A Moment to Breathe

After the meeting, I invited Tony and Kevin to join Kiia and me for lunch in the city. I was happy that they were both willing.

“Wow, I can’t believe that Richie refused,” Kiia said as our appetizer landed on the table. “I thought he wanted to play shows this big.”

“Yeah, I think he almost came around on the idea, but his resentment toward Borgen was greater than his love for us,” Kevin said. “Which is a real shame because he forgot that I was in the same boat with him.”

“Yeah, come to think of it, you and I texted about how you were leaving music, but you were never mad about what happened,” Kiia continued.

“Hold on, Kevin, before you answer, you guys were texting back then?” Tony interjected.

“Yeah, you know, the only member of BTR that I never met back in the day was Cy,” she revealed. “Kevin was easily your friendliest member.”

I let Kiia’s hand go as she dug her fork into the plate of toasted ravioli.

“Yeah, I just felt like I’d accomplished what I wanted to. After the last album I was content. I wouldn’t have quit the band if we kept doing arenas, but the timing let me go to law school and start the next chapter of my life,” He paused to eat a ravioli. “Our time on the road paid for my education, so I was able to start my firm without debt…and because I know so many people in the industry, I’ve had a steady flow of business since.”

Tony sipped on his drink, absolutely bowled over by Kevin’s updates.

“Man, I’m so sorry I’ve held a grudge all this time. Hearing your story is so cool.”

“Thanks man. I’m glad to see you’ve developed a lot more awareness and empathy than you had back in the day,” Kevin reached for another ravioli.

“Yeah,” Tony answered. “I realized when I went solo that I needed to fix that part of myself. I saw Cy become a household name while I was drowning, and wondered what he had that I didn’t…beyond the musical ability and beautiful face of course.”

It was Tony’s turn to attack the ravioli.

“Once I started being able to connect with people, my career didn’t improve at all, but I found myself more content with myself and the network I was building.”

“And Hell, now I get to open up on a stadium tour with Cy and Kiia, so maybe my luck is turning around,” Tony finally let out that stupid laugh of his.

“Speaking of that tour, Cy, have you figured out your backing band yet?” Kenny asked after a sip of water.

“No, not really. I don’t really need much more than a bassist and a drummer, but on my last tour, I had all of that running on a track.”

“Well, if you want real drums, my schedule is open. I know the pay would be less than the split, but I’d still be willing to do it.”

I couldn't help but smile at Kevin willing his way back onto the road.

“You know what? That sounds great, and I’ll still pay you out the twenty-five percent of my gross profit…it’s a little less than you would have made, but it’s more than the label’s session musician rates,” I said, making sure the opportunity wasn’t missed.

“Wow, if you’re willing to be so generous, that would be amazing, man. Thank you.”

Kiia got a devious look in her eyes as she was the first to come a certain revelation.

“So, you’re saying that we could simulate a BTR reunion?”

“How do you figure?” Tony asked, as the entrees were placed on the table.

“Well, we’ll have three quarters of the band on the bill every night, and I might know how to play most of the discography…I might not be Richie, and it’s not the same, but it could work.”

I shook my head, not in dissent but in shock. I hadn’t even processed the possibility.

“I mean, if we even did that once, Richie would probably pop up at the next show to heal the bruises on his ego,” Tony joked, inhaling his noodles.

As we ate, the collective consciousness realized that Kiia might have struck gold.

“Cy, you’ve played as many shows as I have since going solo, right?” Tony asked.

“Technically, yes, because you’re lazy and only play like thirty times a year,” I joked, leaving a grape tomato on Kiia’s plate.

“Okay, my work ethic aside, every time I’m headlining, people expect me to do anything from the BTR catalog, but I never touch it.”

“Yeah, I was always the same way,” I started eating after Kiia tossed me one of her meatballs.

“If we just played something like Bells or When Angels Cry any stadium we play would go out of its mind,” Tony practically yelled, forgetting we were in public.

“Why would you want to do a ballad when we would be better off doing Prisoner? It was our first number one,” I pushed back.

“Well, why not do Prisoner and When Angels Cry?” Kevin added. “Those were our two number one hits, and I’m getting chills at you duetting When Angels Cry with Kiia instead of Tony.”

Tony cast his head back, offended at first.

“Okay, forgive my reaction. My ego was hurt, but there’s a reason she’s headlining stadiums, and I’m opening.”

“If only Richie saw it that way,” I muttered louder than I intended.

“Yeah, I was really surprised by his lack of self awareness about that,” Kevin said, addressing my slip up.

“Well, to be fair, and I’m not sure what exactly you’re referencing, but if BTR was doing poorly, literally no one outside of the band could tell,” Kiia added, catching some parmesan that fell off her fork. “We all just saw a steady stream of platinum records and arena tours.”

“Yeah, that’s the thing about Twilight Reverie, and Borgen specifically,” I started. “The ability to create illusions with their bands is their specialty. Most artists that he signs like BTR, where we were brand new, are just an expensive vessel for the rest of the label. We barely broke even for him, but we produced so many gold and platinum acts out of the bands that opened for us that he spent a fraction of the overhead on.”

I paused to enjoy more of my lasagna.

“Add in that Tony and I had successful solo careers, and Borgen basically convinced the world that BTR’s death wasn’t about sputtering sales, but that its lead members were destined for more.”

Kevin and Tony looked spooked for a second at this revelation.

“So, then why did he even bother to sign OH?” Tony asked.

“Their current run was designed as an illusion. He envisioned them propping up a band like Axcess as they transitioned to a legacy act; however, my direct involvement and the global fan reaction changed that plan…At this point, he’s leveraging their success and Kiia and I’s relationship to create two flagship artists for the label.”

Kevin was deep in thought.

“I wonder if that’s where Richie was going with his launch your own label chirp?”

“Probably,” I answered. “But I don’t have the risk tolerance for something like that. I don’t really like Borgen at this point either, but I’ve never been more free.”

We finished our meal. The plans for the summer tour were set. We were going to give the States a tour they were never going to forget.