CHAPTER 2
COVE
I thought I was nervous when I was approached by WPF Records for a meeting which included all the guys in Suburban Outcasts. I was for fucking sure nervous, more so than I had ever been in my life. But that day had nothing on what I’m feeling right now.
I think it’s because this is it. This is my chance.
I’ve been putting my music on social media for years while also sending out demo tapes of my stuff to labels. I did it while knowing it was probably all for nothing. So much of the industry is about who you know, and I know no one. How could I?
I’m from a little, nothing town in Montana called Wintervale. It’s not like anyone from home ever broke into the music industry. People get out and follow their dreams, don’t get me wrong, if that’s what they want. But, mostly, people stay in town with their families.
It was a safe place to grow up and there was something cozy about knowing everyone around you. There was also something stifling about it. Having new people come to Wintervale wasn’t all that common. Instead, we grew up with the same people, went to school with them for as long as we can remember, and either they then stayed or left after graduating high school.
Some people would go off to college and then come back, it does happen. Still, there was a feeling of stagnation at times.
I always wanted more and when I found the music within myself, which I honed over years because I needed to find an outlet, I thought music might be a way for me to get out of town. But having a dream and making that dream come true are two very different things.
I watched as other songwriters and singers, even though I didn’t really want to find fame on stage, get recognition on social media. Considering all I was doing was working as a waitress at Trudy’s, a diner in town, I had a lot of time to write songs and put them online.
Was anything was going to come of it? I had hoped, but I didn’t really believe it was going to change my life.
Then I got a phone call from someone at WPF Records out of the blue while I was hanging out with my sister, Morgan. Being the baby in the family made it so that I looked up to Morgan. It was a lot harder for me to spend time with our oldest brother, Jared, especially since he didn’t understand the whole music thing.
Jared has a tendency to be rigid in his beliefs. I guess that made the military easy for him and drove him to join the police force after he served. But it doesn’t make him the greatest brother to someone like me.
I’ve spent a lot of time in my head, living my dreams. I always got the feeling that bugged Jared and made him worry about me.
He’s been more than skeptical about this whole WPF Records thing. I’m kind of surprised he didn’t follow me to Denver for my initial meeting. He certainly didn’t look like he believed me when I told him that I got the call and that the label was completely covering my trip to Denver to meet with the guys from SO.
Getting on that plane was scary as hell. I had no idea what to expect and I was doing it all on my own. Yes, it was at my insistence that I was alone, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t scary as hell.
When I walked into the baggage claim area, I was surprised to find someone holding a sign with my name on it. I thought that kind of thing just happened in the movies, but, then again, how else would I know who was picking me up since everything was handled by the label?
I was taken immediately to a hotel that was far nicer than anything in Wintervale. It was all so much more than anything I had ever seen or experienced. I’m not sure what I expected, but I guess I should have known.
Walking into the label building was intimidating as hell. It was both a dream come true and a nightmare sitting down with all the guys in SO along with Kat, who runs the label’s PR along with a majority of the label.
Fuck, I was so damn scared. I’m sure it was written all over my face.
In fact, I know it was because when I finally looked up into the eyes of Cole Howard, the lead singer of SO, he was giving me a soft smile full of understanding. He wasn’t the one to break the tension in the room or to try and combat my anxiety and fear.
That was Booker Holland, SO’s guitarist, who flashed me a huge grin and joked, “We won’t bite, sweetheart.”
My eyes widened and a laugh of anxious nervousness slipped past my lips. I swear the smile on Booker’s face grew as I did so. Gavin, the drummer, rolled his eyes and huffed out a breath. “Don’t scare the girl. Remember that we want to bring her talent to the label.”
I could feel how big my eyes got with his words and my jaw practically dropped to the ground. “You’re really interested in my songs?”
Booker smirked as the rest of the guys nodded slowly. For the first time since being introduced to her, Kat spoke up. “Not just your songs, Cove. WPF is all about the music and we think you have something special. We’ve watched your videos and listened to your songs.”
Even though I was thrilled, I found myself shaking my head slowly. “I’m not interested in being on stage.”
Elliot’s brows pulled together in confusion. “What do you mean?”
I twisted my fingers together, butterflies flapping in my stomach. “I know I posted my songs on social media, but that was really hard for me. I’m not looking for the spotlight. I just want to get my songs out there and didn’t know another way.” When I looked around the room, everyone was staring at me which had me babbling. “As you know I’m from nowhere in Montana. I don’t know anyone in the industry, and I didn’t have the means to pick up and move somewhere else to get my music out there. I figured posting videos was a way to get my stuff out there while I figured out the next steps.”
Booker got a dreamy look on his face, “Sometimes you find the best things online.”
My face became a mask of confusion as Elliot chuckled and leaned toward me slightly before explaining, “He found his wife because of a viral video.”
“Oh,” I whispered.
“She has an amazing voice but has never been interested in stepping on stage. I keep trying to convince her,” he sounded more than a little put out at this, but there was amusement dancing in his eyes at the same time.
“Your songs are amazing,” Cole praised while throwing a look toward Elliot and Booker. “If you’re not interested in performing,” he leaned back in his chair, “then that’s fine with us.”
My shoulders slumped with relief. It was hard enough to post videos of myself to put myself out there. It was something that made me nervous as hell, but it was a necessity. That doesn’t mean I could even fathom stepping into the spotlight on stage.
