CHAPTER 15

 

 

“Fawn!”

Fawn recognized the voice coming from the waves as she walked along the shore. Dread filled her, not knowing how this conversation was going to go. Yesterday she had come back to the hotel in love and excited about the music she had recorded the week before. She had spent all day catching up on calls and text and had delayed sending the music to John until this morning.

She had spent the best part of the morning listening to the EP and was proud of the end result. After gathering all her courage she hit the send button on the email and her dream made its way to John’s laptop. A rush of nerves swept through her. What if John didn’t like it?

She decided a walk on the beach was a good idea to get her mind off John and her EP while she waited for his feedback.

Her legs were starting to ache from the distance she had walked in the damp sand and her nerves were still shattered. She delayed going back to the hotel fearing John’s response.

The last thing she needed now was the surfer running towards her with his surfboard under his arm. “Hey what happened to you the other night?” Danny called out as he reached her, accusation clear in his tone.

Fawn smiled and noticed again how attractive Danny was. With water dripping down his face and his sexy smile wide as he spoke, Fawn couldn’t help but feel guilty for walking out on their date. “I’m sorry Danny, something came up.”

Danny looked at her, assessing for a moment before he spoke. “And you couldn’t even leave a message with the waiter?” He asked exasperatedly.

“Danny, like I said it was sudden I …” Fawn tried to explain before he interrupted her again.

“Don’t even bother; you think you’re too good for a nobody like me? You know what, actually it’s the other way around.”

“I’m sorry Danny, I should’ve apologized sooner, but I’ve been busy.”

Danny smirked at her words. “Busy doing nothing in your penthouse suite?”

“Actually I’ve met someone Danny, someone I think it might be serious with. I’m sorry if you don’t want to hear that, but it’s true. I was wrong to walk out on you and even more wrong for not apologizing. You’re an awesome guy and any girl would be lucky to date you.”

Danny shook his head. “Yeah right, any girl but you.”

Before Fawn could speak Danny turned and ran back into the waves. She watched for a while as he paddled out against the waves. He came to a stop just behind the surf waiting for the perfect wave.

Fawn took a seat in the damp sand, wanting to see how well he could surf. She felt her heart speed up as he started paddling fast on a swell heading for the shore. As the swell started to roll into a wave Danny stood on his board expertly glided along the curve.

She felt sorry for hurting him but remembered his interest in her fame and pushed it aside as she brushed the sand from the seat of her pants and headed back to the hotel.

She couldn’t delay John’s feedback forever.

 

 

As Fawn powered up her laptop she felt anticipation and trepidation claw up her throat. Her mailbox pinged with a new message alert from John. She took a deep breath before opening the mail.

 

Fawn,

I applaud your effort but something is missing…

The essence of pop that has brought you fame and fortune is not present in this music.

The tempo is too slow for your young fans and the lyrics too deep.

This might be something we can pursue in future but this isn’t the type of music your fan-base will support.

When you get back we can go over the new music I just received from the writer for your next album.

You’ve had your time Fawn; it’s time to get back to reality and your true sound.

John.

 

Fawn felt the rush of disappointment and failure settle heavy in her chest. Her tears started spilling over and she had no power to stop them. In a few short sentences John had just ruined her dream and sentenced her to a lifetime of singing shallow pop music.

Tears rushed down her face as her body started racking with sobs. She had poured her heart and soul into the four songs John had just condemned.

As her dreams fell to pieces Fawn wondered for the first time if John had her best interest at heart or only the bottom line?

Maybe Seth was right; she would lose some fans but gain more loyal fans if her sound changed.

Did she just waste three weeks of her life writing music that would never be recorded?

Shaking her head and brushing away the tears Fawn gathered herself. She couldn’t see her time in the Hamptons as wasted, if anything it bought her Seth.

She couldn’t regret the arrogant way he had teased her for weeks since their first night together, she couldn’t regret their time together in the studio and she wouldn’t regret their weekend together.

She hadn’t seen him since yesterday morning and suddenly the urge to see Seth overwhelmed her. She wanted to talk to him, tell him about John’s mail. She wanted him to hold her in his strong arms and tell her everything was going to be all right.

Fawn grabbed a couple things and threw them into an overnight bag before calling Dom.

“Dom, I need you to take me to Seth’s”

“I’ll meet you at your door in five.” Came his curt reply.

 

Fawn knocked on Seth’s front door hoping he’d be home. They had arranged for her to come over later this evening, but she couldn’t wait any longer. She needed him now. The thought itself scared her, but it was the truth. He was the only one that believed in her dream; she needed him to tell her that she didn’t pour her soul into her music over the last week for nothing.

As the front door opened she waved goodbye to Dom before turning to Seth.

