Everything he’d done for me in the past couple of days.
Everything the band had done on the tour.
Everything we’d done to get the EP out.
All that could be taken away by Numb Records.
They were threatening to cancel our contract. Because of me.
I felt sick.
I had to talk to them that afternoon… or face the consequences.
“Saff? Are you there?” Jonas brought me back to the present and the decision I had to make.
I was so torn. My muddled thoughts were swirling, trying to work out what to do. “I’ll call you later.” After I’d ended the call, I switched my phone off.
Concentrating on my breathing, I walked back to the others.
“Saff? Who was that? It wasn’t Carl again, was it?” Darren put his arm around my shoulders.
God, if only it had been. He would have been so much easier to deal with.
Slowly, I shook my head. “No. It was Adrian Baxter from the record label. He wants to meet with me this afternoon to discuss TheSB’s future. More to the point, if we even have one with them.” My voice cracked. Saying the words out loud made them all the more real.
“Oh, gosh, Saff, how awful!” Annie shoved Darren out of the way, taking his place as my comforter. “You have to go and see him.”
“No, I need to be here for Tris. He’s more important,” I protested.
“Your career is on the line, you should go. Tris will understand why you weren’t here. I’ll make sure to tell him why you couldn’t be.” Annie’s tone was firm.
“I, I can’t.” I didn’t want to walk away from Tris. He hadn’t walked away from me when I needed him.
“Annie could be right, Saff. If this is your only chance to rescue TheSB, you should go. I’ll stay here for Tris,” Darren said.
I screwed up my eyes. He was talking sense. It seemed to be two against one. I glanced over at Col hoping I could up the odds in my favour. He shrugged, no help at all. It was half past ten. If I got my shit together, I could easily be back in London by two and make it to the Numb Records offices for three, barring any delays. I thanked my lucky stars I’d bought a suitable outfit for court; at least it would make a decent saving-my-career look.
With a deep sigh, I made my decision. “Okay, I’ll go.”
“Good for you, Saff. I’m sure you’ll be able to sort things out in no time.” Annie leaned over and gave me a brief kiss on the cheek. “Good luck, love!”
As I walked away, I couldn’t help but notice the ring of triumph in her words.
28
Tris
I’d woken early that morning.
My sleep had been plagued with dreams of Saff, Scott Lincoln and Carl Doherty. Everything swirled in, Saff being in hospital, the launch party, the last gig, all muddled until I didn’t know what was going on. Much like reality.
Court hung heavy over me. When I’d left prison, I’d sworn I was never going back there and here I was, not three months later, facing the very possibility I’d return.
Dad had told me to fight for Saff.
I’d done exactly what he said and look where it had got me.
The door opened and breakfast arrived.
