just as incredulous as I am.
“She’s got the talent,” Jasper states. “She’s an associate, which means she does whatever Lyric says, and she’ll still have oversight. And we need this album done quickly. Even on vacation. If the songs need some more polishing, that can be done after we’ve finished laying down the main tracks.”
Christ.
I scrub my hands up and down my face and then grab my goddamn bottle. I down a few gulps only to have Eden attempt to steal it once again from me. This time I let her. She does the same, downing large gulps with a panic-stricken look splitting her features in two.
“You’re serious with this?” She stares at Jasper, bewildered. “Jas…”
“I just heard your work, Eden. Both songs actually, not just the one you played for us tonight. Harry sent me the track you finished today to me earlier this evening. I spent the last ten days listening to Harry brag about how perfect you are. I understand I have to put it to a vote since that’s how we roll as a band, but from my point of view, I’m offering you the job of producer for Wild Minds’ next studio album.”
“That makes me too,” Gus adds, because if Jasper says he wants her and has confidence that she can do this, Gus is in. Hell, that’s usually enough for all of us. That’s how much we trust our frontman’s judgment on things.
Keith meets Eden’s eyes with a smile that tells me I’m the last man standing. “I’m sorry I wasn’t by your side from the start. I get shitty and weird when it comes to this stuff. But you’re my sister, and I absolutely believe in you. You can do this, Ede. If you want it, it’s yours.”
She coughs out an astonished laugh, overwhelmed by the way this night has turned for her. She takes Keith’s hand. “If you’re for real and you get Lyric to sign off on this, I’m in. It would be a dream come true to produce one of my brother’s albums. Add to that your faith that I can do it. I’m honored and humbled and would never ever let you down.”
I can’t stop my mind from going a million miles a minute. What the hell is happening? They’re offering Eden a job as our producer for our next album? She’s as wet behind the ears as it gets. One or two decent songs does not a producer make.
Jasper wants this done in two-and-a-half months, three weeks of that while we’re on some vacation in Hawaii? That means she’d come. With us. On vacation. In Hawaii. Sunshine and beaches and… bikinis.
“We just released an album this year,” I argue. This cannot happen. Surely, he has to see how nonsensical this idea of his is.
“Marco thinks we should hold on to this new one until next spring or summer and release it then for Grammy and sales reasons,” Jasper clarifies. “But for the sake of Ady and my girls, the sooner we get this finished the better. In truth, I think we could all use this upcoming time off. We’ve been going non-stop for a decade, Henry. Ten years and seven albums. Soon to be eight.”
Jesus. This is just…
“And you think we can record an album while on vacation?” I’m skeptical. And a fucking wreck. And hoping he sees that’s just lunacy.
“I’m thinking if we spend fifty percent of our time recording this album in the three weeks we’re there, we can get at least a few songs of it done.”
He’s got this all mapped out. All nod in agreement because they’re on the same page. Keith glances over his shoulder at a pregnant Maia dancing on the dance floor. Gus is staring at Naomi too, obviously thinks about the tough road they are about to venture down with regards to their own baby-making dreams.
Me? I’m thinking about the fact that our little girl, our Adalyn, is going to be starting kindergarten and needs all the love, support, and attention to be on her. I blow out a silent breath, forcing myself to focus on the only brothers, the only real family I have in this world, and let out another slow, steady breath.
“If this is what you need done, I’m in,” I tell them because how I can be anything but.
It won’t be as bad as I’m making it out to be. I can ignore Eden Dawson easily enough. There will be plenty to distract to me. My