27. Hayden
HAYDEN
Two days have passed since I last saw Río. I left him in his hotel suite when I had to go to the Lisbon airport to fly to North Carolina and he flew to Ireland. If I breathe in deeply enough, I can still smell his unique scent of musk and cedarwood.
I wish I could still feel his arms around me.
His husky voice telling me everything will work out.
How he declared he loves me.
I wasn’t able to say the words back. I only hope he knows how special he is to me. A text pings, and I grab my phone to see it’s from him.
Río:
Hi, beautiful. We’re in The Closet getting ready for tonight’s show in Dublin. Nese misses you! [he attaches a photo of my friend waving]
Itrace her features. I miss her, and the rest of UC so much. I reply:
Tell her I miss her too! Make sure she gives you two towels before the encore!
Río:
I wish it were you handing them to me.
Me, too. Río’s antics on the boat in Lisbon, and Platinum Records’ subsequent pulling rank, left me where I am right now. In my tiny apartment without a job. Daydreams about joining UC won’t make them true. I end our text conversation with a bunch of kissing emojis.
Time to get back to the real world, Hayden.
Since it’s two in the afternoon here, I grab my stuff and hop in my car. Might as well visit my sister when she’s not having a meltdown. I drive the hour to her school, and make my way to her room.
Mrs. Smitty does a double take in the doorway. “Hayden, I didn’t expect you today.”
“Hi. I was in the neighborhood, and thought it would be nice to see Mila when she’s in a good spot.”
“I’m sure she’ll love that. I’m happy to report she’s been in excellent spirits since you visited last. She can’t stop talking about learning how to play the drums from an actual drummer.” The administrator chuckles.
I can’t hold back my own smile. “Río was taken by her as well. He’s adding a triangle to a couple of UC’s songs.”
She smiles. “Very good. I’ll let you enjoy your visit.” She leaves the doorway as the hallway fills with kids.
A minute later, Mila bursts through the door. I open my arms. “Hi, sis!”
“Hayden!” My little sister runs and gives me one of her amazing hugs.
“It’s great to see you.” I disengage and sit on a chair. “How was school today?”
“Oh, you know. We learned about addition and subtraction by using apples.” She holds a Granny Smith up. “I got the right answer about ten minus nine.”
“Looks like you got to keep your answer.”
She rubs the apple on her shirt. “Sure did!”
I don’t want to get into difficult territory, so I don’t ask her about her meltdown the last time I visited.
We veer off into different conversations, first about her group of friends, then about the weather, then about what she’s having for dinner.
Mila’s so happy. I need to figure out how to keep paying her bills in order to make sure she stays this way.
“How is Mr. River?”
I shove a pang of longing far down. “He’s doing good. Right now, he’s about to take the stage in Dublin, Ireland.”
Brown eyes bounce outside and she raises her shirt to her neck. “It’s light. I thought concerts were given in the dark, when it’s nighttime.”
I pull her shirt down. “It is night in Ireland, where he is.”
“Oh.”
“I think you learned something about time changes last month. If someone is in a faraway place—like Ireland—the time difference between here and there is five hours. Remember?”
She cocks her head. “Yes. I remember learning about that. So it’s”—she counts to five on her fingers—“eight o’clock there now because it’s three here?”
I clap. “Excellent! Yes, you’re one-hundred percent right!”
She jumps and claps. If only the world’s problems could be solved so simply.
“You know what else, Mila? Mr. River added in a triangle in his drumming with the band.”
Her big eyes get wide. “He did?”
“Yes, he did. See?” I pull up a clip of Río hitting the triangle during “Crushing Blow.”
Her hands go up in the air. “Wow. He did that because of me?”
“Exactly.” Mirroring Río, I bop her on the nose. “Because you mean so much to him.”
She does a little jig. “I’m going to tell everyone about this! How cool!”
I let her have her moment, all thanks to Río. Who knew the wild, entitled drummer had such a gooey center? In a weird way, he owes everything he is to his father, since he never would’ve picked up drumsticks but for his lack of attention. Still doesn’t make up for how he treated his son.
“And guess what? Mr. River gave me presents for you.”
Her eyes widen. “Presents?” She hops up and down. “Show me! Show me!”
I pull the fan out of my purse. “He got this for you in Madrid. It’s a fan. Let me show you how it works.” I wave the black-and-red fan in front of her face, the breeze causing her eyes to close and mouth to tip into a wide smile.
“He also bought this for you. It’s a new phone.” Holding up the cell, I show her the basics of how to use this one, and extend my palm.
“This is amazing!” She lifts the phone to eye level. “I can call you and Mr. River whenever I want?”
“You can call us, yes. If we’re involved in something, like Mr. River’s playing a concert right now, we won’t be able to pick up. Do you understand?”
Solemnly, she nods. “When can I thank Mr. River in person for my amazing gifts?”
That’s a thousand-dollar question. I choose the truth. “We’re working on when he can come and visit. In the meantime, how about we leave him a voicemail thank you?” Together, we call Río and she thanks him—over and over—in her message.
The loudspeaker announces dinner will be served in ten minutes.
My sister drops her phone onto her desk and smooths her clothes. “I’m going to eat,” she declares.
