of you thinking RA owes you. That I owe you. That everybody in the goddamn world owes something to Dirk Campbell.”
“You’d do best to remember your place,” Dirk says. “The way I see it, you do owe me. Or have you forgotten about White Poison, SummerStage, and all the other shit I’ve done for your band? Not to mention what I do for your goddamn mother.”
“Don’t talk about my mother. And let’s face it, dear uncle, you’re the one who owes me. I could ruin you, and you know it.”
“That’s bullshit,” Dirk says. “You couldn’t, and you won’t. Who would take care of Colleen? You really think your alcoholic mother would survive on the street?”
There is a loud thump against the wall.
“Don’t fucking call her that,” Liam yells.
“Get your hands off me,” Dirk says. “That is unless you like them there.”
Oh shit. I start toward the door, thinking Liam is about to go ballistic, and hear a car pull up.
“Go to hell, Dirk,” Liam says. “Either kick us out of the barn or stay the hell away from us.”
I slip out the door. Dirk is straightening his tie.
Ronni gets out of her car and looks at the three of us. “Did I miss something?”
Dirk goes over and kisses Ronni’s cheek. “Liam was just thanking me for bringing lunch, weren’t you, son?”
Liam’s hands ball into fists. He hates it when Dirk calls him that. He returns to the barn, and I follow. He pulls me aside. “I need to get out of Dirk’s house. I can’t write any fucking music lately. And Mom—she’s not good. I have to get her out of there too.”
“Everything okay?” Bria asks.
“Yes,” I say.
Liam snorts. “Sure, if my uncle being a prick is okay. You guys think you live in shitholes, but you have no idea how much I’d give to be in a place like one of yours.”
“Why don’t you?” Bria asks. “Maybe you and Crew could get a place together.”
Liam shakes his head. “I have to think about Mom.”
Bria doesn’t press the issue. I haven’t told her much about Liam’s family situation and nothing about his past.
Liam shuffles away, still brooding.
“Trying to pawn me off on someone else so you don’t have to move in with me?” I joke.
She wrinkles her nose and shrugs.
“Come on,” I say. “Let’s eat.”
A few minutes later, Ronni comes inside with someone in tow. “This is Kai Hansen. He’s going to do the shoot.” She looks at Bria from head to toe. “Please tell me you brought different clothes. Those look like they came from the same place you got your apartment.”
“Give it a rest, Ronni,” I say. “We all brought several changes of clothes.”
“Good, because there’s no way she would fit into anything of mine. Everything I own is a size four. She’d look like a stuffed sausage.”
Bria is tense, like she’s holding back. Ronni has a stick up her ass, for sure. I wonder if she’s always been able to get her way with clients. Something tells me she always gets what she wants, and that pisses me off and also scares me a little, because Ronni seems to hate Bria.
Kai unpacks his gear, bringing in several screens and lights. He motions to us. “You look strong, mates. I saw bales of hay outside. Let’s pile a few of the smaller ones behind the drums.”
I’m surprised by his British accent. Does it remind Bria of Adam? But she doesn’t seem affected, and that makes me happy.
I drop off a bale and ask Ronni, “What’s this going to cost us? I’ve seen his equipment. He can’t be cheap. We have no money, but you keep making us do expensive shit.”
“This one’s on IRL. Niles likes you, so make it good. We’re sticking our necks out for you.”
“He likes us, huh?”
She runs a finger down my chest. “What’s not to like?”
“Ronni,” I warn, glancing at Bria to see if she’s watching.
“You’re no fun at all, are you?” She leans close. “One day you’ll give in to me, Christopher Rewey.”
I push her away. “Nobody calls me that, least of all you.”
“We’ve already established I can call you whatever I please. Now don’t you have some more hay to move?”
After we’ve moved everything around per Kai’s directions, we get changed for the shoot. Ronni tries to take charge, positioning Bria behind me, like she always does. Kai calls Bria to the front, and Ronni protests.
“You’re paying me to take the best photos. You need to trust me,” Kai says to her.