping, and… more?”
“I don’t know what, but we should probably get someone to handle all the money things. Including taxes and booking fees. Oh, and payments. Basically, everything?”
“Ah. Okay. Then you definitely need an accountant that specializes in entertainment finance.” Sydney blew over the top of her mug to cool the drink down. “Shouldn’t be too hard to find one around here.”
The conversation shifted Sydney’s concentration to her own dilemma. Was entertainment accounting something she might like to do? It was an in-demand field if she moved back here. It seemed interesting enough, but she’d need to do a lot of learning, and probably some new certification.
But it sounded like something she’d enjoy. And she would never shy away from learning something new.
She’d unexpectedly added another notch to the pro moving back column.
Since she’d been here, she’d been putting a lot of notch marks in that column. And she’d somehow kept everyone’s opinions out of the mix.
Well, everyone except Katie.
Katie hadn’t tried to influence her decision at all. Even if she did that inadvertently.
But Katie wasn’t part of the plan, so she couldn’t be part of the decision.
They talked a little more about what Brynn had been handling for the group, and Sydney took notes on exactly what they needed help with. It was a pretty substantial list, but Sydney was sure she could find someone to work with them.
“I’ll do some digging and make some calls. I’ll send you a shortlist with some notes and let you all take it from there,” Sydney said. “Sound good?”
Rachel put her mug down and waved her fingers in excitement. “So good! Thank you.”
“Not a problem. I’ve got time while I’m here.”
