Chapter 37 #2
He reaches out and coils a long strand of my hair around his finger, like he can’t not touch me when I’m this close.
“Fair enough, but insurance isn’t personal. I am. Jess is. That compounds the stress for you. I don’t wanna be a burden. I wanna make your life easier, not harder, Soph. I feel so guilty for dragging you into this. Seeing you scared when you read that letter today about killed me.”
Pressing my thumb against the crease between his eyebrows, I rub it until he relaxes, and then I run my hand through his hair.
“Ev, you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
You make every day better. Period. Did I freak out when I read the letter?
Yeah, I did. It was a shock that I needed a few minutes to digest. But you jumped into action, and we addressed it.
Together.” Reaching into my back pocket, I pull out my phone and roll onto my back, snuggling up to him when his arm wraps around me.
“Let’s play devil’s advocate and look at their offer. ”
When the offer letter is open on my screen, I turn my phone sideways and enlarge the image so it’s big enough for both of us to read.
The salary is even more generous than I imagined. “That’s a lot of money,” I whisper.
“It is. How does it compare to what you made before?” he asks.
I do some quick math in my head. “About two and a half times.”
I scroll through the rest, and I’m shocked by the disparity between lower wage earners and upper management.
Everything from PTO to health insurance portion paid by the employer to 401(k) matching is significantly higher.
The job would require a lot of travel, but I could remain in Colorado and wouldn’t need to relocate to Ohio.
When I reach the end, I set my phone on my nightstand.
“I’ve never had a real job. Is it a good deal? It seems like a good deal,” Ever asks, and he’s so sincere it makes me laugh.
“What do you mean you’ve never had a real job? I beg to differ. You’re a fucking rock star; that’s a real job.”
“You know what I mean. I’ve never had a traditional job, how’s that?” he corrects.
“Better. Yeah, this is dream deal territory,” I answer honestly.
“If it’s that good, it’s a no-brainer, right?”
I roll on my side so I can look at him, and he does the same.
“Let’s say I take it. The pros are?” I ask.
“That.” He points at my phone.
“Sure, the money would be nice. Lo and I wouldn’t have to worry about rent. I could buy a newer car because mine’s always in the shop, and I could put more money in Benji’s college fund.”
“You set up a college fund for Benji?” Ever asks.
“I opened it when he was a baby. There’s about thirty grand in it now. I’m hoping by the time he graduates, there’s enough to pay for an in-state public university. I don’t want him to have to take out loans or for Lo to worry about paying for it.”
“You have a good heart, Soph.”
I tuck my arm under the pillow and snuggle my head in. “Benji deserves it. If anyone has a good heart, it’s him. Lo always says he’s a cross between Taylor Swift and Keanu Reeves. She’s right.”
He cracks a small smile to agree.
“And the cons?” I ask.
“I see a few, but they’re just me being selfish.”
Taking his hand, I thread my fingers with his.
“Being away from you is at the top of the con list. Then there’s the frequent travel.
I’m still not in love with the magic of flight.
I’d also be immersed in the corporate world again, and that feels claustrophobic as hell because I’ve had a taste of the alternative.
The hours would be really long, and the stress would be doubled.
Because here’s the thing, I’d be thinking about you and what you’re going through the whole time.
You know me, I’d want to hear all about your day, and the minute you said something was wrong, I’d jump in and want to fix it.
I am who I am—I can’t change that. So, I’d basically be doing two jobs. ”
He squeezes my hand. “Same. Back when we were only talking through DMs and you told me about your old boss, you have no idea how badly I wanted to look him up, drive to his house, and tell him what a piece of shit he is.”
“Would you have done like the guy in Christmas Vacation did when he screwed Clark out of his bonus and brought him back to my house, gagged and ready to apologize?” I tease.
He laughs a little. “Nothing less for you.”
“Pros of sticking with my current gig?” I ask.
He points at his face with his free hand.
“Given,” I answer with a smile.
“I know I need to put together a contract for you and Thicker Than Water does too. I’ve already talked to Ms. Banks about that.
But I’d like to pay you a salary to act as my manager for residual Treachery’s Riot work, and then we can work out your Thicker Than Water pay based on a percentage of any contracts we sign to begin with and then a salary in addition after there’s steady revenue and/or an advance, which could be as late as mid-next year.
You’d have freedom to be creative within your role, because I trust you, obviously.
And I think you should keep doing photography as another creative outlet and revenue stream.
You’re so damned gifted; it would be a crime to waste it.
On a personal note, I’ll cover our living expenses: housing, food, travel, etc.
If all goes to plan, we’ll tour and you’ll get to see the world.
I know you’re not a fan of planes, so maybe that goes on the con list? ”
“Planes don’t suck as much when you’re on them with me,” I concede.
“What about the cons?” He pauses and then lists his, “It’s a lot of fucking work, and headaches, and stress, as you already know.
You live the job. I can match this other offer’s pay at first, but if Jess and I can make this thing work, since I think a contract is a sure thing after talking to Scout last night, it would be a lot more.
Full disclosure, my last manager made seven figures off me every year. And he did fuck all.”
My eyes bulge. “You’re kidding?”
He shakes his head.
“Can I ask you a personal question?” When the words are out of my mouth, I want to take them back.
He doesn’t hesitate. “Of course. You can always ask me anything. No more secrets.”
“I know your label was awful, and it sounds like your manager was too. Did you do all right or did they screw you over financially?” I’m scared to hear the answer.
“I didn’t do great on the first album advance, but luckily, the merch and tours were a different story.
I knew they would do well, and I leaned into that when negotiations happened because I’d already been burned on the album.
I may not be the smartest guy in any room, but I learn from my mistakes.
You only fuck me over once. Between that income, product endorsement deals, and the second album advance, I’ve done well.
I don’t spend a lot of money, but if I never wanted to work again, I’d probably be okay.
I feel like such an ass saying that, but it’s true.
Money isn’t a gauge of success for me, but imposter syndrome is still loud because I feel like I have more than I deserve. ”
Lifting his hand, I kiss the back of it.
“I know it’s hard for you to talk about your success, and I get it, so thank you for sharing that.
And thank you for talking this through with me.
I think I know what I need to do. Mabel told me a little while ago that I need to start raising some hell.
She was right then, and it still applies.
Taking the job as a director feels like choosing them.
Working with you and Jess feels like choosing me. I choose me.”
His thumb brushes the back of my hand. “You’re sure?”
I nod against the pillow.
“I promise to do everything to shield you from the worst of it,” Ev says.
“How about you promise to share the worst of it instead? We’re a team. The good with the bad, we take it on together?”
He pulls me on top of him. “Deal.”