The Playlist, page 23
Gina raised her eyebrows and cleared her throat. “Um, yeah. Everything is fine,” she said in a high-pitched tone of false reassurance.
Cori bit her bottom lip. “So, there’s nothing to worry about here?”
Gina tapped on her tablet too hard to get it to come out of its sleep setting. “No worries,” she muttered, looking like she was expending way too much energy focusing on the screen to avoid looking at Cori. Gina sat up straight, rotated her shoulders back, and said, “Well, good news . . .”
“You coulda fooled me,” Cori said and gave her a small grin.
Gina let out a huff through her nose and gave Cori a weak smile. “Sorry. I’m a little off my game today, but let’s stay focused.” She gave a single nod, but Cori wasn’t sure if it was meant to reassure her or for Gina to reassure herself. “The good news is we have the last of the major and supporting headliners locked in. Which means, in terms of musicians, we only need to finish filling out the line-up for the local acts who will play first. I think we probably only need about two more performers from the east coast, and maybe three for the west coast.”
Cori excitedly clapped her hands together. “Fantastic! I knew we were close, but that’s even closer than I expected.”
Gina smiled, more genuinely this time. “I know. Okay, the even better news is that YouTube is 100 percent in and should be sending over the contracts by the end of today. I think once I start openly letting other companies know, it will only be a matter of time before other web services stop dragging their feet and get on board.”
Cori let out a long whistle. “Damn, girl. You’re like a freakin’ lucky charm,” she declared. Gina bobbed her head, starting to look a little more like Cori had expected she would.
“Also, I have a new idea that I wanted to run past you,” Gina said.
“Shoot.”
“I’m thinking we need some kids to perform. Children’s choirs, marching bands, that kind of thing. We could stream the kids’ groups from any location anywhere in the country, so there would be no need to pay for or coordinate their travel. And we could time those performers to be in between the major headliners so that it will allow us ample time to change over sets without boring everyone or risking people tuning out. It just keeps the music going continuously, and who the hell doesn’t want to see some incredible kids play at an event that is benefiting their education?”
Cori threw both of her arms up in the air. “Dude, that is genius!”
Gina scrunched her nose and grinned. “I thought you’d like that one. And, in preparation for your liking that, I’ve started some research on which ones we should consider inviting.”
Over the course of the rest of the meeting, Gina outlined the pros and cons of some of the children’s groups she had found, and Cori weighed in with her opinions or asked follow-up questions. Gina’s demeanor had perked up, but Cori was still bothered by how she’d looked when she had first arrived. As always, Gina concluded their meeting by reminding Cori what the objectives had been and asking her if she felt each of them had been satisfactorily met. Cori enthusiastically ensured her that they had, and Gina started to collect her phone and tablet from the table, indicating she was intending to pack up.
“Hey, Gina?” Cori said her name like a question, as she reached across the table for her hand and stilled it with her own. Gina looked at their hands and then up at Cori with mild shock. “Tell me if I’m being too nosy, but if you weren’t upset earlier about our project, what were you upset about?”
Gina’s face reddened and she pursed her lips, but she did not pull her hand back from Cori. She hesitated a long moment before she finally said, “It’s Ash . . . we broke up over the weekend. So, I guess she’s my ex-girlfriend now.”
Cori’s expression darkened and her hand grasped tighter onto Gina’s. She lowered her voice and said, “Did she hurt you, Gina? Because if she hurt you, I swear to fucking God I’ll—”
“No,” Gina cut her off. “No, it’s not—she’s not abusive. She’s actually very sweet, and attentive, and—” Gina’s voice cracked, and Cori noticed a bob in her throat. Gina let out a big sigh. Quietly, she said, “. . . and she wanted more from me than I can give her.”
Cori, her expression softer, nodded slowly, knowingly. “Well, it sounds like two good people are in pain, and I am sorry about that,” she said gently.
Gina sniffed, trying to stop herself from tearing up. “Yeah, that’s it in a nutshell. There was no drama, no cheating, no games. Just . . . she wanted to take another step, but I can’t keep stringing along someone who’s not the one, you know?”
