Page 64 of Running from the Blaze (Industrial November on Tour)

“Our what?”

“Your schedules. Tomorrow you have an interview with Joanna Elliott—”

“Shut up!” I shriek. “FromSteel Hard Rockmagazine?”

Roger’s face remains passive, as if bored, while my heart is racing so fast I’m sure he can hear it from where he stands. “Yes.”

“Oh my god,” I squeal. “Joanna Elliott is interviewing us!” I look over at Karl who seems just as bored as Roger. “How are you not excited?” I demand.

“Should I be?” Karl asks.

“Yeah! She’s only the best music writer ever!”

Roger and Karl exchange a look.

“What?” I ask them.

“You’re just, kind of a nerd, Lo,” Karl explains.

“Whatever.”

“Anyway,” Roger says, now sounding more annoyed than bored. “She’ll be here tomorrow with a camera crew. Make sure the place is clean. Coordinate your outfits or whatever it is couples do.”

“Fine,” Karl says followed by an exaggerated sigh.

“This weekend you’ll be attending a fundraiser Sofia is helping with. It’s for a cancer patient. Lola, you’ll volunteer too. I’ll have photographers on site. Bren and Karl will sign head shots and pose with fans. Sofia has assigned you to the ticket booth for them.”

“Sofia told me about it. Happy to help out.”

Roger continues going through our itinerary. “At the end of the month, Lola will accompany you to Los Angeles for the Steel Hard Rock Music Awards—”

“What!?”

“Lola, do you mind?” Roger snaps when I interrupt yet again. “We’ll never get through the itinerary if you stop to freak out at every item.”

“Sorry,” I say. I bite my lips together. I’m going to be Karl’s date at an event featuring all my living heroes.

“Win or lose, Bren wants to host a New Year’s party the following night. He’s rented a property just outside L.A. You will be staying there with the band. Lola, Sofia already has wardrobe and stylists on board for the trip. All you have to do is show up. You will be at all of these events and be happy to be photographed together.”

I look over at Karl, but his expression gives nothing away. Is he upset about all this? “Karl? I don’t have to go to these things if you don’t want—”

“You’re coming with me,” he says firmly. “End of discussion.” And I know he means that’s our deal.

“What’s in it for you?” I ask Roger, more than a little worried about why he’s helping us appear so serious when not too long ago, he was so set against dropping the party charade.

Roger looks at Karl. “You didn’t tell her?”

“Tell me what?” I ask.

“After the failed housewarming party,” Karl says, “I had a talk with Roger. He’s agreed to help me clean up my image and give this a try.”

“If it fails, we can always reevaluate,” Roger says.

I study Roger, considering him in a new light. He’s willing to work with Karl and compromise, to give him what he needs to thrive in the band. Maybe Roger isn’t as bad as I originally thought.

20

KARL

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