Craving Talon (3 page)

“This is all so confusing,” I mutter. “Talon has asked me to perform with him throughout the rest of the tour.”
 

“For free?” Cami asks, there is no malice in the question, but I can see her concern.
 

“We hadn’t talked about it. It’s one song and a few lines. It was totally impromptu and I was caught up in the moment of being on stage. Talon was only trying to sing it to me and I was singing back to him.” I put my head in my hands. “He liked the sound of my voice, I never imagined it would lead to all this.”
 

Kyle rubs his hand along my back, the gesture is very comforting. “Can I make a suggestion?” he asks and I nod. “Go with the voice contract. Allow Cami to negotiate with the label regarding tonight’s recording, the New York recording and anything else in the future that you and Talon might do together. Once the tour is over you can make a decision as to whether or not you want to pursue a full time music career.”
 

“It’s so much to take in.”
 

“Look Addison, I don’t need you to make any life changing decisions, but it would be wrong of me to not tell you what is in store for tonight and New York’s recording.”
 

“This has nothing to do with money,” I blurt.
 

“I think you might change your mind. Tonight’s recording comes with a ten million dollar budget that is meant to pay the band, it’s agents, plus recording and distribution costs. With what’s leftover, twenty-five percent to Bold because we’re dealing with both you and 69 Bottles. Sixty percent to 69 Bottles and the remaining fifteen present is yours.”
 

“How much is left over after all of that is paid?” I ask her.

Cami shrugs, “it really depends on what the label spends on their end, but between two and two and half million.

“Three-hundred and fifty thousand dollars for three minutes and forty one seconds?” I squeal in shock.
 

“That’s just for the recording. That’s not counting your percent of things like airtime play and performances. The official recording will garner more for you because it will give the label the ability to sell to the consumer as a single.”
 

“And when this is all done, if 69 Bottles decides to not coordinate on future songs, I can just walk away?”
 

She leans back in her chair, her confidence is palpable. She knows she’s winning. “Yes, you can just walk away.”

“Can I go back to my job?”
 

She lets out a small laugh. “If that’s what you want to do, then it’s all yours. It remains your job if you sign this contract.” She puts her hand on the one on my right. “Singing becomes your full time gig if you sign this one.”
 

“Got a pen?” Both Cami and Kyle laugh and Cami hands me a pen. I grab the folder on the right and open it. I glance through it. It’s standard stuff, I’ve seen these contacts before. I pop down to the exclusions category and read…

“The above contract does not include the selling of person or image of person to any outside parties.” Or something to that effect.
 

“I will let you know that we will continue to work with the labels interested in you. You will become a client of Bold so it is in our best interest to protect you and handle this for you. We will not make any decisions and I will wait until the end of the tour to discuss them with you. Sound fair?” I nod.
 

I sign the contract and place it back on Cami’s desk with shaking hands. She is radiating excitement as she signs her name next to mine.
 

“My first piece of advice,” she says softly. “Kick some ass, take some names along the way and,” she winks, “talk to Tristan. He’s very insightful and he knows what the single star status is like. Talon at least has the band behind him to help shoulder some of that crazy. You would be on your own, and talk to me before you guys decide to do anything outside of ‘Your Eyes’. I’ll agree to it, regardless, but I need to know so that I can start working on negotiations and prepare for it.”
 

Kyle and I both laugh. “You got it.”
 

She stands, puts her hand out and I take it. “Congratulations,” she says.
 

Kyle wraps his hands around my shoulders and hugs me. “Good job, panda girl.”
 

I happen to catch Cami’s eye of approval and I have a feeling before the night’s out, she’ll know that Kyle isn’t the only man with pet names for me.
 

“Now, let’s go eat,” she says, escorting us from her office.
 

“Oh, I almost forgot. Talon has a special announcement for the band. Would you mind if he does it during dinner?”
 

“Not at all, as long as I can announce what just happened?”
 

I smile. “Absolutely.”

“Dinner was amazing. Thank you, Cami,” Talon tells her with sincerity.
 

“You’re most welcome. I don’t imagine you’re gonna get many home cooked meals these next few weeks.”
 

“No, we won’t. So thank you again.”
 

Dex chimes in. “That was fabulous. Thank you.”
 

I smile sweetly at Dex and see a pleading worry in his eyes. I make a mental note to find a chance to talk to him as soon as possible. I need to know how he’s doing after the Kate incident.
 

As we finish up dinner I lean over to Talon’s ear. “Cami said go ahead with your announcement.”
 

“Thanks, angel,” he says quietly back.
 

The conversation continues to flow like it did over dinner. Everything from what everyone does, to their home and family life. I settle into their small talk naturally. Derek interests me most and my suspicions surrounding his dominance are confirmed by the way his wife acts around him. There’s just a certain way she moves and silently seeks permission for certain things. But they are ridiculously happy and it’s infectious.
 

Beau and Mick are some of the quietest ones and Mick is very attentive to Beau. I gathered from the conversation that she’s about six weeks away from her due date and she’s excited. But no one seems to know the sex of the baby. Which I find sweet.
 

Tyson, Travis and Tristan are like three peas in a pod. Bantering and having a good time all on their own, while Jolene, Naomi and Cami are obviously best friends.
 

Cami looks at me as the conversation kind of dies down and I squeeze Talon’s leg and nod. “Again, thank you Cami for the wonderful meal and it is my understanding that we will be heading to a bar shortly?” He looks at me for confirmation and I nod. “Good, okay, so before we go, I wanted to let my guys know something Kyle told me right before we left the hotel.”
 