Cori squeezed her hand again. “Yeah, I know exactly what you mean.” A long moment passed between them, Cori searching Gina’s face and Gina using her free hand to keep her tears from spilling. Cori wanted desperately to make her feel better, to be able to alleviate her pain. And then the solution hit her like a bolt.
“Hey, I have a crazy idea, but go with me for a minute, okay?” Cori said.
Gina looked at her curiously. “You always do, and I never know whether to be scared or excited.”
Cori smirked. “All right, so I’ve helped many friends through breakups before and the cure for the common breakup always has the following ingredients: dancing and friends. I can offer both of those things. And I happen to be leaving this afternoon to spend a couple of days on Fire Island. I’m staying at a friend’s beach house, and I have it all to myself.”
Gina narrowed her eyes at Cori, looking as if she was about to make some excuse, but Cori pressed on. “Just picture it: reading on the beach, a drink of your choice in hand. At night, we hit up a club on the beach packed with gorgeous, sun-kissed women.”
Gina pursed her lips, but they were also curving up in a smile she was trying to suppress. “For some reason, this sounds like a horrible idea.”
“What? It’s brilliant! Plus, you wouldn’t have to feel guilty about missing work because, technically, I’m a client,” Cori pointed out, satisfied with herself.
Gina narrowed her eyes. “Hmmm, can I trust the biggest flirt I know to behave herself?”
Cori dropped her jaw to her chest, pretending to be offended. “Gina! I will not bring other women back to our beach house. In fact, I suggest we bring a babysitter to make sure I act like a regular Boy Scout; invite Sarah to come with us. That’ll be even more fun, now that I think about it.”
Gina laughed. “She’s married now.”
“Well, then she will be even more superb in her role as babysitter. Come on, call her for real. Doesn’t she still teach and have the summers off?”
Gina lifted her eyebrows and nodded to acknowledge her point. “I mean, yeah, and she’s pretty bored right now, with Jeremiah working so much.” Gina blew out a sigh. Cori could tell that Gina was hedging, but not refusing.
“I’m not above begging, Gina Vergotti.” Cori winked at her. She still finds that charming, right?
“Well, I suppose I was the only one in the office the entire week of the Fourth, so maybe I’m owed a vacation. And,” Gina’s tone became more serious, “Ash wanted to stop by to get a couple things out of my apartment and leave the key, and I was sort of hoping for an excuse to not be there.”
Cori smiled triumphantly. “Okay, so you call off work for the rest of today, tomorrow, and Thursday; get Sarah over to your place; and text me your address so I can have a car get you when you’re ready. This will be the perfect cure for your blues.”
“Fine, but I have a condition,” Gina said seriously.
“Anything.”
“We need to talk more about how we’re going to make downloads happen, Cori. If nothing’s come to you in the last three weeks, we need to do some brainstorming on this little beach trip,” Gina said.
Cori sighed. “It’s a deal.” Then a sly grin bloomed over her face. “We’re gonna have so much fun.”
#
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: ONE BAD NIGHT
By Hayley Kiyoko
Cori had made it halfway through a steamy romance novel before dozing off on a lounge chair. She awoke slightly chilled. It was too breezy and not quite sunny enough to swim. The cloud cover had built up more during her nap and the wind gave her goosebumps. She yawned as she looked around. Sarah had started running before the nap and still wasn’t around. Squinting, Cori spotted Gina about a hundred yards down the beach, periodically bending over to examine shells and take pictures of them. Even from this distance, Cori could perceive Gina’s intensity by her body language, the way she stilled herself before snaping a shot. Her intensity was one of the things that Cori loved about her… still loved about her. Gina dedicated everything she had to the matter at hand. That trait was what made everything from her baking to her execution at work to the way she kissed so good.
Cori pulled on a hoodie and decided to go to her. As she drew closer, she saw Gina squatting near a patch of tall grass, still as a statue, with her camera positioned toward what must be a bird or small animal that Cori couldn’t quite make out. Cori walked a little closer, but paused her march to avoid spooking Gina’s muse. She waited until Gina unfroze and began removing her lens. By the time Cori was close enough for conversation, Gina was sitting staring intently at the viewscreen on the back of her camera. “Get anything good?” Cori asked, and then plopped down next to her.
