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She hung up.
Cassidy’s mouth hung agape. She looked around, no one but the trees and the birds to confirm what she’d just heard. She threw herself backwards in the grass and squealed up at the sky.
She called an emergency meeting with Kinsey that afternoon. Kinsey had just returned from her shift at the cafe and jumped out of the shower as Cassidy arrived. Her hair was wet and she’d clearly thrown on a random t-shirt and shorts to answer the door.
“What the fuck is up?” Kinsey said, bouncing slightly on her heels with impatience. Cassidy hadn’t given her much, just told her she had something urgent to discuss.
“Do you want to record a demo or two?” she asked.
Kinsey frowned.“Yeah, I guess?I mean, Hailey had it on the list for in the new year right? After we’d built up a little more buzz and had time to get everything in place.”
“The thing is,” Cassidy said, “I kind of had a call from a family friend who said they’d produce it for us if we lined up the time and the place.”
Kinsey fidgeted with the hem of her t-shirt.
“Listen,” she said, “I think we should listen to Hailey. No offense, but I’m not sure that just cos some family friend wants to give producing a go we should jump ahead on the timeline.”
“It’s Greta McCafferty,” Cassidy said.
Kinsey cocked her head. Then she laughed.
“You’re hilarious. But I’m not that easily pranked.” She looked at Cassidy for a few seconds, saw the seriousness of her expression and all of a sudden the blood drained from her face. “You’re serious,” she whispered. Cassidy nodded. “Greta McCafferty is a family friend? What the fuck oh my god what-” Kinsey was actually babbling.
“Turns out she was at our gig last night. She called me this morning. She’ll give us three songs, enough for a demo.”
“Cassidy,” Kinsey said slowly, “a demo for what? We might as well record you reading the back of a cereal box. Having Greta McCafferty volunteering to back us is like saying Jesus will promote us. Every record label in the world will take us seriously.”
Cassidy hadn’t thought of it that way.
“Well,” she said, “I found us a studio space for next month. Reckon you can take a week off work?”
“I’ll quit my fucking job if I have to,” Kinsey flung herself down on the couch and stared at her. “Though, a week in a studio? I’m gonna need a second job to help pay for that.”
“Um,” Cassidy said, “that’s the other thing. My sister is giving it to us. Like a gift.”
Kinsey shook her head as if to clear it, then got up abruptly. She went into the kitchen and came back with two beers and handed Cassidy one.
“I don’t know what to say,” she said, taking several large mouthfuls, her dark eyes far away. “That’s exceptionally generous. Maybe we can pay her back when we get a goddamned record deal off the back of this.”
“I don’t think that’s going to be required,” Cassidy said, both pleased and awkward all at once. “My sister is kind of loaded.” A wild understatement really, considering Savannah’s insane property folio, let alone her multi-million dollar empire.
“Your life is wild,” Kinsey said. “Greta McCafferty having your phone number, your wealthy family bankrolling everything-”
Cassidy sat up straight, her face hot.
“Listen,” she said, her voice going tight. “I grew up behind a trailer park, okay? Like not even in it, that’s how little money we had. I came from nothing. Sa- my sister, is incredibly kind and I know I’m exceptionally lucky to have her support, but if we make it, it’s because we’re fucking good, okay? We’re not going to ride on anyone’s coattails.”
Kinsey stared at her.
“Shit. I stepped on something there,” Kinsey held up her hands in surrender. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m beyond grateful.”
Cassidy couldn’t shake her discomfort. Was this riding Savannah’s coattails? It was Savannah’s producer and Savannah’s money after all. Shit. Should she have said no? Where was the line between wanting to go it alone and self-sabotage? Between accepting help and getting a free ride?
“Cassidy.” Kinsey slid off the couch onto the floor, sitting close to her. “Before I knew you had any of those things, I was all in. You’re a killer songwriter, your voice is beautiful and you’re a great performer. Also,” she added, cocking her head slightly, “I literally just noticed that you’re hot.”
Cassidy looked away, but she couldn’t help her small smile.
“You’re the whole package,” Kinsey said. “And if Greta McCafferty has noticed it, you can be sure it’s because you’re the real deal.”