The Hardest Set (Willow Son #4/Brothers of Rock #19) (11 page)

“
You
asked for more money?
”
Van
asked Harry.

“
And
you said yes?
”
Brantley
asked Portis.

“
Look,
”
Portis said.
“
The game is a gamble. Inside and
out. You guys have seen bands come and go. You
’
ve
seen music get written and processed to market. But you guys have changed my
mind on some things. I
’
m
okay with backing up and giving you all more trust. Don
’
t forget my position. I came in with you guys a
mess. Christ, Jett, you ended up in jail. Ryker, you took off.
”

“
Don
’
t forget about Colby,
”
Van said.
“
When he knocked your jaw off.
”

Portis rubbed his chin.
“
Yeah, I deserved that one.
”
He laughed.
“
My point is I need to focus on
other growth. So I
’
m giving
you the keys to the car. The lawyers are going to hash out the details on
things. I
’
d like to go by
an album to album basis. I
’
ll
fund the time and effort, but the payments will be structured based on the
music and the previous sales.
”

“
Fine
by me,
”
Van said.
“
You
’
re going to go broke to afford us.
”

“
I
hope so,
”
Portis said.
“
I really do, Van.
”

“
Enough
of the business talk,
”
Harry said.
“
You guys have
work to do here.
”

“
I
’
m flying to New York,
”
Portis said.
“
Leaving in an hour. You guys
have your first mega show coming up down in LA. Going to be something wild. I
’
d love for you guys to channel
that wild energy of the city. Think about the amazing music that came from the
streets, the small bars and venues. Legends were made there. Hall of fame
bands. Music that defined a generation and that will carry forever.
”

“
No
need to tell us,
”
Van said.
“
You don
’
t think we
’
ve played every bar there? Up and
down the coast, across the country and back. Without a fancy jet either.
”

“
Good,
”
Portis said.
“
And hey, thanks for playing at
the party. The videos have gone viral. Everyone wants to see their favorite
celebrity singing  a Willow Son song. That
’
s
what makes it special.
”

Portis finally shut up and left.
Harry was soon to follow.

The guy behind the soundboard was
in his mid-fifties with small glasses and long salt and pepper hair. His name
was Jerry and he waited for the band to do whatever the hell they wanted.

“
What
’
s your take on the music?
”
Van asked Jerry.

“
If
you write it from the heart, it
’
s
good. No matter what.
”

“
Give
me something on the new song, man.
”

“
Okay.
”
Jerry started the song.
“
The intro is too much to start.
If the previous song fades out and then this one just hits
…”

“
What
do you suggest?
”

Jerry thought about it.
“
What about a faded in drumbeat?
”

“
I
like that,
”
Brantley said.

“
Something
like
…”
Jerry started to air
drum and make nosies with his mouth. The noises sounded spot on and worked with
the song.

The band hurried to grab their
equipment and get right to work. What turned into making a new intro for a new
song ended up becoming a four hour session of writing and recording riffs,
Jerry giving input like a rockstar, and ended with a completed song.

After listening to the entire song
one more time, the band agreed it needed nothing else other than some
tightening on the lyrics and vocals.

“
Damn,
Jerry,
”
Van said as he sat
next to Jerry at the massive soundboard.
“
You
’
re spot on.
”

“
I
’
m also expensive,
”
Jerry said.
“
I
’
ve
written music for thirty years. You wouldn
’
t
believe me if I told you how many hits I
’
ve
written.
”

“
Is
this where you want a cut of the song?
”
Van asked.

“
No.
I don
’
t do that. I like you
guys. My granddaughter jams out to Willow Son in the car. Christ, I can
’
t believe I
’
m sitting here with rockstars
and talking about my granddaughter. I feel old.
”

“
Hey,
that sounds pretty awesome though. A life in music and a family. Without the
road, fame, and noise.
”

“
Yeah,
”
Jerry said.
“
But sometimes I stand in the
crowd and look on stage and get that feeling. Like I should have been there.
”

“
Hell,
maybe it
’
s the flip for us,
”
Van said.
“
You see a family and wonder
…”

Van turned his head and looked to
the recording room.

“
Wonder
what?
”
Jerry asked.

“
Nothing,
”
Van said.

Just me and Vanessa sitting on a
big rock near the creek. Moonlight all around us. I
’
m holding her hand and we
’
re just talking.
Flirting, kissing, I
’
m
desperate for things to get a little hotter. Then she wants to talk about her
dreams. Christ, I just want to get laid. But it matters to her. Rightfully so.
All we talk about is Willow Son. How famous we
’
re going to be. Yet I
’
ve never heard her
dreams.

