Chapter 36
THIRTY-SIX
N one of us wanted to get up the next day.
Our last gig is over, and we know what that means.
Technically, we are still on suspension, but that’s just a fancy way to say fired, so when we finally drag our asses downstairs, we freeze when we find Po waiting for us in the kitchen, one hand holding a mug, the other his phone.
“It’s about time.” He smirks as he glances up at us. “What’s with the long faces?”
I share a look with Fox. “Isn’t that obvious?”
Sipping his drink, he watches us carefully. “I’m guessing you haven’t been online yet.”
“We are avoiding our phones,” Dash admits. “No phones, no way for them to call us and let us go.”
Po shakes his head and drops his cell, turning it and pushing it across the table. We crowd closer. Fox wraps me in his arms as Dash and Strike huddle around us to see the tiny screen.
It’s a local news station, and despite the muted volume, the headline running across the bottom is clear as it switches between a reporter and a massive crowd chanting and screaming.
“Fans revolt as the up-and-coming rock band, Sanctuary, announced that they are disbanding following their label’s lack of support over the lead singer’s and guitarist’s relationship. Fans are outraged and rebelling downtown, demanding justice.”
Po taps the table, and we look up at him.
“The news and entertainment industries have blown up overnight. Fans are angry on your behalf. They went straight from your gig to protest outside the label. The news had no choice but to attend. It has spread worldwide that Sanctuary is done because their label won’t support a same-sex relationship between their artists.
Rage is filling every platform over the fact that they used that same relationship to sell you.
You started a fire last night. There is no way to ignore this. ”
“What does it mean?” Dash asks worriedly, glancing back at the phone. The crowd is huge, and behind them is our label’s office.
“They will have no choice but to cancel the suspension and change your contract”—Po shrugs—“or face the wrath of the public. In music, the public is everything.”
“How do you know?” Fox asks, his eyes tight as he tries to hide his hope.
“Because I’m going to show them that. Do you think I’ve just been sitting around? No, I’ve been collecting evidence and support. I’m not going to leave them with a choice. Do you trust me?”
We share a look, and I speak.
“Yes.”
“Good. I’m going to make sure Sanctuary has a long life on stage.
Just give me a chance, but until then, don’t do anything stupid, okay?
” Standing, he fastens his suit jacket then pockets his phone and rounds the table.
“That means no statements. In fact, don’t leave the house for now, okay?
Just put your game faces on because when they call you in, the cameras will be waiting. ”
“Sir, yes, sir!” Dash yells, excitement in his eyes. We’ve all been given a new lease on life, a hope that this might not end despite our thoughts last night.
Chuckling, Po looks us over before stopping in front of Fox and me. His hands rest on my and Fox’s shoulders as he smiles at us. “I told you, I’m always on your side, even when you weren’t discreet.”
“What do you . . . You knew?” My eyes widen.
“Darling, I’d have needed to be blind not to know, but you weren’t hurting anyone.
I want you to be happy. It’s my job to make that happen.
I might work for your label, but my loyalty lies with you.
Now, shower and wait for the call. I have some arms to twist.” Stepping back, he straightens his shoulders and strides past us with a cocky smirk.
Po wasn’t kidding. He went to war. We only sat around for two hours before the call came.
Dressed to kill, we get in the car they sent for us and head down to the label.
Nervous energy fills us. Fox’s hand presses against my bouncing knee, trying to stop it, before he blows out a slow breath. “Breathe with me,” he murmurs.
Nodding, I copy his breathing, trying to slow my racing heart, which can’t seem to tell the difference between heading to our label and the end of the world. I’m so close to having everything I want that I’m worried it will be snatched away.
It doesn’t stop me from falling into the beauty of my boyfriend though.
His hair is down and slightly wavy, his eyes are darkened with liner, and his lips are tinted the same color as mine since he kissed me to apply it.
His chest is bare in his unbuttoned white shirt, the sleeves rolled back to expose his thick, veiny forearms—which I know he did on purpose since I have an obsession with them—and his incredible thighs are encased in gray pinstripe slacks. He looks good enough to fucking eat.
“Have I told you how stunning you look today?” I whisper.
“No, but it can’t be as beautiful as you, baby,” he murmurs as he twines our fingers and kisses the back of my hand.
“Oh, Dash, look how pretty I am,” Strike teases.
“Not as pretty as me,” Dash responds, and I raise a brow at them.
“Don’t make me come over there,” I hiss.
“Try me, pretty boy.” Strike blows me a kiss, and I jerk forward in my seat, slapping him. Our laughter breaks the silence and nervous energy, until the car stops and we drop into silence again, staring out of the tinted window.
Our label’s building towers above us, but the crowd surrounds it. Security forms a path, and then Po knocks on our door, his smile in place. That has to be a good sign, right?
Fox slides to the edge of his seat and looks at us. “Ready?”
“Ready.” I nod, and Dash and Strike confirm they are prepared as well before he opens the door.
The screams are insane and shocking when Fox slides out, then he turns and offers me his hand.
I place my shaky one in his and let him pull me from the car.
He keeps hold of me, interlacing his fingers with mine as Dash and Strike follow us out.
Security instantly surrounds us, their arms out to form a path through the yelling crowd.
Po nods at us. “Follow me.” He navigates the path, and we have no choice but to keep up.
Our names are chanted, and words are screamed.
“We love you!”
“No restrictions!”
There are signs shoved over security, and I read them as I pass.
