Chapter 4
Melody
“This is totally working.” Lindsey has her headset around her neck, and she’s at her laptop scrolling through our subscriber growth rate and skyrocketing number of downloads. “I know sunny positivity is your vibe, but you’re giving voice to a lot of frustrations and it’s showing.”
My nose curls, and I scrub my fingers roughly across my brow. What started as payback, punching up at a super rich guy who clearly had lost touch with the common man, feels like it’s getting too big for me.
Going viral is a real head-trip.
Shoulders tight, I pace the room. I can feel the control slipping from my fingers, and I wonder if it’s even possible to put Pandora back in her box.
“Knox Bradford isn’t the team’s biggest problem,” I muse. “He’s actually a talented player. He needs better receivers, and the O-line hasn’t jelled yet.”
My bestie slants an eye at me. “Are you getting soft on ole K-Brad?”
I shake my head. “I’m not fully onboard with that nickname either.”
“That ship has sailed so far past, QP.”
“Lindsey!” I drop onto the couch, looking up at her. “I ended my whole partnership with Susan because I didn’t want to go low. Now we’re building our entire new brand on it?”
“To be fair, what Susan did was completely different from this.” Lindsey rises from her chair and crosses the room to sit beside me.
“She lured subjects in on the pretense of doing a friendly profile, letting the world see their struggle for greatness. Then she turned the tables and started digging up all their deep, dark secrets. You’re simply reporting what we’re all seeing with our own eyes, no betrayal, no cruelty. ”
“I’m not sure he’d see it that way.”
“You’re reporting facts that are out there for everyone to see. She’s digging up bones. And when she can’t find any bones, she creates them.”
“I guess you’re right.” I chew my lips, thinking about the distinction. “It’s not like I’m saying anything I wouldn’t say to his face or ask him about in person.”
“Exactly.” Lindsey puts both hands on my shoulders, giving them a squeeze. “And listeners love it. Not only do they love it, they’re telling their friends about it, and that’s where the magic happens.”
“Where is he, anyway?” Crossing my arms, I frown at the window facing the tall levee that holds back the Mississippi river. “He should be training, not gallivanting all over Los Angeles.”
“Sounds to me like your next hot take is waiting.”
My eyes flicker to hers, and a naughty smile pulls my lips. “Go left, K-Brad.”
* * *
“Remember that time we did the Fireside Ladies’ spell to find lost things, and suddenly Scout appeared?” My aunt Joselyn, or Aunt Sly as we all call her, stands in the front of the picnic table holding a pink margarita. “The palm is sacred!”
Mom laughs, nodding and shaking her head. “I didn’t believe it at first, but now… I think it actually worked.”
“I always believed it did!” Aunt Sly replies, and they laugh together.
Summer’s over, it’s Labor Day weekend, and the new season yawns before us.
I’m back in Fireside with my parents and my extended family eating hot dogs, watching fireworks, and sharing old memories. It’s one of my favorite ways to spend the break, surrounded by the people who love me.
Lindsey came home with me, and Coco drove over from Oceanside to join us. She makes big eyes at me because of Aunt Sly’s proclamation, and I shake my head.
She’s convinced the Fireside Ladies’ book of spells is real, and she’s been begging us to read it with her. I just hope the three of us can sneak off alone to discuss her thoughts about the new direction of my show.
I’m still feeling secretly conflicted about it. Coco is two years older than I am, and she always has a way of helping me think through situations or at least ease my mind.
Dad seems to be doing the mind-reading tonight, however. Aunt Sly continues her story of how she and my mom brought my dad back from Hollywood with a spell when he walks over and puts a warm hand on my upper arm. “Take a walk with me?”
When I was a little girl, I didn’t pick up on the dynamics between my dad and his older brother, my uncle John Roth. Their mom died when Uncle JR was only ten and my dad was nine.
Their dad wasn’t great at expressing or handling his feelings, like most men I know. So they were left to fend for themselves. It made them super bonded to each other, and it also gave them a strong sense of justice, which has me nervous about this walk.
“Sure.” I stand, walking with him out into Aunt Sly’s expansive, overplanted backyard.
The air is heavy and warm, and it smells like sweet olive.
“How’s my princess?” Dad smiles down at me. “Are you happy?”
He’s still so handsome, I’ve never questioned my mom’s reason for falling for him. One only has to look at the guy. He’s a total Hollywood movie star.
“I’m a lot happier now.” I hold the crook of his elbow, leaning my head against his bicep. “Thanks for helping with the rent. I promise, I’ll pay you back.”
