"What? What did I say?"
"Split? You don't expect me to pay for everything?"
"Uh, no, why would I?" I wrinkled my brows, very confused by that statement.
"I…it's just what I'm used to." I tilted my head and sat my menu down, taking a drink of my water as I looked at him. I forgot that he was used to gold diggers, people who never paid, so to him, and his way of thinking, a woman didn't pay for a thing! I mean, maybe on a date, but this was far from that. And even still, a man shouldn't always have to pay. There were quite a few times I had paid for meals and outings with my ex. In my mind, that was only ever fair.
"Rest assured Howie, I'm not like that at all. I believe in paying my own fair share. Unless you say you want to treat." The waitress came over and took our orders. Howie looked at me and I waved my hand at him, letting him know to order what he thought and I was okay. He placed it and smiled as he took my menu and handed both to her.
"Tell me what you do in the music industry,"
"I'm a promotions manager actually. Own my own company and have quite a few names under my belt. What about you?"
"A music producer."
"What, not some artist or something?"
"No, not my scene. I can pick out beats and what blends well, and I can sing a bit but have no drive what so ever to want to perform. That is not where my high comes from. And you?"
"No skills. I sound like a dying cat, in fact. Actually, a dying cat probably sounds better than I do. I get my enjoyment from landing things no one ever thought possible, or getting tours that seemed unattainable. In fact, those pesky friends I mentioned all work with me in some fashion."
"Keep it in the family, so to speak." I laughed at that comment and took a piece of the food as it came.
"Never thought about it like that, but yeah, I guess; though we were all friends before that. And they all had their own dreams. It just all worked out that I was able to include them in my services, like they contract with me but have their own clients."
"That makes you a great friend; giving them extra business." We both laughed at that. "So, who are these three pesky friends you keep talking about and what do they do?" I swallowed my bite and leaned my arms on the table.
"Well, there's Kris, she's my right hand man in the business. In fact, she was the one most adamant for me not to get involved with someone from our roster." At that, he just lifted a brow but made no comment, thank goodness. I still wasn't quite ready to get into that, if ever really.
"Then there is Alexa, who is a physical therapist. She actually helps a lot of my artists get ready for tours, shows them how to loosen up or work on things so soreness doesn't kick in so badly, might even mix in some moves so it's not horrible on the body.
"And then there is Ashley. She is a stylist and is really good at her job. Helps a lot of my clients with their looks and appearances and their overall images."
"Sounds like you offer a lot for your PR company."
"I try. I believe in the artist and want them to succeed. Now, some don't take me up on all I have to offer, and that's fine. But the option is always there. How did you get into producing?"
"I like that." He sighed and leaned back. "I thank my sister for that one; she's the one with the pipes.
"Anyways, I was younger when she was in the studio and she brought me along. I heard her record and her and the sound tech loved her voice but couldn't place what was wrong with the song. I asked them to play the track again, and to everyone's surprise, I offered some advice that might help the song along.
"They both loved it and I would love to say the song reached number one, but sadly it didn't; but it did break the top 25 though, and we were all proud. But it did start my love for it. So, I changed my major and there you have it." I looked him over, my brows crinkling together and I frowned.
"How fuckin' old are you?" I could not believe he could be over 34, he looked way too damn good.
"I'll be 44 in about three months."
"Bull shit. Howie, you do not look that old, wow!" He blushed and ducked his head slightly.
"Thank you. And I know it's rude, but how old are you? 29? 30?"
"For real? You think that's my age?"
"Are you going to tell me it's not?"
"Not even close. I'll be 38 in two weeks." He opened his eyes wide and did a once over on me.
"Hot damn! You don't look it either." This time it was my turn to blush.
"Are you a natural flirt?"
"Well…" We both laughed and looked at the lady as she came over.
"Boat will be leaving in ten minutes."