“Just spill it already,” Dex teases him.
 

“Oh hell, I’m so freakin’ excited it’s hard to spit it out. ‘Your Eyes’ has reached the number one spot on Billboard’s Top 100.”
 

There’s some whooping and hollering from the guys, applause from Cami’s guests and several rounds of congratulations. I can tell that the band and even Kyle are over the moon with the news. It’s 69 Bottles’ first number one hit. Now it’s a matter of keeping it there. Which is part of why I agreed to signing Cami’s contract.
 

“Now for some more news,” Cami says. “I am honored to announce Bold’s newest client. Addison Beltrand.”
 

I blush beat red. “Oh my god, Addie?” Talon grabs my arm. “What did you do?” He’s not angry but he’s confused.
 

I smile at his confusion. It’s sweet actually. “I signed a contract with Bold that allows Cami to sell my voice. Which means that I can record tonight, in New York and continue on tour with you and it gives Bold the option to sell my image at a future date.”
 

“Are you serious?”
 

“Uh huh.”
 

He pulls me into his arms hugging me. “Hell yeah.”
 

I can’t help but laugh at his excitement and enthusiasm. “We can talk about it more later. But I get to stick around for a while.”
 

I’m met with congratulations and atta girls that last for a little while until I get up to help Cami clean up the dishes. “Leave ‘em,” she tells me as I start the water in the sink. “I have a housekeeper.”
 

I laugh. “Alrighty then.” I turn, leaning on the counter. “I don’t think I thanked you properly.”
 

“For what?” she asks surprised.
 

“The job, signing me, everything.”
 

“Well, the job you earned and you’ve done a wonderful job so far. The deal with Dex yesterday.” She raises an eyebrow at me.

“Oh, I didn’t do anything with that. I made the decision to leave it alone once I realized I was getting more airtime than he was. Why wake up a sleeping dog? But we figured out how and why it happened.”
 

“I heard. Not the details, but that some good investigative work solved the problem.”

I nod. “Yeah, it was personal against Dex, and Talon is working on the drug aspect with him. He says it was the first time he’s touched drugs in four or five years. He’s concerned, but everyone is keeping an eye on him. I’ve noticed since it happened he’s mellowed out a lot.”
 

“I can tell. He’s like a whole different person than he was in San Diego when I met him the first time. I had a pretty good idea when you guys got here that whatever had happened was pretty serious. Be sure to keep an eye on him. If he has a history of drug abuse…” she lets the thought fall off.
 

“I think he’ll be alright. I also think that once we get back on the bus away from Phoenix, he’ll slip into his old way again. I hate to say it, but I kinda miss the old Dex.”
 

She laughs and I join in.
 

“Hey ladies.” Tristan comes into the kitchen. “We’re ready to go.”
 

“Perfect,” Cami says. “Let me run upstairs real quick and we’ll go. Addison, you okay in those shoes?”
 

“Oh my god, no.” I laugh. “I asked Mills to bring me my flip flops.”
 

“Perfect.”
 

Cami disappears leaving me with Tristan. “You’ve made her night,” he says with a smile. “And you made the right choice. For now. Not many people get to experience it first and decide later.” He winks, “Also, I can tell that you have a special place in your heart for these guys, I can’t picture you walking away from them for your own benefit.”
 

I chuckle. “You seem to know me really well.”
 

He smiles. “Not really, I know your type.” His eyes look upward. “She’s the same way. Just remember, she’s a very personable person, don’t hesitate to ask her any questions, stupid or otherwise. And, call me.” He pleads with his eyes. “Trust me, I don’t want to scare you away, but what I do isn’t exactly my first choice either.”
 

“Alright Tristan, I promise. I need to let this soak in a little before I can begin to think straight.”
 

He laughs. “That will take some time. Come on, let’s get out of here.”
 

We head into the living area where everyone is waiting around. “We have a Suburban that has a few spots open if anyone wants to ride with us,” Kyle says to the group.

“We will,” Travis pipes up.
 

“Awesome,” Mouse says. He and Travis have been shooting the shit most of the night so I can’t say I’m surprised.
 

Cami comes back down. “We ready?”
 

There is a collective yes and nods so we head down the stairs and out the door. Everyone piles into cars and I am sandwiched between Kyle and Talon once again. Talon is bursting with excitement, it’s kind of strange. “What’s…?” I start to ask, but he cuts me off.

“Oh, I’ve just been waiting forever to do this,” he says as he grabs my head between his hands and he pulls me in for a deep long sensual, panty melting kiss.
 

“Get a room,” Dex chides.
 

“You think that’s bad,” Kyle teases, causing both Talon and I to laugh, breaking our kiss. “Try being in the same room, it’s kinda hot.”
 

Oh my god, he didn’t. Yeah, he did. I can’t stop laughing. I feel high both from Talon’s kiss and from the fact that everything in my life has changed dramatically in just a few short days. The time seems like it’s been months, not days.
 

“I am so happy for you,” Talon tells me.
 

“It’s not just me benefiting from this. The band is too.”
 

He cocks his head in my direction. Mouse and Travis are deep in conversation about something I can’t make out, but I’ve captured Peacock and Dex’s attention.
 

“Cami is going to take tonight’s recording back to the label. The price has already been set. The recording will be used for airplay only. The New York recording will be what goes live for sale. Though that is being negotiated, tonight’s recording has a ten million dollar price tag on it.”