Sneak Peek Wednesday: Groupie by Susan Daugherty [Giveaway]

I heard him set the phone down and run water in the sink while he began shaving. Then came that booming voice over speakerphone, making me cringe.
“I just feel like you’re not hearing me, son. This girl is going to cause you a lot of problems. You have mentioned her in interviews, on stage, been together in photos for God’s sake! She kept you from doing your job at the meet-and-greet. I know she played a hand in toning down the dancers and branching into these new songs.”
He was spitting his words like daggers, and I winced, frozen my spot in the kitchen. Oh, shit, should I announce I’m here? I thought. It was too late and awkward. Maybe I could open the door and slam it so it looks like I just got here .I was too afraid to move…and too curious to miss this conversation.
“This is ridiculous, Amos. In case you haven’t noticed, the new songs she inspired are hits. I have a notebook full of new stuff she’s responsible for, and I think it’s going to make a great album.”
“That’s just it, Jack. You’re changing the formula because of her. The success you’ve gained so fast, so early, it hinges on that bad boy reputation. The guys want to be you. The girls want to do you. Everyone wants to party with you. Why would you change that?”
“There is more to me, that’s why! There’s a reason I wrote the last album like I did, and you know it. That doesn’t mean I always want to be fucking Billy Badass and never grow up. Other artists have progressed overtime, and they do just fine. They have girlfriends, get married, and they still have fans!” Jack was yelling now, and I heard him run the water and tap his razor.
“You’re going to regret making all these changes, Jack. I’m trying to look out for you… And that girl—she has insulted you from day one!” Amos was seething, and I was still struck immobile, as if in a nightmare where you try to move, but you can’t.
“No, Amos, she actually gets me. She sees more potential in me than anyone else, and she pushes me to be better. She is more than I deserve, but let me tell you something: if she would stop giving me mixed signals and tell me she wanted me, I would be all in. I want to be with her so much…it’s physically painful. So you need to back off.” Jackson was growling now, and I totally lost control of my body as I gasped in shock at his words.
The cups slipped from my hands, as if in slow motion, but I could not move to catch them. They clattered to the hardwood, banging the floor, then bouncing to hit the cabinet and back to the floor again. It was the loudest sound I can remember hearing as the blood rushed to my ears. I was still frozen for what seemed like minutes, with my hands shaking and heart thudding, knowing there was no way Jackson didn’t hear.
“What was that?” Amos was alarmed.
“Oh shit,” Jackson said calmly and then, “I have to go.” He clicked the phone off and ran the water one more time.
I picked the cups up slowly and leaned forward against the counter, trying to catch my breath as my heart raced uncontrollably. I couldn’t even process what I overheard, but I knew it would change everything.