One More Time - Ali Parker Page 0,4
out of my head when she’d told me what the budget was for their wedding. Jared clearly made too much money. Or he just liked throwing what he had at my sister and their impending nuptials. Either way, it was an insane amount of money to spend on one day, as far as I was concerned.
“Exactly. That’s why you need to start thinking about things like a dress and décor. Or else Mom is going to put me in pink taffeta and you in a Disney princess gown.”
“At least that’s better than if Jared had to choose my dress.” She smirked, eyes crinkling at the corners at whatever images she was conjuring up in her mind. I had to agree with her though. He’d probably end up having her wear leather or something. “But not by much. Point taken. I’ll try to squeeze planning in somewhere between all the tour stuff.”
“Deal.” We flopped onto my couches, two white ones that I rescued from a yard sale because they made me think of clouds.
“Now that you’ve done your official maid of honor duties by threatening me with Mom if I don’t get something done wedding wise, let’s talk about you. How’s the new job going?” Tucking her legs underneath her, Alicia got comfortable and settled in, both hands wrapped around her wine glass as she peered at me over its edge.
“It’s been really good. GNM is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” Gathers No Moss, my new employer, was a hot entertainment/music magazine that was almost impossible to get a job at, especially for a freelance reporter and blogger like me. I never would’ve been on their radar if it hadn’t been for some exclusive interviews that Alicia set up for me with Destitute.
Those interviews really put me on the map, especially since the band had just dropped their most highly anticipated album yet. Which reminded me. “Thanks for arranging those interviews for me. You’re the reason I’m finally on the rock reporting beat and that my blog has taken off. I owe you big time.”
Alicia scoffed. “You don’t owe me anything. You deserved to get those interviews, and you’re the one who wrote them up. I just hope they treat you right over there and that they understand our Chinese wall.”
As Destitute’s PR agent, Alicia and I were on opposite ends on the entertainment industry, yet we were also sisters and best friends. Years ago, when we were both starting out, we erected a Chinese wall between us when it came to our professional capacities, and it remained intact to this day. Mostly.
“I think they get it,” I told her, thinking back at the short time I’d been with GNM. They hadn’t once asked me to pull in a favor with Alicia. “They’re paying me to follow Destitute on their tour though.”
Her brows rose, and she took a contemplative sip of wine before saying anything. Her shoulders tensed up. “I didn’t know that. No one’s been in contact with me to organize for any reporters to be touring with us.”
She chewed on her bottom lip, clearly troubled and surprised by the news. “I don’t think they expect me to tour with you. Just to follow the band.”
“Maybe, but it still makes me nervous.”
“Why?” I frowned. I knew she would be concerned, but I wasn’t quite expecting the reaction I was getting.
Sighing deeply, she shifted on the couch and set her wine down on the glass side table. “Because, Kel, I’m their PR agent. I should know about these kinds of things. At the very least, it’s professional courtesy for them to have reached out to me. Besides, we could easily end up on opposite sides of things here.”
“We’re always on opposite sides of things,” I argued. “It’s never caused any problems for us before.”
“It hasn’t, but we’ve also never toured on opposite ends before. I’ve heard some of the things that the band has gotten up to on tour before, and it’s going to be up to me to stop their antics from ending up as front-page news, while it’s going to be up to you to put them there.”
Alicia’s brows furrowed, and she released a shaky breath, worry radiating from her as she started twirling a blonde lock between her thumb and index finger. It was one of her nervous tells.
“You’re worrying too much about this,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm and even. “It’s not going to be any different than it’s been before.