Chapter 36
Turns out I’m not sick. Just in love.
Addy
D r. Allens smiles at me. “Hi, Addison. What sibling is injured this time?”
“Actually.” I hesitate. This sounds crazy. Does sounding crazy mean I have a mental illness?
The doctor’s smile drops from her face. “What’s wrong?”
“Can you give me a test for schizophrenia?”
Her eyes widen. “Schizophrenia?”
“It’s hereditary, isn’t it?”
“But your mom…” She trails off. “Ah, Nora finally told you about your dad.”
“You knew him?”
She nods.
I want to quiz her. Ask her a gazillion questions. But if she knew my dad as a patient, there’s nothing she can tell me. Hopefully, Mom will open up more about Dad in the future.
Maybe I’ll search for him. I never wanted to find him before. But since I realized he didn’t abandon me – he left to protect me – my feelings for him have changed .
“I’m worried about inheriting his mental illness.”
“Are you having hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, or experiencing catatonic behavior?”
“No. Not unless thinking a football player loves you is a delusion,” I mutter.
She laughs. “Gage Edwards is a sexy man.”
I don’t question how she knows who I’m talking about. This is Smuggler’s Hideaway. Rumors spread faster than mermaids can swim. And mermaids can swim really fast.
She pats my arm. “I wouldn’t be worried if I were you. If you develop any of the above symptoms, contact me. Otherwise, live your life. Love your man. Hold him tight.”
Loving him is easy. Holding him tight, on the other hand? Not as easy. Especially when he’s leaving.
I thank Dr. Allens for her time before making my way out of the hospital to my car. Item one on my ‘get my life together’ to-do list – make certain I don’t have schizophrenia – can be checked off.
On to item two. I switch on the engine to begin my drive to the airport.
My hands shake and my stomach flutters as I drive. I can do hard things, I remind myself. And meeting with my lawyer to discuss the contract with Juliet Ash is one of the hardest things I’ll ever do.
What if Juliet changes her mind? Thinks my music sucks after all? What if my lawyer doesn’t think I’m worth representing? What if this is a fluke? What if I never write another good song in my life ?
Three hours later, I’m regretting my decision to wear my suit on the plane. I’m all wrinkled. Maybe I shouldn’t have worn a suit. Maybe I should have worn a dress. Maybe I should turn around and go back home and forget all about this.
I blow out a breath. I can do hard things, I remind myself.
A driver is waiting for me when I exit the terminal. I nearly walk straight past him. I wasn’t expecting to be picked up. But it’s probably good I’m not driving myself since my hands are shaking. Hell, at this point, my entire body is shaking.
We arrive at the law offices and my mouth gapes open. I’m a small-town girl. I’m not used to skyscrapers with glass facades.
I half expect the receptionist to claim I don’t have an appointment. But she doesn’t. She immediately escorts me to an empty conference room.
I barely have a chance to settle into a seat before the door opens.
“Addison? I’m Clara White.”
I offer her my hand. “Addy, please. Nice to meet you.”
She sits next to me. Odd. How are we supposed to discuss the contract sitting next to each other?
“There have been some developments.”
I knew it. Juliet changed her mind. Makes sense. Why would a pop star with her fame want to record one of my songs?
She pats my hand. “This is good news.”
My brow wrinkles. “It’s good news, Juliet dropped me?”
“Dropped you? What do you—”
The door opens before she can finish and Juliet Ash walks in. Holy mermaids. It’s Juliet Ash .
She smiles. “Addison? I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”
“You have? I mean, it’s nice to meet you.”
I offer her my hand but she ignores it and pulls me into a hug. “This is so exciting. I can’t wait to get started.”
“Get started?”
Clara clears her throat. “I haven’t explained the changes in the contract to her yet.”
“Oops.” Juliet makes her way to the other side of the table and sits down next to another woman, whom I assume is her lawyer. I didn’t even notice her enter the room.
“Listen, Addy. Addy?” Clara places a hand on my arm. “Are you listening?”
“Y-y-y-es.”
