me swoon and squeal along with her.
“Reed wants to talk to you,” Georgina declares.
And two seconds later, Reed’s voice says, “Hello, lil sis.”
I giggle. “Hey there, big bro! Congratulations!”
“Thank you. We’re both over the moon.”
“As you should be. You two are perfect together. A match made in heaven.”
“We are, aren’t we?” Reed sighs happily, while Georgina says something incomprehensible, making Reed laugh. Reed says, “Listen, sis, before Georgie and I board our flight, I wanted to quickly tell you some exciting news. I saw a rough cut of your music video earlier today and it far exceeded my highest expectations.”
“No way! Can I see it?”
“Nope. Not yet.”
“Aw. Come on, big bro!”
Reed laughs. “Patience, lil sis. I’ve sent Maddy a few requested revisions, and she’s already hard at work. When the video is precisely the way I want it, I’ll have her send it to you in final for approval and/or requested revisions.”
“But I’m dying to see it now, big bro.”
“I never let my artists see their videos in draft. Too many cooks in the kitchen.”
“But I’m not merely your artist now,” I say, using my most persuasive tone. “I’m your lil sis.”
“Nope.”
I flap my lips together. “Well, you can’t blame a lil sis for trying. Hey, can I put you on speakerphone, big bro? Fish is standing here, staring at me, wondering what the hell is going on.”
“Put him on.”
I push the button for speaker mode and Reed graciously repeats himself about the amazingness of the music video—only this time, he heaps all sorts of praise on me and Fish for our “adorable” and “sparkling” and “relatable” performances. “You two are gold in this video,” he declares. “Maddy wanted ‘smitten’ glances and smiles, and, man, did you two deliver in spades.” He chuckles. “And it sure doesn’t hurt that the footage of Fish singing to you at the Garden has gone viral. Even before this video, you two have given the world a cute little love story.”
“It’s all a master marketing strategy, Reed,” Fish deadpans.
“Oh, I know. Of course.” He laughs. “This music video is gonna go viral, sis. I’d bet the farm on it. Which means ‘Blindsided’ will rocket up the charts on the back of the video. And that means, my darling little sister . . . Hold on. Georgie wants me to put you on speaker for this next thing.”
Georgie’s voice suddenly shrieks, “Hello!”
“Hello!”
Reed continues, “And that means, once the single is released, we’re going to want to capitalize on its momentum . . . with the release of . . . a full album, as soon as possible!”
I’m too shocked to react. I must have misheard that. Imagined it.
“Alessandra?” Reed says. “Honey, I’m hereby offering you a full-album deal with River Records! Do you accept? I promise the terms will be favorable.”
I look at Fish with my mouth in the shape of an O, before shrieking, “Yes! Yes! Oh my God!”
Laughing, Reed says, “You’ll get full promo treatment. The best production money can buy. I’m going to make my lil sis a fucking star. And not because I adore you. Which I do. But because you’re going to make me a mint, kid.”
I lose it. Babble. Shriek. Thank him profusely. And hug Fish like he’s just pulled me out of a stormy sea.
Reed says, “As soon as Georgie and I are back from our vacation, we’ll gear up to release the single. I’m thinking we’ll release it three weeks after we get the final video. Right around the time of the release, I’ll fly you to LA for some promo and a meeting with my team and Zeke, so we can figure out the schedule and next steps for the album. Sound good?”
“Yes! Perfect!”
“I’ll have Owen contact Zeke to find out his availability while I’m out of the country with my fiancée. Zeke is in demand and hard to pin down, but we’ll get him.”
“I don’t know how I’m going to sleep or eat until that meeting in LA!”
“No, no,” Reed says. “Put it out of your mind for now, if you can. It won’t be for several weeks. In the meantime, relax and enjoy the calm before the storm. Because once the single releases, it’s going to be a whirlwind for you. Judging by the way the world devoured Fish singing to you, everyone is going to lose their minds over that video.”
“I can’t believe this.”
“To be clear, though, even as you’re relaxing, if any new songs or melodies come to you, jot them down.