“I got a super clear one of a piping plover maybe thirty, forty minutes ago, but not a ton of luck since then.” Pausing to glance up, she added, “I think those clouds are thunderheads, so I’m not much longer for this life.” She tilted her screen toward Cori so she could see the small tan bird with the white chest.
“Wow, that’s fantastic. He’s super cute,” Cori murmured.
“That one’s a female,” Gina corrected. “Here, I’ll show you a male.” She thumbed through the photos and showed Cori another one. “See, his beak is a little brighter, more orangey,” she explained.
“This birding hobby seems like a great outlet for you, Encyclopedia Brown,” Cori teased with a wink.
Gina beamed. “I love it. I can completely lose myself. Now that I have a little more cash, I’ve bought better lenses and stuff, so it’s been great to get back into it the past couple of years. It used to be my favorite thing I did with my mom.” Gina looked down, a glimmer of pain in her eyes.
“How are things with your parents?” Cori asked.
“I dunno. Tense, I guess? They’re still not okay with the gay thing. I don’t see them much.” Gina sighed. “They just have a whole different worldview, and I don’t understand how I came from them sometimes,” she finished with sadness in her voice.
“That’s hard, Gina. You’re so unbelievably strong, for living your life the way you need to instead of the way they would rather you do. Not a lot of people are that strong. I don’t know if I would have been confident enough in going about my existence if my parents hadn’t been so open-minded about everything growing up,” Cori said and patted Gina’s knee.
Gina blew out a breath that fluttered her lips. “Thank you for saying so. I’ve done a lot of work to come to terms with who I am and who they are. Lots of time and money on therapy,” Gina said with a laugh.
“Me too,” Cori admitted.
Gina looked at her and lifted her eyebrows. “Really? You too?”
Cori blushed and pushed her shoulder against Gina’s. “Come on, Gina. You knew me way back. I was a hot mess.”
“I’m not gonna argue with that,” she teased.
“And again, I’m truly sorry you were one of the people on the receiving end of that,” Cori said contritely, as she reached for Gina’s hand. Gina rubbed her thumb over the back of Cori’s hand. Gina’s embraces had always brought her comfort—her little touches, her hugs, her kisses. Cori looked down at their joined hands and her pulse quickened.
Cori found her words and continued with, “I still owe you more discussion about it. I would like for us to really talk about it.”
Gina pulled her hand away from Cori’s, causing Cori to wince. Gina looked down at the sand and said, “You know, we don’t have to revisit it now.”
“But that’s—”
“Hey, guys!” Sarah’s voice interrupted them, as she ran toward them. Cori glanced at Gina. She was already smiling at Sarah. The moment had passed. “I just ran my ass off. Ready for burgers and a night at the club?” Gina rose and turned back to Cori with an outstretched arm.
“Coming?” she asked, her killer smile reaching all the way up to her eyes. Cori nodded and took her hand. At least she got to hold it again.
***
Later that evening, Cori sauntered up the plank walkway toward the bar entrance, Gina on one arm and Sarah on the other. She ducked her head so that the two women could hear her and said, “Okay, listen. There’s some annoying shit that has to happen whenever I go out to a bar or club, so bear with me.”
Gina looked at her with some alarm. “What do you mean?”
Cori bit her bottom lip. “Uh, I get recognized a lot now, so you’re gonna see a bunch of people take out their phones and start calling out my name. It’s a little embarrassing, but I’ve found that if I ham it up for a minute and let them take the pictures, I can usually move on with my night pretty quickly and not get bothered over and over. Plus, at this place, the staff is pretty good; they always manage to get me my own table and the security guards find ways to move people away from me discretely if someone gets overly interested in lurking around. In exchange, I keep coming back, and they like that.”
Gina and Sarah nodded in understanding. “Okay, Cor, we’ll just follow your lead. No problem,” Sarah said, as she patted Cori’s arm reassuringly.
Seconds after stepping over the threshold, Cori heard the hushed whispers of her name, and finally, the voices of the first two fans to approach her. “Cori, we love your new album! Can we get a picture with you?” one asked with nervous excitement.
