Chapter 3
GUNNAR
“Not only no, but hell no,”
I say to Sarah. “I’m a rocker. Not a country or pop singer.”
Sarah laughs. “Man, Gunnar, you and Blaire Cavileri are cut from the same cloth.”
“I hardly think so.”
She smirks. “She’s not a rock and roll fan, and you’re not a classical music fan. But damn… Your voice and hers… The two of you could create heaven together.”
“You’re not going to turn me into something I’m not, Sarah.”
“Did I say anything like that? I’m suggesting a collaboration of music that works for both of you. You bring your rocker charisma and she’ll bring her operatic resonance and powerful stage presence. You’re going to bring out the best in each other. I’m sure of it. We could even cut an album.”
“Singing what? Sure, all of her classical tunes are in the public domain, but I sing mostly covers. You’d have your work cut out for you in copyright law hell.”
She shakes her head. “Don’t you worry about that. I’ve got a hungry songwriter who has written some amazing duets. Do you know how long I’ve been searching for the right project for you, Gunnar?”
“I know, and I appreciate it, but I just assumed when you found it, it would be rock and roll.”
“Do you really want to be the next big rock and roll star?”
“Uh…yeah, I do. I thought we were on the same page with that.”
“I’m offering you something unique. We take two talented young singers. One rocker, one classical. We bring them together and put them into a genre where they can both shine. Soft pop rock.”
“I’m not interested. Besides, Blaire Cavileri would never lower herself to sing with me.”
Sarah shrugs. “Don’t be so sure. She’s young and hungry, just like you are.”
I let my gaze wander over to Blaire, who is talking to the older gentleman in the tweed blazer. God, just looking at her turns me on. Not a great thing if I have to sing with her. Jamie’s busy setting up the karaoke machine while soft rock music plays over the loudspeaker.
“I don’t know, Sarah.”
I run my hand up and down the neck of my guitar. “Rock and roll is who I am.”
She rolls her eyes. “Who you are is a man with an extraordinary amount of talent who hasn’t quite found his place yet. Consider the possibility that it’s not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”
I shake my head. “I can’t consider that. It’s been my dream forever.”
Sarah runs her hands through her hair and takes a deep breath in. “It can still be your dream. It can still be your goal. But there’s nothing wrong with taking a diverging path sometimes.”
I sigh. “Fine. I’ll sing ‘Mellow’ with her.”
“You know the song?”
“Of course I do. Besides, karaoke machines have words, Sarah.”
“Great,”
she says. “Let me go tell Jamie it’s on, and once everything is set up, he’ll introduce the two of you.”
“All right.”
As Sarah walks toward the stage to talk to Jamie, I glance over to Blaire once more.
That guy she’s with? The older one?
He’s fucking glaring at me.