Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88218 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88218 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
It’s early, so I don’t expect to find anyone inside, but as I enter the house, I see Henry at my kitchen table eating cereal. This is why house guests aren’t supposed to stay for long. They eat my food and are awake when I’m trying to be sneaky. Although, it’s technically not my food. Craft services stacked my house with groceries for the contestants to eat. But that’s not the point.
I nod to Henry as I turn on the coffee machine. “Morning.”
He eyes me and the direction I came from. Ah, shit.
“Mason asked me to wake him up before production got here so he could come in and have breakfast, but he told me to fuck off because he’s still sleeping.”
Henry laughs. “Man, I wish I could sleep. I’m too nervous and keyed up.”
He runs a hand over his blond hair. His eyes look a little tired, and not for the first time, I contemplate what this type of show does psychologically to everyone competing. They all have so much on the line.
I feel sorry for the guy. “You’ve come this far, and that’s an amazing achievement. Winning isn’t everything. In fact, most people who win these types of shows get overshadowed by the acts who get picked up by other labels.”
“Are you saying I should throw the competition?”
“No. I’m saying don’t worry about winning. Only worry about showing your best.”
“Thanks. I take it Mason isn’t joining us today, then? I liked working with him yesterday. He really helped me.”
I asked him, but he didn’t really give me an answer, so I’m guessing that’s a no. As I go to say that, Mason steps through the back sliding door wearing his usual black tank top, but instead of sweats, he’s wearing jeans, and on top he has an unbuttoned flannel with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
I have to swallow my tongue.
I face the coffee machine which is still warming up so it’s not obvious drool is about to come out of my mouth. Come on, come on, come on.
“Morning, Henry.” Mason steps up behind me and reaches above my head, pulling down two coffee cups. “Denver.”
His warmth at my back sends a shock straight to my groin. I shouldn’t have slept in the same bed as him last night. I knew that, but I did it anyway. This is where my trouble lies. I miss being close to him, but when I am that close, my brain and heart are at war with each other. One searches for him while the other likes to remind me it will never happen.
I get pulled in two different directions, and it sucks because it’s like my heart gets torn in two over and over and over again. Soon it’s going to be shards of shattered pieces inside my chest.
“I just asked Denver if you were going to be helping today,” Henry says.
The girls make their entrance next before Mason can answer. They sit at the table and choose their cereal, while Mason leans in even closer than he already is. And he’s fucking close.
Personal space means not being able to feel someone else’s body heat, damn it.
“Is your offer still good?” His deep voice rumbles low in my ear, and I hold back a shiver.
“You want to go on camera?” I was totally expecting him to bail.
“I put on my good flannel and everything.” The smartass toys with the hem of his shirt.
“Thank you.”
“You were right. We should help them. If Joystar hadn’t given us our big break and taught us everything we know, I would’ve been home years ago living in Mom’s tiny cottage.”
“We never would’ve met.”
Mason’s lips disappear between his beard and mustache as he takes in that notion. “It’s hard to remember a time you weren’t in my life. It feels like we’ve known each other since we were kids.”
Yeah, I know. Because you see me like a brother. Got it.
The alert for my front gate sounds, so I leave Mason to the coffees while I go greet the production team outside.
“Hey, guys.”
Camera crew pull their equipment along, and I let them pass, but I pull up one of the producers and step in front of her.
“Hi.” I put on as much charm as I can. “I need to talk to one of the execs. Someone who’s willing to cut a giant check.”
She cocks her head. “Why?”
I gesture for her to come inside the house. “I have a guest staying with me who’s willing to help me with my contestants.”
She looks intrigued and follows me inside. The second she lays eyes on Mason, she pauses. “I’ll get you a giant check within ten minutes.”
Mason might not even accept it. I don’t think he decided to do this for the money. But screw doing it for free.
The production team sets up in my music room where my piano is, and today is going to be the same as yesterday except they’re going to film it. All of today’s footage will probably become three minutes of actual screen time where they show the contestants practicing and getting vocal coaching.