“Alright, man, see you tomorrow then.”
As I got up to leave the table, a waitress stopped me, holding a piece of paper on her tray.“Excuse me, there’s a man at the bar.”She pointed, “he wants to talk to you before you leave.”I looked over at the bar and saw a guy facing us on his stool.He’s wearing a leather jacket and cowboy boots, and he tips his ball cap down in a nod.
“He’s not really my type.”I tell the waitress and start to walk toward the door.
“I don’t think you’re his either.”She laughs.“He’s a musician.I think he wants to talk to you about your song or something.”
“Oh, I’m not really interested in …” I start but am interrupted by a hand on my shoulder.It’s the man from the bar, he must have walked over because he realized I wasn’t coming to him.The waitress walked away, and I was left with the man I didn’t know.
“Hi, I’m Marc Pline.”He extended his hand for me to shake.“I’m a music producer.”He started but then stopped.“It looks like you’re heading out, can I walk with you and talk?I won’t take up much of your time.”
I nodded and began walking toward the exit.Outside, I breathed in the fresh air and leaned against the building.Marc pulled out a cigarette and lit it, offering me the pack.
“No thanks, I don’t smoke.”I say and he nods, taking a drag and blowing it out away from me.
“Like I mentioned, I’m Marc Pline and I’m a music producer.I don’t usually make it a point to hang out in bars, especially not on karaoke nights” he laughed.“But I’ve been in a slump and am looking for inspiration and new people to collaborate with for an upcoming project.I heard your song and I think you’re on to something with that one.”He looked at me and took another drag before going on.“I’d like to share your song with one of my artists and possibly have him record it.What do you think?”
I exhaled sharply, “Damn, I never thought about anything like that.”I ran my fingers through my hair.“This is just something I wrote one night, when I couldn’t sleep, it’s nothing special.”
“I think it can be.”He replied.
“Well.”I looked out at the water beyond the dock.“Okay.What the heck.I’ve got nothing to lose here so why not.”I say and shrug my shoulders.
“Alright then!”He says, clapping my hand in a shake.“Here’s my card.The studio’s address is on the back, can you come in tomorrow, 10am?”
“Sure.”I say as he’s walking away from me backwards.
“See you tomorrow, then.”He took off his cap and waved it, turning on his heel and walked to the parking lot on the other side of the dock.
I headed back to my apartment with a lighter step in my walk and hummed the melody to Ellie’s song the whole way.
When I put my hand on the doorknob to my apartment, I noticed it was already unlocked and I knew I had locked it before I left.Cautiously, I turned the knob and peered around the open door.Exhaling in relief, I saw the culprit; Dane had passed out in the living room, one arm over his head and legs sprawled out so he was half on and half off the couch.I laughed to myself and tossed the card on the kitchen counter as I headed to my bathroom to shower and wash the musty smell of the bar off of me.
* * *
My alarm went off at 6:00am and I slapped it right off the nightstand.I didn’t get a wink of sleep last night.After I talked with the music producer guy, the thought of putting my song about Ellie out there really got to me.
What if she hears it.
I hope she hears it.
I hope she knows it’s about her.
But it wouldn’t be me singing it and maybe the artist won’t even like it anyways.This is just a meeting to talk about the possibility of turning my words into a song.Nothing more.I tell myself this to keep my nerves at bay.
I grabbed my jeans and threw them on then went out to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee.I’m gonna need several cups to get me through this morning.
Dane was sitting up and rubbing his eyes to wake up when I walked into the room.
“Hey man, doin’ ok?”I asked him.
“Uh, Lee?How’d I get here?”he asked, confused.
“You tell me, dude.I got back and you we’re passed out on the couch already.You must have used your key to get in.”
“Shit.I guess so.”He stood up, then sat back down quickly.
“Yeah, maybe you should just lay low for the day and sleep – whatever this – is off.”I said, waving my hand up and down at him.