“Juliet still wants to record your song If I Asked. She also wants to collaborate on additional material.”
Additional material? More songs?
Juliet claps. “I have a great feeling about us working together. Between your ability to write the perfect lyrics and my music writing capabilities, we’re going to make magic together.”
“Work together?” I ask.
“I want more than to record your songs. I want to write with you.”
“With me?”
“Yes. We’ll hold writing camps a few times a year here in Steel City to work on our music. ”
Clara taps her pen on the table. “We still need to iron out the details. I won’t agree to my client receiving less than fifty percent if it’s just the two of you writing together.”
Juliet nods. “Naturally. But Addy should be available for several weeks every quarter.”
“Here in Steel City?”
“This is where I do all my creative work. New York and Hollywood are too busy.” Her nose wrinkles. “Too loud.”
I bark out a laugh. “And Steel City isn’t?”
She waves away my comment. “Don’t worry. You’ll get used to the city. I’ll show you around. Show you all the best restaurants. The best clubs. I even have a box at the Seals stadium. I’ll take you to a game.”
I snort. “Gage would love it if I showed up at a game.”
“Oh, right. I forgot you’re dating Gage Edwards.” She sighs. “You are one lucky girl.”
My nose wrinkles. “We’re not dating anymore.”
She leans forward. “Why not? What happened? Do you need a shoulder to cry on? Or someone to help you write a break-up song?”
She drums her fingers on the table. “You never fumbled on the field — just with me,” she sings.
A line comes to me and I sing it before I realize I opened my mouth. “I was the one thing you didn’t train to keep.”
Juliet cheers. “This collaboration is killing it already.”
“I don’t know if I want to write a break-up song. The whole world will know it’s about Gage.”
She shrugs. “And? It works for Taylor Swift. ”
My jaw drops to the floor. “Did you seriously compare me with Taylor Swift?”
“If the song fits…”
My phone buzzes with a message. “Sorry. I have three siblings I’m helping to raise. I can’t switch off my phone.”
But it isn’t my brother or one of my sisters messaging.
I’m staying in Smuggler’s Hideaway next week to spend time with you.
I clutch my chest before my heart can gallop away. Gage gets it. He understands. He chose me.
“I don’t think there’s going to be a break-up song about Gage,” Clara mutters.
I gasp. “Did you read my message?”
“I’m nosy. So, sue me. Except I wouldn’t recommend it. I’m kind of a shark.”
I giggle. “I guess it’s a good thing you’re my attorney.”
“Does this mean the deal is happening? You want to collaborate with me?” Juliet presses her hands together and bats her eyelashes at me.
“As if there was ever any doubt. Of course, I want to collaborate with you.”
She jumps to her feet. “Let’s let the attorneys iron out the details. I want to celebrate. I know this cute little wine bar.”
“Shouldn’t we stay here and listen to our lawyers?”
“Go,” Clara urges. “Shark, remember?”
Juliet hauls me out of my chair and herds me toward the door. “Maybe we can view some apartments as well.” She glances over her shoulder. “Make sure to include an apartment in Steel City as part of Addy’s compensation.”
I dig in my heels. “An apartment? Are you crazy? None of the paparazzi has mentioned you’re crazy.”
She giggles. “It’s normal compensation, silly.”
“Trust me,” Clara hollers. “I’ll get you a penthouse.”
I salute her. “Yes, shark!”
“I’m beyond excited. We could still write that break-up song about Gage. I bet the song would blow up. Rumors would explode and everyone would be forced to listen to the song and figure out all the buried Easter eggs.”
Juliet prattles on as we wait for the elevators.
I can’t listen to any more. I’m too shocked by how the day turned out.
I started this morning worrying I might have a severe mental illness.
And now I’m ending the day with plans to get Gage back and move to Steel City.
Where I’m going to collaborate with one of the biggest pop stars in the world.
I can’t wait to tell Gage. He’s going to be excited. Probably more excited than me.
I love that man and we are going to work things out. As long as he continues to choose me and makes us a priority.