Cori flashed one of her signature broad smiles. “Of course,” she said casually. “Glad you all liked that record.” She pulled slightly away from Sarah and Gina, leaned toward the two fans, and let them take a selfie. A small crowd gathered. Cori exchanged handshakes with a few more people, took a few more selfies, and said her “thank yous.”
A burly butch in a yellow polo shirt approached the crowd and began to disperse them, respectfully but firmly. “Okay, folks. Let’s let Ms. Ryder and her friends enjoy themselves, shall we?” A few faces fell in the crowd, but Cori watched as they dragged themselves back to their corners and bar stools. The butch woman lightly placed a guiding hand on the back of Cori’s upper arm. “Ms. Ryder, I can show you and your friends to your table.”
Cori shot her a thankful look, and said, “Thanks, Jamie.”
She gave Cori a nod of understanding, as they shuffled toward the back of the bar. When they took their seats, Jamie spoke again. “If you need me to handle anything tonight, Ms. Ryder, please just let me know.” She gave a curt nod and turned on her heel.
Gina blew out a sigh and leaned in toward the table. “That was intense, Cori,” she said.
Cori pursed her lips. “That was one of my easier grand entrances,” she said flatly. “It comes with the territory. Trust me, in a little while people will forget I’m here, I’ll forget I’m famous, and it’ll just feel like a night out.”
A smartly dressed woman arrived at the table, holding a handful of glasses and bottle of champagne tucked under an arm. “Ms. Ryder, so very good to see you here again. We weren’t sure when you’d make it out here this summer with your busy tour, but we’ll take what we can get. This one’s on the house. We hope that you and your friends have a good time tonight.” She carefully placed the glasses on the table and proceeded to open the bottle for them. When done, she poured a smidge of the sparkling white wine into each glass. After setting the bottle on the table, she backed away with a small bow.
Cori gave her a big grin. “Thanks, Betty,” she called after her.
Sarah started laughing. “You sure you’re gonna be able to forget you’re famous?” She lightly kicked Cori’s leg under the table. Cori shook her head.
One bottle of champagne and a round of cocktails later, Cori had mostly forgot that she was famous. On the worn dance floor, she laughed as she twirled Gina and Sarah, who shout-sang the lyrics to songs at each other. Sarah held her cocktail with her free hand and brought it to her lips for sip, at the same moment that Cori spun her, causing more than half of the nearly full drink to spill on both of their shirts. Cori squealed from the shock of the cold drink on her skin. Gina laughed at both of them. Cori tried to flick some of the liquid off her shirt and she giggled. “Ah, shit, I better go try to get some water on this in the bathroom.”
“Sorry, dude,” Sarah said, and looked down at her own soiled top. “Looks like I better go too. Be right back, G.” Sarah grabbed Cori’s hand and the two of them wove through the crowd toward the restroom. They poured small handfuls of water on their shirts and tried to dry themselves off by alternately blotting with paper towels and shoving their chests under hand dryers. After a few minutes, they agreed they had done their best and began making their way back to the dance floor.
Cori stopped in her tracks at the edge of the bar, causing Sarah to jerk to a stop along with her.
“Hey, Cor, what—” Cori heard Sarah’s voice, but it came from a distant place because all that Cori could process was Gina. Specifically, Gina with both of her hands on the shoulders of a tall, leggy blonde, who in turn held onto her by the hips, which were moving sensuously to the tempo of the music. The blonde appeared to very much like what she saw, as her eyes flitted between Gina’s chest and her mouth. Her heavy lids and sexy smirk told Cori exactly what was on her mind. She would have leapt across the dance floor and delivered a swift right hook to the blonde’s pretty face for harassing Gina . . . except that Gina was mirroring the same look back.
Cori felt her face turn hot and her jaw clenched tightly. Sarah grabbed Cori’s forearm. “You look pissed, Cor,” Sarah said, leaning close to Cori. Cori was watching Gina and the blonde dance through tunnel vision, and at the center of her view were Gina’s flushed cheeks, thick batting lashes, and full lips—the lower one pulled into her mouth as she bit it. “You still with me?” Sarah asked.
