on mai tais most of that week. Maybe I was testing you to see what you were made of. Maybe I was putting a fire under your ass to step up your game.” He shrugs. “Either way, I’m not sorry because, maybe, just maybe, those comments played a part, however small, in turning you into the brilliant musician you are today—one of the very best in the business. I think it’s pretty obvious at this point 22 Goats wouldn’t be what it is today without all three of you contributing.”
Dax, Colin, and I share a look of complete astonishment.
“If I was a prick to you in Maui, then I apologize,” Reed says. And damned if he doesn’t sound sincere. “If I was trying to put a fire under your ass, there were probably better words I could have chosen. God knows what I was thinking. Maybe I was simply getting off on being a prick.”
Again, Dax, Colin, and I exchange looks of complete shock.
“Damn, Reed,” Dax says. “What kind of spell has Georgina cast on you? I don’t think I’ve heard you apologize to anyone but Violet.”
Reed shrugs. “It’s the new me.” He winks. “Good thing I’m hardly ever wrong, eh? So I don’t need to make a habit of this.”
We all chuckle.
“Now get the fuck out,” Reed says. “I have work to do.”
We say our goodbyes and head through the lobby of River Records toward the elevators.
“Well, that went well,” I say.
“Yeah, that was . . . crazy,” Colin says.
The elevator doors open.
We step inside.
Dax scrutinizes me. “You okay, Fish Taco?”
“Huh?”
“You look deep in thought.”
I smile. “I was just thinking about tomorrow. What I’m going to say when I pick Alessandra up from the airport.”
“She’s not going to be staying in Reed’s casita, ever, I take it?” Dax says, returning my broad smile.
“Correct. If I get my way, my woman’s gonna be staying with me while we write and record her album. And then, as long as we both shall live.”
Thirty-Five
Alessandra
As I enter the baggage claim area at LAX, I scan the milling crowd around the carousels until my eyes lock onto the most handsome face in the world. My hot boyfriend. My loverrr. He’s scanning the crowd while holding a lovely bouquet of red roses. And, of course, he looks like a tasty fish filet in his T-shirt and jeans.
I take off toward him, shouting his name. And when he spots me, Fish takes off running, too.
We meet in the middle and crash into each other.
After kissing me passionately, he presses his forehead against mine and coos, “God, I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.”
He jolts and looks down at the roses crushed between us. “Oh. Crap. These are for you.” He steps back and hands me the bouquet. “Welcome home. I love you. I’ve missed you. Happy birthday.”
I giggle. “I’ll take three out of four, but my birthday isn’t for five days.”
“It’s your birthday month. That’s good enough for me to start celebrating.”
A baggage carousel a few yards away whirs to life and we drift over to it, holding hands and smiling giddily at each other.
“I have lots and lots of stuff to tell you,” he says. His smile widens. “I’m going to produce your album, baby. I’ve already cleared it with Reed.”
“What?” I shout.
“Assuming that’s still what you want?”
“Yes!” I throw my arms around him and kiss him enthusiastically, unwittingly sending a few rose petals fluttering to the ground. I jerk back. “But what about your album? Your schedule? Fish, no. As much as I’d love to have you as my producer, I can’t let you—”
“Yes, you can. We’ve worked it all out. I’ll tell you everything in the car. But, long story short, Dax and Colin and I are going to slow things down to make room for side projects and family time. We’re all on board with this. I promise.”
A group of people squeeze next to us at the baggage carousel, forcing us to take a step to the side.
Fish continues, “And that’s only the beginning of the stuff I’m excited to tell you about.” He pauses for dramatic effect. “Reed wants me to sing a duet with you on the album, if you’re still down for that.”
“Yes!”
“It was totally Reed’s idea, by the way. I didn’t say a thing.”
“Did you tell him yes?”
“Of course. So I guess we’d better get to work on that little ditty we started in Boston, huh?”
“Yes!” I clutch my heart, overjoyed, sending more petals fluttering to the ground. “This