Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78024 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78024 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“I wanna keep an eye on her,” Priest says. Obviously. We wouldn’t be fucking shaking down the club if we didn’t.
“Not disagreeing with you, brother, but she didn’t seem thrilled with being managed,” I point out.
He stays quiet, eyes focused on something that I don’t think we can see. “She’ll get used to it.”
Colt laughs. “Shit. This is going to be fun.”
7
Chapter 7 - Quinn
“Welcome.” Roger’s face lights up with a smile when he sees me. “Not exactly as professional as my office, but come on in.”
“Seems like a pretty nice place to me. I hear people are dying to get in,” I tease.
I looked it up on our way here and it really is a nice place, with a gym, walking paths and a therapy pool in addition to individual apartments for all the patients. But at the end of the day it’s still a medical facility.
“Nearly!” He laughs, and pats my back as I give him a hug.
“Mom’s registering the car with the front desk.”
He waves a hand dismissively. “No need to wait. I had them put out some food and drinks on the terrace. We’ll talk there.”
He’ll be in this rehabilitation home for about a month, but it’s a big relief to see him up and moving around. Thinner than usual, and using a cane, he’s still looking and sounding more like his usual self after having a heart attack three weeks ago. If he hadn’t gotten help so fast, it could’ve been fatal. It feels selfish, but I’m not ready for him to go. Not just because he’s always fought for me in my career, but because he’s only sixty and the closest thing I have to a father figure. It’s scary to realize that he’s not going to be around forever.
Roger slowly leads the way to a private terrace off the back of his unit. It overlooks a beautiful garden with a marble fountain and a rainbow of colors in bloom. There’s a table set with small sandwiches, cookies and sparkling water.
He gestures to a chair. “Go on, let’s get started before your mom shows up. How are you doing with all the attention? For real.”
“I’m okay. It’s weird to be recognized. I feel like I don’t quite belong to myself anymore.” I want to tell him about what happened at the party, and the odd message, but there’s nothing he can do and he doesn’t need the stress. It’s not like we know anything about it anyway.
“I’m sure.” He nods. “It’s going to be a little intense for a couple weeks, but when all the episodes are out, the official promotion will slow down and you can relax for a bit. As long as you’re dealing with it okay, let’s keep going and then we can sit down after and make a plan for next time based on what worked for you and what didn’t.”
“Next time?”
“You don’t think this is it, do you?” he asks with almost childlike glee as he pulls out his laptop. “I’ve already gotten several inquiries into your availability. Obviously your contract for Saving the World comes first, so we have to keep you open if season two gets the greenlight, but everyone understands that.”
There’s a knock on his door before Mom lets herself in and joins us. She leans down and presses her cheek to Roger’s in a polite air kiss. “Okay, tell me what’s important enough to drive all the way out here for.”
“Mom!” I pour her a glass of sparkling water and she takes it without a word.
Roger pats my arm. “It’s fine. For starters, Comedy Night Live is interested in having Quinn, Erika and Toby drop in for an episode but they’re still working out details. Tamika’s publisher is considering re-recording the audiobooks using their voices. They want to record a few chapters as a test.”
“Oh my God, that’s so cool!” I grin at Mom. “Right?”
“It’s a good start, but we need something concrete so you aren’t stuck here with this shitty little show.”
“Sheila, this has been an amazing jump-off point for her career,” Roger admonishes.
“I’m aware, but Quinn isn’t getting any younger.” She sighs wistfully, like I’m already over the hill.
She’s never quite forgiven us for convincing her that theater school was a good idea. According to Mom, it stole away my “good” years for breaking into show business.
“Well, maybe this will be more to your liking.” Roger slowly spins his laptop around, revealing the well-known logo for Starpoint Studios at the top of an email. “A Distant World Under A Distant Star. I haven’t seen the script yet, but there are some good names attached already and it’s sci-fi fantasy, which should work with the audience for Saving the World. It’s not a lead role, but you’d be guaranteed a significant speaking part in at least four episodes a season.”