on standby who can sub in if either Parker or Magnus aren’t available. One of our roadies is a very talented drummer who frequently jams with us.
“Why just Magnus?” Russell asks, his face scrunching in confusion. “What’s wrong with Magnus?”
“Nothing’s wrong with Magnus.” I spit out the words. “It’s personal, and we’re not getting into it.”
Magnus’s face has gone grim and angry. “No need. I’ll play there.”
His body language has changed completely. His jaw is set in an angry line and his body is tight with tension.
I shake my head. “It’s my decision.”
His face flushes red. “Since when? You don’t get to tell me where and when I play.”
“Magnus, it’s for the best.”
“You don’t think I can handle it?” Rage simmers in his eyes and he opens his mouth, about to direct it at me, full force.
Monica puts her hand on his arm. “Sebastian is not the enemy. Chris is.”
Magnus shakes her arm off angrily. Parker goes into protective husband-mode and lunges at Magnus.
I barely catch him in time and pull him back, arms wrapped tightly around him.
“Knock it off, everyone!” I yell at them. “If we can’t work together, we’re not going on tour. I will not tour if we’re at each other’s throats. End of story. Everybody take five and calm down, and then we’ll deal with it.”
Magnus turns and storms out of the conference room, and I release Parker. I consider going after Magnus, but experience has taught me that it’s always better to let him cool down on his own. He needs time alone when he’s like this.
Monica grabs Parker’s hand. “Babe. I love it that you go all caveman sometimes, but the moment has passed and it’s all good now. We’re going for a walk.”
Parker’s face is dark with anger, but he nods and lets Monica lead him out of the room. Callie walks in a minute later, her face puckered with concern.
“Everything okay?”
“Private meeting,” Russell says impatiently. “Come back later.”
“You want to watch how you talk to her, because you’re already treading on very thin ice with me,” I say coldly. “Callie, come in.”
She walks into the room, barely sparing Russell a glance. Even as angry as I am, I can’t help but appreciate how cute she looks, wearing her hotel maid outfit with the little cap and apron. It lightens my heart in this otherwise dark moment. She’s the Monica to my Parker. My other half. And as long as we’re together, nothing can be that bad.
Russell scowls at me. “That’s another thing, Sebastian. You’re getting dangerously close to exposing the relationship, and you know how Chris feels about it. As in, it’s a non-starter. Not happening.”
“Excuse you?” Callie’s voice is sharp enough to draw blood. She shoots me a look.
I’m about a microsecond way from exploding. I almost feel like Russell is stirring up crap on purpose, maybe at Chris’s direction. Trying to upset Magnus, trying to cause beef between Callie and me. What the fuck is Chris’s end game? Because I’m done playing.
“Chris has zero say in my relationship status, and when it comes to Callie, I will do what I want. We’re together, permanently, so he’d better deal with it and move on. I think I made it clear at our Nashville meeting that I won’t be pushed around anymore. And right now, the best thing you can do for yourself is to walk out of that door. We’ll play the concert in Ironside, despite that fact that our contract specifically bars that. Magnus will not be there.”
I pull my phone out of my pocket.
“What are you doing?” Russell’s voice climbs in alarm. “Don’t bother Chris. He’s in a mood.”
“I’m not bothering Chris. I’m messaging Skylar directly. I doubt she’s going to want to tank everything just because Chris would rather pair me off with a celebrity.”
“I can take care of it!”
“Not from what I’ve seen so far.” I tap out a message:
Chris claims we’re not allowed to tour if anyone finds out that Callie is my fake fiancée. This would be a mistake.
A moment later I get a reply:
I’ll talk to him about it. Just do your job.
“There, it’s handled,” I say.
Callie stands there with her hands on her hips. Russell looks as if he’s about to give me a sharp retort, but the expression on my face warns him off, and for once he does the smart thing. He turns around and walks out of the room without a word.
I turn to Callie, prepared for a small-scale nuclear