heard that Summer wanted to work with Cary, badly, and had convinced the rest of the band to get onboard with the idea. I knew Xander had posed the idea to Cary. But I wanted to get his take on it.
“Xander asked me if I’d consider producing the album. Summer really wanted me to work with them, I guess.” He paused. “Do you know Summer?”
“Yeah. I’ve met everyone in the band.”
“Right. So, I guess it was her idea and she convinced Xander to ask me. Brody approached me about it, formally, but Xander wanted to make sure I was really into it. And that our personal shit wouldn’t get in the way.”
“In what way?”
“Well, he knows I can be pretty intense on a project. Plus, things haven’t been all that… smooth… between us this last year.”
I considered that. “I guess the fact that he hooked up with your eighteen-year-old sister might make things a bit… rocky?”
“It might.”
“I’m not surprised. I’d probably be pissed if Xander hooked up with my teenage sister. I mean, if I had one.”
“Yeah. Well, she’s nineteen now and they’ve lasted almost a year. Seem to be in love, from what they tell me. I guess I’m stuck with it.”
“For what it’s worth, he treats her like gold whenever I see them together.”
He considered that. Maybe it was occurring to him for the first time that I actually saw Xander with his sister out in the world. “How often is that?”
“Few times a month, at least. They hang with Ash and Danica a lot, and me and Danica are pretty much a package deal, so… I’ve gotten to know Courteney and Xander. They seem really good together.”
“If that changes… think you might let me know?”
“Sure. But I don’t think you need to worry. He’s very considerate, gentlemanly, when he’s with her. Tender, even. Different than he is when she’s not there. She brings out his soft, gentle side.”
“Didn’t really know he had one.”
“Come on. Sure you did.”
“Not really.”
“Huh. Well, it’s there. And your sister is basking in it.”
“I guess that’s good to hear.”
“I’ll keep an eye on them for you, though. I’ll let you know if there’s ever a time when he needs a stern talking to. I’ll even lure him in here for you and lock the soundproof door so you can give him shit.”
“I knew there was a reason I hired you.”
I smiled and sipped my coffee. “So… Brody came knocking and worked out a deal between you and the Players?”
“More or less. Trey Jones, over at Brick House Records, was involved, too. That’s the record company.”
“Right.”
“There were a lot of moving parts. Negotiations. Lawyers to consult and paperwork to look over, all that bullshit. Would be nice if me and Xander could just shake hands and be on our way, but it doesn’t really work that way anymore. Everything has to be approved from up on high. Trey owns Brick House, but he’s got all these executive minions who want to put in their two cents. And I have a lawyer who acts kind of like a manager for me, negotiates my deals for me. Am I boring you yet?”
“Nope.” He really wasn’t. I was actually excited by how interesting this all was. How did I even get in here? I was still kind of in awe about it. “This is all really interesting. Seriously. If I ever annoy you with too many questions, please just tell me to get lost because you have work to do. I have a feeling I’m gonna have a lot of questions. I mean, if that’s okay with you.”
“Sure. Ask whatever you want,” he said, but I could sense some hesitation there. Maybe he was worried I’d go too far, get too personal with the inquiry.
“Thanks. I’ve never had a job in the music biz,” I said, trying to reassure him that I was interested in his work, not the gossip surrounding his past. “But right about now, I’m thinking maybe I should’ve.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, you’re here now.”
“Right. Maybe I’ll touch base with that studio manager of yours over at Little Black Hole. Get myself set up here. Take a peek at your workflow if you have time to kind of explain the basics to me. If you think that’s appropriate.”
“Sure. We can do that this afternoon.”
“Anything specific you need to get done today? You want me to check in later, make sure you complete your task or anything like that?”
“Pressure,” he mused. “I like it. Actually, I should finish