Seth appraised her face and without saying anything pulled her into his arms. The warmth and the strength of his embrace had tears escaping from her eyes again.

“Shhh.” He cooed as he pulled her inside. His one hand held her close as the other softly stroked her hair. “It’s okay; whatever it is its okay.”

Fawn sniffed a few times trying to gather herself; Seth’s scent soothed her as much as his words. She felt raw from John’s critique and it scared her that she had turned to Seth. The playboy she had vowed not to get involved with.

She pushed the thought aside and hung onto him tighter. When she was in his arms like this he didn’t feel like a playboy. He felt like home.

They stood like that for a while; Seth didn’t move or pepper her with questions. He simply held her and soothed her until she was ready to speak. Fawn didn’t realize how much she needed it, until he gave her the freedom to weep for the music that would never make the air.

She slowly pulled back and looked at him through tear streaked eyes. His face was tinged with concern. Brows drawn together, eyes questioning and yet he didn’t say a word.

“John came back to me about the EP.” Fawn said dejectedly.

“Oh baby, if you look like this he didn’t like it, which could only mean he’s an asshole.”

Fawn snickered before swallowing it down. “But he’s not. John is one of the greatest managers in the industry, he’s…”

Seth smiled as he brushed a tear from her cheek. “You’re defending him after he…what did he say Fawn?”

“He said it isn’t me and it isn’t worth pursuing basically. My fans won’t like it and we can’t chance it.”

“Screw him.” Seth said angrily as he stepped back from her. “He doesn’t want to give you a chance. How can he be great if he doesn’t even want to spread your wings and see what you’re capable of?”

Fawn understood what Seth said, but it felt like betrayal to speak poorly of John. “I don’t know Seth, I’m confused.”

Seth watched her for a few moments before he pulled her close again. “I know just what you need.” He took her hand and led her to his bedroom.

Fawn felt butterflies starting to flit in her stomach, Seth was going to take her mind off everything, and hopefully he was going to make her lose it.

As they reached the bedroom Seth let go of her hand and pulled back the bedspread. As he walked back towards Fawn she felt need pool low in her belly. She closed her eyes waiting for him to take her. She felt his hands undo the button of her denim shorts and pull it down her legs. After he slipped it off along with her shoes she felt his lips softly brush against hers. “Come on, jump into bed.”

Fawn opened her eyes confused. “Alone?”

Seth laughed deeply, arousal clear in his pants. “Yes, alone. You don’t need me to make love to you, well maybe you do but I’m not going to. At least not now.”

“What are you going to do? Tuck me in like an upset errant child and go about your business.”

Seth laughed as he did exactly that. “But I’m not going about my business. I’m going to order us some pizza, make some coffee and grab a DVD.”

Fawn gave her best attempt at pouting. “Seth.”

“Don’t Seth me.” He smiled before leaving the room. “I know exactly what you need; afterwards I might consider taking advantage of you.” He winked before leaving.

Fawn lay back in his bed and wondered what he had up his sleeve. She closed her eyes and replayed the songs in her mind. They were honest and powerful and as much as Fawn didn’t want to admit it, John was an asshole for not realizing it.

 

 

“Don’t tell me you’ve passed out.” Seth joked as he climbed into bed beside her. “Your coffee is next to you.” He pressed a few buttons on the remote before a movie started on the television.

Fawn couldn’t help but smile as Seth pulled her into the crook of his arm and the bold words Walk the Line slid across the screen. She lifted her head to look at Seth. “Johnny Cash? That’s what I need?”

Seth smiled down at her. “Johnny Cash is exactly what you need.”

As the movie ended in Folsom Prison, Seth sat up and looked at Fawn expectantly. “Get it?”

Fawn laughed. She had eaten three slices of pizza, drank two cups of coffee and spent the evening listening to Johnny Cash and June Carter and still she didn’t know why Seth had put that movie on. She shook her head.

“No one got his sound Fawn; no one thought it would sell. Until the right person heard it. He never changed his music for anyone and stayed true to his sound until he died; today he is one of the most famous country singers of all times.”

Fawn frowned. “So you’re saying I should start singing country?” She laughed as Seth’s face fell. “Don’t worry I get it, you’re saying I should stick to my sound and ignore John’s criticism.”

Seth smiled contently. “Exactly.”

“Message received. What are we going to watch now?” Fawn asked as she slipped out from the covers to quickly run to the bathroom. When she got back Seth was wearing a self-satisfied grin.

“First we’re going to watch Vin Diesel’s latest movie with fast cars and hot chicks.” He pulled Fawn close as she got back into bed. “Then I’m going to show you why you like me more than Vin Diesel and why you’re hotter than those hot chicks.”

Fawn giggled as the movie started, maybe Seth was all she needed tonight.