Page 93 of Tell Me When It's Over

It’s the tail end of the song by the time I’m able to inch out of the parking spot with a few of the paps running after me. I roll my eyes and pull onto the main road, ignoring the people still shouting, offering them no more than a sarcastic wave.

“That was Kyler Bishop’s newest song ‘Cali on my Mind’ which the six-time Grammy award winner surprised his fans with yesterday. Kelly, I know you’ve been a long-time fan of his since his Single Division days, so what do you think?”

Normally I hate listening to commentary on my work. There’s never going to be a song that everybody loves. With every handful of loyal fans, there’s always a hater or two in the mix. It’s never easy hearing people dislike something you invested hard work in because there’s a piece of your soul woven into it. I’ve had my fair share of criticism over the years, the worst of it when I made the announcement that I was going solo. The hate mail and accusations were so bad that they had to hire people to go through it first to make sure there weren’t any viable threats against me that needed to be reported.

A popular radio host takes over, her feminine voice filling the airway. “You know, Keith, I think very few people can do what Kyler Bishop has in his lifetime. We’ve seen boy bands break up all the time, but it’s rare they make a name for themselves on their own. There were a lot of doubters when he decided to leave the guys of SD behind—”

“Let’s not forget what his former bandmates said about it. They didn’t even think he’d make it without them,” the male news caster cuts in, laughing.

Nose twitching, I ease off the gas and roll my eyes at the old shit he’s trying to drag up. My former bandmates and I still talk. Not often, or as much as we probably should considering the years we’ve spent together, but we didn’t hate each other. Were things tense after I walked away? Yes. Did a few of them say things to the media that was taken out of context? Yeah. It was misconstrued for the drama factor and people ate it up.

“The point is, he did. There’s been speculation over the past year that he’s retiring after such a short run compared to others in the industry, and without him speaking out on it, it was plausible. Then he drops this. He’s always been talented, but did you see that video? He was making lov

e to that camera as he sang every word, Keith.”

“That’s a bit excessive, don’t you think?” her co-host chuckles.

She scoffs. “Hardly. Not only did he get over 1.2 million views in the first hour, he broke the record for the most likes in a day. And that was only on Instagram with a thirty-second preview. I don’t know who his people are, but they played the game right. The full YouTube video for the song has already broken at least two different viewing records on the platform. And the comments—”

“Since listeners can’t see Kelly right now, she’s fanning herself,” the guy announces in amusement.

“I’d be surprised if there aren’t a handful of women pregnant just by listening to that throaty performance. It’s his best work yet,” she concludes.

The grin on my face stretches as I flick the radio off in satisfaction. Chances are, there will be people tearing it apart, but I don’t want to hear it. Mind latching onto one particular comment on “my people” and their obvious stroke of genius, I tell myself I’ll have to buy Leighton every kind of chocolate there is for coming up with the video idea.

Even Gordy hadn’t considered doing a home video until Lenny called him the same night she suggested it to me. It took three different tries, but the final version was tweaked enough to fit the different platforms and was ready to be uploaded the second the single went live.

Gordy called at one in the morning, a full hour after it dropped, to tell me we’d already broken records. As of this morning, ‘Cali on my Mind’ is in the top three single releases on four different charts in the US alone, and according to everyone who I’ve talked to, we’re vying for the number one spot in no time.

I’m supposed to be laying low since the release, but I’ve been low on groceries since my not-so-secret shopper spent a month away from the house instead of sneaking food into the pantry. Gordy’s been getting calls since yesterday wanting me to do exclusive interviews, and I still have yet to agree to one. Realistically, I’d look like too much of a prick not to speak out after this, so I’ll have to do a few to get people off my back, which means my friend will need to be selective about who will get the green light.

I’m pulling into the driveway, thankful nobody followed me, when my phone buzzes where I tossed it in the cup holder. The screen on my dash lights up with the person it’s from since it automatically connects through Bluetooth, and my brows lift a fraction.

Aussie Asshole: How does “Making love to the camera” feel? Asking for a friend

Aussie Asshole: I’m the friend. I’ve yet to be told I make love to inanimate objects, but I bet I’d be damn good at it

Putting the car into park, I roll my eyes and grab my phone.

Me: We aren’t friends, and you’re just jealous

Aussie Asshole: Damn straight I am

Snorting, I pocket the device and grab the few bags I have before making it inside. Lenny still has a few hours on campus before she’ll be back, or I’d call her about what people are saying. She’ll be excited when she hears.

I drop things onto the counter and feel my phone buzz again with an oncoming text.

Aussie Asshole: Does this mean you’ll be on my album?

Me: No

Aussie Asshole: A live duet then?

Me: Why are you texting me?

Aussie Asshole: I’m one of the many people who got pregnant over your “throaty performance” and I’m working my way up to demanding child support

Me: Don’t you have better things to do than listen to the radio and annoy me?

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