Love is love!
Artistic Freedom.
No Sanctuary, no fans!
There are so many words of support that by the time we reach the door, there are tears in my eyes. We are hurried inside and escorted to the elevator. Po stands before us until the door shuts, then he whirls.
“I’ve made the path, now you need to walk it. It’s your choice. Whatever you choose now, I am with you,” he promises as we ascend.
We barely speak after that, and we are shown to a familiar meeting room where the board and Mr. Atlas wait across from us. Déjà vu hits me as I sink into my seat. They don’t look happy, but I suppose being backed into a corner will do that.
“I am sure you’ve seen the crowd outside,” Mr. Atlas begins, his hands steepled. “After speaking to some advisors and Po, we believe it is in our best interest for us to speak again. Last time, we put you on suspension, but we would like to lift that now and return you to your normal activities.”
“Just like that?” Fox asks, suspecting a trap.
“Yes,” Mr. Atlas mutters.
“And our relationship?” I press.
“We will allow you to continue dating?—”
“How kind,” I deadpan.
“But you will keep it private,” he says.
“No deal.” Standing, I head to the window and look out at the fans, knowing this is about more than us now.
This is about change and love. “We will date publicly and decide what we want to show to fans and when. We will allow you to sell our music like you did before, but on our terms. It’s that or we’ll walk.
We won’t have you dictating our relationship. Not now, not ever again.”
“He’s right. If you want us to stay with you and would prefer to avoid a media outcry, then our contract will need to change.
We will continue to be your band, and we will work twice as hard as every other artist out there to make it, but in return, we get freedom with our relationship,” Fox demands, “or we’ll walk out right now. ”
“I agree,” Strike adds.
“It’s that or nothing at all,” Dash says, serious for once.
“Po said you would say as much,” Mr. Atlas grumbles as he pulls out four contracts and slides them across the table. I sink back into my seat, scanning them, just like we did the first time we came here, only now Fox looks at me to make sure I’m happy.
The clause about us dating is gone, and in its place is simple wording that band members can date and dictate their private lives as long as it doesn’t negatively affect their work.
“Happy?” Mr. Atlas asks.
“Ry?” Fox murmurs.
Grabbing a pen, I squiggle my name on the line. Smirking, he follows suit, and then Dash and Strike as well before we push the contracts back. “Happy.” I nod. “Thank you.”
“We had no choice.” Mr. Atlas huffs. “Your plan, I’m betting.”
“No, we just wanted to keep making music together. There was no plan. We didn’t want to cause any trouble. We just wanted to live our lives,” I admit. “Thank you for giving us that.”
He seems to soften, sighing as he grabs the contracts and stands.
“Cameras will be waiting downstairs. We’ll announce your reinstatement now before this gets out of hand.
” Hesitating, he looks us over. “We really didn’t do this before to hurt you or because we had an issue with you two being in love.
We were trying to protect you from a world that isn’t always kind to those with love like yours. ”
“I know, but the world is changing, and so should we. I won’t apologize or hold back in fear of what some may say. This is my life, and I will live it however I want. The fact that you are supporting us means a lot, and you have paved a path for new artists like us.”
I know they are doing it to save their own asses and earn good PR, but they are also making their side clear. They are with us, and we will prove why that was a good choice.
“Let’s hope you’re right. Come on.” We head back downstairs together. Cameras and a microphone stand are waiting outside in front of the crowd. Mr. Atlas steps up first, and the crowd and reporters fall silent.
“My name is Jeremy Atlas. I am the CEO of Atlas Records. There has been some public upset at a mistake made with our latest band, Sanctuary. Yes, they were on suspension. It wasn’t because we are a homophobic company, as we have been accused of, it was simply a breach of contract we had no choice but to uphold, and the situation would have been handled the same with any artists found dating after signing what they did.
However, we hear you, we see you, and moreover, we support our artists.
Just now, Sanctuary has signed a new contract and agreed to come back to work with our full support, both publicly and privately.
We hope you will show them the same love and undying loyalty for many years to come both in their music and their love.
Atlas Records is happy to announce our support and trust in Sanctuary.
” Turning to us, he smiles. “Would you like to say some words to your fans?”
“I want to thank you.” My statement is awkward, and I can see them waiting for more. There are so many people all here for us, fighting for us in a battle we couldn’t have won without them.
We owe them everything.
“It is thanks to all of you,” I continue, my voice growing in confidence, “that we get to keep our dream, but more than that, we get to keep our family. I vow that we will continue making music until the day we die. We have and always will be Sanctuary.”
“Ryker is correct,” Fox offers. “We would not be here without our fans. You were the reason we were noticed, and now you are the reason we get to stay together. We owe you everything, and we’ll make sure to give back all the love and support you have shown us.”
“Fox, Ryker!” We blink as people scream for us, and I nod, picking someone at random.
“Are you two staying together?”
“Yes.” I smile without hesitation. “Fox is my boyfriend, and that won’t change.” Looking up at him, I can’t help but soften. “He’s the love of my life.”
Dash and Strike fake gag, making the crowd laugh, and Fox leans in and kisses my cheek. “My beautiful boy,” he whispers. “You did so well.”
“Yeah?” I lower my voice so the crowd doesn’t hear. “Then you can show me when we’re home.”
Chuckling, he takes my hand behind the mic stand as we answer more questions, and for the first time since those pictures were taken, I feel the sun rising with hope.
I see our future, and it’s fucking bright.