“Drop the false humility,” he says, as if that’s the thing that’s brought him to laughter. “You know how good it is. Even Mia said so.”
“Did she?” I ask, excitement over her approval outweighing my triumph over my temporary release from the friend zone.
“Well,” he says, “not out loud.”
“We love it, though.” The stranger takes a step forward, tipping the flat hat on his head like he thinks he’s Tommy Shelby. He has two crooked teeth that appear when he smiles. “I’m Max, the band’s manager.”
“Olivia Bakersfield,” I say. “I should’ve asked before I attached the picture to the band name, but I just wanted to make sure the flyer stood out.”
“Clearly, it worked,” Deiss says, gesturing above us. “Booker keeps texting to tell me how many people are up there waiting. This is going to be a full house.”
“Olivia’s right, though,” Max says. “It’s not best practice to attach an unapproved logo to an established name. But in this case, it’s worked out. It’s an original, right?”
“It is,” I say.
“It is?” He cocks a skeptical eyebrow.
“She just answered you,” the drummer says, coming over from the stage. The rest of the group trails after him.
“What made you think to put a hot dog in one of the bears’ mouths?” A cute guy with shaggy blond hair and a guitar dangling from his side leans forward with a grin, propping his forearm on Max’s shoulder.
I shrug. “It felt right.”
His grin widens. “Fair enough. But you have to tell us if the bears are dancing or fighting, because there may or may not be money riding on your answer.”
“I wish I could answer that,” I say, “but I can’t. I tried to make it a little of both, so the viewer would see what they wanted to see.”
“Did you hear that, Brad?” He reaches over to shove the drummer. “You’ve got hidden anger inside you. You should try to see a world that’s full of dancing, like me.”
“I’ll write that down in my goals diary,” Brad says wryly before focusing on me. “My anger issues aside, what do you say? Do you want to work with us?”
My pulse quickens as I search his face for signs that he’s messing with me.
“Slow down there, Usain Bolt.” Max holds up a hand between us, stopping me from answering. “That’s not how this works.”
“Sure, it is,” Brad says. “For once, the whole band likes the same thing. Do you want us arguing over every album cover and piece of merch and all the other stuff that needs to be designed, or do you agree that we should lock down the one person who’s brought some harmony to the process?”
Max sighs. “You know you’re destroying our bargaining ability, right?”
Brad looks between the two of us impassively.
“I wouldn’t have bargained anyway.” I manage to get the words out coolly, despite the rapid pounding of my heart. “Talent like mine doesn’t come cheap.”
* * *
—
“They’re going to be big-time,” Simone says, leaning against the boxes along the back wall. Next to her, I can feel the offbeat thump of her stiletto against the cardboard. Everyone has pushed forward to be closer to the band, but it’s still thick with people back here. “I mean, just listen to them. They’re phenomenal.”
“They’re good,” I agree, sliding my hand in my back pocket to make sure the band manager’s card is still there. It’s the most precious thing I’ve ever owned, and I’ve slid it between my fingers so many times that I’m worried the ink is going to come off.
“And your work is going to be on their album cover.” Simone looks at me through heavily lined eyes, only a hint of jealousy piercing her enthusiasm. “They’re going to sell t-shirts at their concerts with your designs on them.”
“Hopefully.” I scan the crowd, lit by the bulbs along the walls. Phoebe and Mac are up front dancing, but Deiss is nowhere to be found.
“No, they will. I can’t believe you just laid it down like that. Talent like mine doesn’t come cheap. I’ve never been so impressed by you.”
I laugh at the awe in her voice. “It was false bravado, Simone. I’d already designed the logo for free. I probably would’ve let them use it anywhere they wanted just for the exposure.”
“That just makes it even more badass,” she says. “They ate it up, too. What if you end up being the designer for all the bands that pass through here? And then you get so big that other bands start reaching out? You could be a go-to for the whole music industry.”