“It was a housewarming gift.” He pats my hand. “You can’t pay back a gift.”
“I can’t right now, but our ratings have been steadily climbing since we went viral. I might even be able to quit the rideshare job altogether.”
His brow furrows over bright blue eyes, just like mine. “I don’t want to hear about you being an Uber driver. You sneaked that in on me. I’d never have okayed it.”
“I’m a grown woman, Dad. I don’t have to ask your permission to take a job.”
“Well even if you don’t, it’s not granted for rideshare driving. It’s too dangerous.”
A wounded tone is in his voice, and I lift my head to smile up at him, giving his arm a squeeze.
“If it makes you feel any better, I don’t expect to do it again. Like I said, the podcast is finally making money and hopefully it’ll keep trending as we move into the season.”
“Either way, you never had to worry about money. Your mom and I will gladly help you pay for whatever you need…”
“I know.” I hold his arm, exhaling softly. “But I need to stand on my own, Dad. I know you understand that better than anybody.”
He huffs a laugh, lifting his hand and smoothing my hair off my cheek. “I guess you’re still that little three-year-old to me. The one who used to tell me to ‘go far’ and then hurl that pink football as hard as she could at my crotch.”
A laugh snorts through my nose, and I nod. “You caught it every time.”
“That’s my job, Princess.” He wraps an arm around me, pulling me into his side.
I remember so well when he came back into our lives. I told him I was the Quarterback Princess, and he told me he was my Brave Knight, that he’d make sure nothing bad ever happened to me.
Hugging him closer, I rest my head on his arm again. He was a star wide receiver, then he walked away from it all to try his luck in Hollywood. Life took some twists and turns, but he’s always been my hero. His answer has always been that’s his job, and Mom and I just smile with affection.
His job…
Knox Bradford is an intrusive thought I don’t want to have. I want to think about my family and happy memories and not some spoiled athlete who should’ve used his car service instead of ruining my night and taking out his anger on me.
“That sure is a serious face.” Mom puts her hand around my waist, sandwiching me between the two of them. “Is it because you’re going after that football player?”
“Mom!” I do my best to act offended, but it’s pointless. This woman knows me better than anyone. “He deserves it, and trust me, he can take it.”
“How would you know that?” she asks.
“I’ve had some interaction with him, and he might wear the jersey, but he’s no Saint.”
That activates my dad. He turns to face me, brow lowered. “What does that mean?”
“Not that kind of interaction, Dad.” I laugh at the absurdity, although Knox Bradford is a handsome man… “He was one of my first Uber rides, and it did not go well.”
Dad’s still frowning, but Mom picks up the baton. “You’re going to have to give us a little more than that, honey.”
“He ordered a ride to the airport and I missed a turn and he totally lost it!” My voice rises. “He started shouting at me and being rude… Like it was my fault he didn’t give himself enough time.”
Dad inhales slowly, and the two of them exchange a look. “Seems like you could’ve worked that out with a conversation.”
“I’d have been glad to have a conversation, but he filed a complaint with Uber.”
“Still,” Mom speaks slowly. “You’re not going to let one negative experience change the way you handle yourself. Isn’t that why you parted ways with Susan?”
“I parted ways with Susan because she was evil and tricked innocent people into being humiliated in front of an audience.” Mom’s lips twist with a frown, but I continue. “I merely break down the game, and speak the truth. If Knox Bradford can’t take the heat, he needs to get off the field.”
“You’ve always been nice, Princess,” Dad says in a way that makes my skin itchy.
“I’m still nice, but times are changing.” My tone is quieter now as well. “Nice doesn’t sell. I can’t eat nice. Our audience likes what I’m doing, and I’m going to keep doing it.”
“I’m sure you know better than I do.” Mom exhales slowly.
“Trust me, Mom, Knox Bradford is not a baby.”
“I don’t know.” Dad gives me a little wink. “Football players have pretty fragile egos.”
That makes me scoff, and I look up to see Lindsey and Coco having an animated conversation.
I give my parents a hug. “I love you guys. Don’t worry about me.”
“Too late,” Dad chuckles. “I’ll always worry about you. Let me know if you need any help.”
“Thanks.” Another squeeze, and I hurry over to where my friends are chatting. I grab Coco and Lindsey’s hands, muttering, “I need a drink.”
We glance around at our parents, and they’re all laughing and chatting and not paying attention to us. Coco grabs the bottle of tequila, and the three of us scamper into the house.
“What’s wrong?” Coco’s brown eyes are big.
“Does something have to be wrong?” Lindsey pulls down three shot glasses and places them on the bar in front of us.