Of Course, It's You

Chapter 12

HANNAH

The lead guitarist spotted Hannah first and nudged the guy beside him. The drummer dropped a drumstick, and it clattered to the floor, rolling toward her.

Yep. They recognized her.

She smiled and introduced herself. All grins and wide-eyes met her gaze. They knew exactly who she was, or at least, they thought they did.

Hannah bent over to retrieve the stick, smoothing her hair behind her ear as she handed it over.

"So," she said with a soft smile. "I take it you know what I'm about to ask?"

The drummer blinked. "I think so? I mean... We've seen you around. In all the photos. With, like... everyone."

"Yeah, you know so many big stars and shit!" The bassist added in a husky tone.

Hannah laughed. "Well, not all of them. But, how would you guys like a shot at being the next ones?"

The band members froze, then exploded with cheers and high-fives. Hannah offered them the rehearsed pitch– studio time, agents, a real shot at a contract if the meeting went well."

She didn't even flinch when the drummer high-fived Carmen, who had joined them quietly on the stage. Carmen's smile was oddly stiff, her face pale, and when she extended a hand to one of the guys, it looked like her whole body was begging to retreat. Hannah stifled a laugh behind her hand.

Once the band settled, Hannah brought them back to reality.

"This is just the start," she said. "There's no deal yet. Don't blow your shot by celebrating too soon. Talk it over, call the number I gave you, and let's see if it's the right fit. Deadline's Friday."

They all nodded eagerly. She handed over a checklist, so they had a clear picture of what to expect, and that was it.

Back at the high-top table, Hannah grabbed her bag.

"You're very good at your job," came a voice behind her.

She looked up. Carmen still looked uncomfortable, standing stiffly, her shoulders too tight. Her nerves practically hummed through her skin.

Hannah raised a brow. "Funny. Compliments weren't what I expected after being reprimanded for something you can't even prove."

Carmen winced. "I think... maybe we got off on the wrong foot."

Hannah eyed her hands– how Carmen's middle fingernail scratched nervously at the skin around her thumb. It was the only thing grounding about her. The rest? It was all polished veneer and damage control.

"That seems to be the only way you walked in here today." Hannah said, tossing her bag over her shoulder. "On two wrong feet dressed in immaculate heels."

She gestured toward the stage. "This? This was the easy part. Usually, I have to give some long-winded pitch, but those guys already knew me. That's rare."

Carmen nodded, biting her lip. And damn her for looking good while doing it. Hannah tore her gaze away and kept going.

"I enjoy this. It's fun. It's meaningful. Making someone's day? That kind of energy is palpable. It's this tangible, sharable thing and it's exciting. It's contagious." She took a large breath before continuing. "And I get to do this for a living. Not because it's glamorous, because it's not. The hours can be brutal. But it's mine. It supports me and my daughter. So when someone–you–threatens to take it away because of some petty, misinformed power trip?"

She stopped to take a breath.

"Look, either fire me or don't. But don't hang it over my head like you're waiting to decide whether I'm worth the risk."

Carmen didn't answer. Just nodded again, looking around the bar like the answers might be written on the walls.

Hannah's phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and scrolled the many messages from Jules.

Jules: I told her where you were. I'M SORRY!

Jules: Jay said she threatened to fire him for not submitting docs early. Then moved the deadline mid-convo.

Jules: She's already revising job descriptions without warning people. That's probably why she's talking to you now.

Jules: Are you alive??

Jules: HANNAH??

Hannah rubbed the bridge of her nose and squinted her eyes. She did not need all of this stress.

She missed last week. A time when things made sense. When her career wasn't at risk because she made the mistake of sleeping with the wrong woman at the wrong wedding.

But she'd been through worse, and she'd power through this no matter which way the wind blew.

Without another word, she repositioned her bag on her shoulder and turned to leave. She didn't even glance at Rhonda on the way out. Didn't look back at Carmen.

All she could see was red.

Behind her, Carmen stood motionless at the table. Watching as she walked away.