She wants a family. A house,
kids, vacations. All that family stuff. The stuff she never had. The stuff I
never had. And I like it. I want it too.

“
Van?
”

Van shook his head. He spun around
in the chair and saw Brantley standing in the doorway.
“
What
’
s
up?
”

“
So
…
your woman friend from last
night.
”

“
What
about?
”

“
Did
you give her your number?
”

“
I
…
yeah
…”

“
Smooth,
”
Brantley said.
“
You might want to check your
phone. It
’
s going off like 
crazy.
”

Crazy.

Van stood and shook his head. Just
what he needed now. More crazy.

**

Natalie definitely wanted his
attention. A handful of text messages and two calls. But no voicemails. That
meant she must have found out his little surprise for her.

He smiled as he read the messages.
Knowing that she had taken the step to contact him, it was kind of like a dumb
game. But a game that kept his mind off other things.

Wanting to play the game some more,
Van called Natalie.

She picked up on the third ring.
“
Hello?
”

“
You
wanted me?
”

“
What?
”

“
You
know, I
’
m kind of busy,
”
Van said.
“
Writing music.
”

“
Van?
Oh. Hey.
”

“
You
don
’
t have my number
programmed into your phone yet?
”

“
I
have no reason to,
”
Natalie
said.

“
Still
mad?
”

“
Still
an asshole?
”

“
You
text me first,
”
Van said.
“
Then called. Kind of like a
stalker.
”

“
Excuse
me?
”

“
A
pretty stalker though,
”
Van
said.
“
So I
’
ll let it slide.
”

“
You
’
re something, Van. I just wanted
to say thanks. You didn
’
t
have to do that. I mean, I really wish you didn
’
t
do that. That
’
s a lot of
money.
”

“
Doesn
’
t matter. I saw your drawings,
Natalie. I don
’
t know your
situation, but if you
’
re an
artist, I respect that.
”

“
Wow,
a softer side of you.
”

“
What
are you doing for dinner?
”

“
Dinner?
I don
’
t
…”

“
Meet
me.
”

“
Why,
Van?
”

“
So
we can talk in person. I want to know more about your drawings. And how the
hell you ended up with an eviction notice on your table. And how the hell you
ended up with a rockstar in your bed.
”

“
Correction,
”
Natalie said.
“
The rockstar wasn
’
t in my bed. Next to my bed. He
didn
’
t make the cut.
”

“
Damn,
”
Van said. He was smiling again.
He liked talking to Natalie.
“
Meet
me in an hour.
”

“
Are
you asking or demanding?
”

“
Just
meet me in an hour. I
’
ll
text you a place.
”

“
I
just wanted to say thank you, Van.
”

“
So
then tell me thank you,
”
Van said.
“
In person. See
you soon.
”

Van ended the call. He looked at
his phone. Then he shook his head.

What the hell am I doing? I
’
m not over Vanessa yet. I
’
m not over anything.

Then again, there was nothing wrong
with a distraction. Especially if it was with someone who might have been going
through the same damn thing.

9.

Natalie walked through the
restaurant and casually looked around. She felt insanely guilty, like she was
about to do something very wrong to everyone there. What it was though was the
feeling that she was about to meet Van again. Another chance to hang out with
the rockstar. This time he
’
d
be sober, and maybe not a total asshole.

When Natalie spotted Van standing
at the back of the restaurant, he was leaning against a wall, looking so cool.
Of course, there had to be a drink in his hand. He lifted the glass and smiled
at Natalie.

He took a sip as Natalie
approached.

“
Drunk?
”
she asked.

“
Working
on it,
”
Van said.
“
You look beautiful.
”

“
Thanks,
”
Natalie said. She couldn
’
t help the way her body reacted
around Van. He took things away and replaced them with something else. The
thoughts of Mark. The worry, fear, the lonely feeling, that was all gone.
“
You
’
re actually nice for once.
”

“
We
just got here,
”
Van said.
“
Give me a few minutes.
”

Van pulled his chair out and sat
down. He kicked at Natalie
’
s
chair and it shot back. She grabbed the chair and sat down.

“
Want
a drink?
”
he asked.

“
No,
”
Natalie said.

“
Yeah,
you do. Order something. It
’
s
all on me tonight, sweetie.
”

“
Lucky
me,
”
Natalie said.

Van grinned.
“
You
’
re quick. I remember that. I like you for that.
”

“
I
wouldn
’
t know,
”
Natalie said.
“
You were pretty upset last
night, Van.
”

“
I
’
m always upset. I have my
reasons. I
’
m sure you do
too.
”