More Than Maybe - Erin Hahn Page 0,87

asks, her voice wooden. “Why do you think this is about you?”

“I don’t know. The last time I talked to the partners, I lost my temper. I threw the Loud Lizard in their faces. I was so angry, Vada. They were talking about using my song and all this global brand marketing, and I told them I wouldn’t pitch them on the podcast, and then I bragged about how the Loud Lizard had scored (Not) Warren—”

“You told them about (Not) Warren?”

“I did, but I never dreamed they would go after the band. I didn’t even know they were ready to open. I haven’t been paying much attention … I was busy with you, planning for—”

“Right,” Vada says flatly. Cold, like when she talks about her dad. “And somehow you just missed the fact that your dad’s partners were out to get Phil?”

“No,” I insist. “Not completely anyway. I knew my dad’s club was a threat to Phil. Even Phil knew it was a threat. It’s why we were planning this fund-raiser in the first place. But to be honest, I thought it was just business.” I choke out the words.

“Just business? To shut Phil down?” Vada sounds close to tears, and I want to die. “You’re as bad as Marcus, calling him a failure just because he’s soft on his employees.”

“Stop. Vada,” I plead. “That’s not what I meant at all. You know I don’t think Phil is a failure. I think he’s incredible. This wasn’t about him. This was about me and my song. That’s it. My dad’s partners were looking to exploit the song, and Christ!” I yank at my hat, accidentally ripping it from my head. “I was selfish, okay? But I wasn’t trying to hurt anyone!”

Vada shakes her head slowly, her hand combing through her hair at the roots for a moment before dropping heavily to her side. “I don’t understand how this happened.”

I open my mouth, and she holds up a hand, stilling the words in my throat. “That wasn’t—I know what you said. I get it. You threw a tantrum and revealed our cards. It was an accident, and you didn’t mean it. I know. Luke, I know. Okay?” Vada’s eyes are shining with tears, and one spills over onto her cheek. She swipes at it angrily, sniffing loudly. Her voice breaks, and my chest cracks open with it. “But it’s shitty. You know? Everything we worked for, down the drain. Everything I’ve worked for, for years, gone. Marcus wins.”

“Marcus does not—”

“He does, though. I’ve been naïve to put all my stock in Liberty Live. It’s just a show, and I’m just a kid. I was stupid for believing I could pull off something special. I’m not special. Phil’s not special. Hard work only takes you so far.” She grimaces, and her shoulders slump, defeated. “Marcus, the asshole, was right.”

“Stop. He’s not right. Not this time. Listen, I’m sorry,” I say, my voice a croak. “I’ll talk to (Not) Warren. Get the band back—”

“Jesus, Luke.” She laughs humorlessly. “It’s too late for that. We can’t outbid them. Whatever the cost, it will be way beyond our means. No, I need to talk to Ben. Maybe his bluegrass band…”

I try to step closer, and she holds her hand out. “No. I can’t think with you…” Her voice rings hollow. “Please go. You’ve done enough. I need—I need to try to fix this.” Vada closes her eyes, compiling a mental list. “Without the fund-raiser, the club will close. Maybe not right away, though. Maybe Phil can coast another summer at least. But Liberty Live will be gone. I’ll still have the blog, but not the access to shows. And Jesus, Rolling Stone…”

“Wait, what about Rolling Stone?”

Her brown eyes pierce me as if just realizing I’m still standing here. Tears roll down her cheeks in earnest now, and she swipes at them furiously. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter anymore. I’ll have to figure out another way.”

“I can help you. Please. Vada—”

“No. Seriously. You’ve done enough. Go. I need to do this alone.”

But it’s not me who leaves. It’s Vada.

30

VADA

LUKE

YouTube: Vance Joy “Like Gold”

LUKE

YouTube: Tom Odell “I Know”

LUKE

YouTube: Twenty One Pilots “Car Radio”

LUKE

YouTube: Dramarama “Anything, Anything”

LUKE

Vada. I know you’re there. I know you can see my calls.

LUKE

Fine. Text it is. Please let me help. I need to help. I want to fix this.

VADA

YouTube: Demi Lovato “Stone Cold”

VADA

YouTube: Noah Cyrus & Labrinth “Make Me Cry”

VADA

YouTube: The Civil Wars “Poison & Wine”

VADA

YouTube: Counting Crows “Colorblind”

VADA

I’m turning off my phone now.