“You do that, Mila. Can I have a hug first? I’ll be gone when you get back.”
“Yes!” She throws herself at my body, giving me a tight hug.
I soak up all her goodness, then guide her toward the door. “Enjoy!”
“I will!” Mila leaves me in her room, vowing to keep her as happy and insulated as humanly possible.
Returning to my car, I turn on the radio and a UC song blasts. I’ve seen the guys perform this innumerable times, so I sing along with Bennett’s tenor. More importantly, I beat Río’s rhythm on my steering wheel.
When the song ends, reality seeps in. I need to land a job outside the entertainment industry. None of my posts on the University website have yielded any hits.
I remember the conversation Río and I had about my taking backstage photos of the band and putting it all together into a memory book of sorts, to be sold as merch.
If only this could be a real path, as it marries my true passion, photography, with the business world.
I wonder if any companies already do this sort of thing?
When I get home, I do some research and find a company that specializes in backstage photo journals for bands.
A quick scan of the job boards shows the pay would be enough to keep Mila in her school.
Even if Platinum Records blackballed me, they don’t control the entire industry.
There are other labels—and a whole indie scene that doesn’t answer to anyone. I’d be good at this.
I reach out with my resume, and get an interview for the very next day. Needing to share this news, I text Renata:
I got an interview!
Her reply is swift:
That’s great! I knew you wouldn’t stay down! What company?
Behind the Memories. It makes merch for bands, creating behind-the-scenes photobooks.
Right up your alley! Combine your PR skills with your amazing photography chops. I’m sure you’ll land this job in no time.
Her encouragement means a lot, especially after everything she went through—losing her own job as a result of the L.A. wildfires. But her script was recently picked up by Netflix, which completely changed things for her. I’m happy my little matchmaking worked out.
If only something would work out for Río and me.
The next day, my interview goes well, as I really hit it off with the HR woman, Breanna, from Behind the Memories. We talk as if we’ve known each other for years instead of merely minutes.
Breanna and I discuss my access to UC, and Río’s comment about loving some backstage photos as merch.
“This was the founder’s impetus, actually.
He wanted more photos of the ‘real life of rockstars,’ and nothing was available.
So he started BTM five years ago with a couple photojournalist friends. We’re still a young company.”
“I think it’s a super idea. Can’t believe no one has thought of this before.”
“It’s been done, but always by individual bands. BTM is hoping to take it more mainstream. Even getting photos of up-and-coming bands just starting out.” Breanna speaks faster and faster about this exciting concept.
“This is so exciting—I would love the opportunity of getting in on the ground floor.” An idea sparks. “Do you ever sponsor any bands? You know, as a way to put your company’s name out there?”
“We haven’t. I’m sure the founder would be interested, if the right opportunity came along.”
My mind races. BTM probably has a limited budget, but still a sponsorship would garner some attention.
“I’ll keep my ear to the ground for you, if you’d like.” Maybe Nina knows of some bands looking to fill this position.
On the phone, Breanna laughs. “Here I am interviewing you for a job, and you’re trying to get the company a higher profile.”
“Well, I was in PR before.” Before I got fired. I keep the ending of this sentence to myself.
“Listen, Hayden, I really enjoyed speaking with you. Please forward your portfolio for me to review, and I promise I’ll be in touch soon.”
“Thanks, Breanna. I will.”
I immediately start curating some of the photos of UC for my portfolio.
Ignoring all the pictures of the band performing, I focus on footage most people wouldn’t experience firsthand.
Bennett drinking tea in the green room. Coop reading a book in the corner.
Tris and 007 tossing M&Ms at each other’s mouths.
Río.
He’s going to be the most problematic because I have a million shots of him. Shirtless. Working out. Eating. On the private plane. Acting up at a restaurant. Which captures his essence?
I scroll through several photos, looking for “the one.” Finally, I land on one of him banging on plastic buckets, when he was showing Mila how to play. This is it. He’s in his element.
He’s never looked more real.
I can’t wait, and text him.
Had an interview with Behind the Memories. Pulling together a portfolio for them to evaluate. What do you think of this one? [I attach the photo of him playing the buckets]
They do day in the life type merch?
Exactly.
I love this one. I was teaching Mila here, right?
Yup
However, this one is even better.
He attaches a picture of himself naked in bed, with both of his palms over his junk. Clever man must’ve used the timer.
Took it for you!
Iroll my eyes. That boy! I take a closer look and am blown away by the specimen on my phone. I sigh.
I’ll treasure it forever.
How would you like to see all this in person?
My heart races. I wish—but I’m in the US and he’s in Europe.
We’re a whole continent apart.
We won’t be next week. We’re heading to the Oscars, remember? I’ll send you 2 tickets.
Two?
For you and Mila.
Just when I think he can’t get any sweeter. However, my sister couldn’t handle the crowds and the lights at the Oscars.
Thank you! However, it would be too overwhelming for my sister.
You know best. But I’ll guarantee she’ll feel like she’s with us. Say you’ll come.
No way will I turn him down. I want to be with him. Tell him more about BTM. More importantly, tell him what I didn’t in Lisbon—that I love him. Not because of his money, but for who he is. In his heart.
I’d love to.