The men of SO shared a loaded look that had me sitting up a little straighter in the chair. “We might have the perfect opportunity for you,” Gavin eyed me warily with his words.
My voice squeaked, “Really?”
I almost couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Sure, I didn’t doubt that a record label could use a songwriter, but at the same time if they thought I was interested in performing because of my videos they might think this was a bait and switch kind of situation.
“I just want to write songs and make music,” there was an edge of pleading in my voice no matter how much I didn’t want it to be there.
Cole grinned and nodded slowly. “In that case, we want you to work with someone in about a month.” Excitement was growing inside of me at the prospect. “While they’re established in the industry, they’re new to the label. He’s going to need some extra help because he might be a little rusty.”
My eyebrows went up to my hairline while my gut churned with how cagey he was being. “If he’s established, why is he rusty?” They shot each other another look and I quickly blurted, “It doesn’t really matter, I’m just curious.”
“Right now, he’s getting treatment and trying to put his life back together,” Kat’s voice was professional, but there was a twinkle of hope there that had me wondering who the hell we’re talking about.
Honestly, there were a lot of options about who it could be. Treatment could mean so many things. My mind was whirling with all the possibilities.
“Look,” Cole’s voice brought my attention toward him as he leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, “I’m going to level with you. We tracked Langston Phillips down a while ago.” My heart stuttered in my chest because who didn’t know that Langston went off the rails after Conley died? Talk about a classic tale of rock and roll. “We tracked him down at a bar and gave him an offer to come on at WPF, but he has to dry out and start to deal with his grief first.”
“Wow,” I whispered while nodding slowly.
The quiet in the room as I absorbed the information given to me, as limited as it was, started to last too long. I shook off my surprise and tried to stuff down any fear and concern my mind was attempting to conjure up.
“Sorry,” I shook my head, “I’m more than willing to work with whoever you want me to work with. I just want to write some songs and show you what I can do.”
When the guys shared a look, again, it was with big smiles on their faces. I swear my heart started to slow instead of pounding in my chest like the drumline of a marching band. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, but I knew trying and taking the risk was the only thing to do.
“Let us get some details together and we’ll make this happen,” Kat spoke up and all I could do was nod.
That was a little over a month ago and the entertainment news channels have been surprisingly silent about Langston getting treatment or signing with WPF Records. Being on the inside scoop of something was kind of strange.
Not that I was going to spread the information I had. Hell no.
I’m pulled from my thoughts when the SUV I’m riding in comes to a stop. I look out the front window and am shocked by the cabin in front of me. Honestly, cabin doesn’t do this place justice. This is a mountain themed mansion.
Holy shit.
It’s gorgeous and I desperately want to see inside. As I stumble out of the car, I vaguely hear doors opening, considering I was riding with Gavin, Elliot, and Kat, but I can’t focus on anything beyond the vision in front of me. When I was told that I’d be heading out to a cabin in the mountains instead of going to the mansion where most of the artists at WPF record, I wasn’t expecting this at all.
I was hoping for more than one bedroom and running water. This place is something else.
“This place is amazing,” I murmur.
“Right?” I almost jump out of my skin as I turn toward Elliot. He grins at me and makes a sweeping motion with his hand. “This place belongs to Blake, but our big ass family makes use of it often. We think it’ll be better for you and Langston to work here instead of at the mansion.” He winces slightly and his voice drops to a whisper, “There’s too much alcohol there.”
“I get it,” I insist and hold my hands up.
I’m lead inside and am just as blown away with the inside as the outside. I can’t wait to curl up on the giant porch and take in the view around us. I swear I can feel the music flowing around me as I take in the vista that can be seen out of the large windows along the back of the house which are clearly visible with the open floor plan.
“Inspiring, huh?”
I glance over at Gavin with a big smile on my face. “Oh yeah. This place is perfect to write some songs.”
“Then you should see the studio,” there’s a tease in his voice and I have to stop myself from bouncing on my toes with excitement.
The thought of writing some songs and then working in a real studio is almost too much for me to process. I’ve had weeks to wrap my head around this whole thing, but it’s still surreal and unbelievable. I don’t even care about where I’ll be sleeping—the studio is much more important.
Before I can beg for a tour or even get the chance to poke around the space that I can see, the door behind us opens again and I spin around. A giant of a man walks into the cabin and I’m sure that it’s Blake Higgins, who I’ve heard a little bit about on the drive.
From what I’ve been told, he’s former military and runs a security firm that works closely with WPF Records and SO. Even more than that, he’s part of the family that seems to be the light in the lives of the SO guys, the security men, and some tattoo artists.
The whole thing sounds like a fairy tale from the bits of conversation I overheard during the drive. It was clear the family is huge and filled with love.
I wonder what that feels like.
Not that my family doesn’t love me, they do, but there’s something special about family built beyond the bonds of blood and obligation.
Blake gives me a gentle smile before stepping out of the doorway. Langston Phillips steps through the door, a frown on his face but curiosity shining in his eyes. My eyes sweep over him, and he looks a lot better than the last pictures I saw of him.
My heart is pounding in my chest, and I can only hope that I don’t fan girl hard and embarrass myself. I might even cross my fingers and send up a little prayer, but I make keep that to myself.