Lucky Break Read Free Page B

shoot that now."
    Lucky listened to what Ian said and didn't question it. The thought of her album cover hadn't even entered her head. She recorded it just weeks ago, but it still wasn't real to her until Ian mentioned it.   She took the bag and headed into the bathroom and changed.
    Ian selected a pair of white jeans with a peach belt, and a white midriff baring long sleeved top. Lucky had on a peach and brown stone bracelet she pulled over the sleeve since the sleeves were so long. She felt uncomfortable showing her soft stomach and walked back to the set with her arms wrapped around herself.
    "Perfect. Just relax. Pixie girl, bring Lucky the guitar!"
    Jordan grabbed an electric guitar that was in the corner next to her and handed it to Ian. He held the guitar upright and handed it to Lucky with the bottom resting on the ground and her holding onto the headstock. Next he slid her hips to one side and went back to his camera.
    "Perfect!" He snapped a few shots, pulled his laptop over to him, and brought up the photo shoot on the screen. "Come here Lucky. You too Pixie."
    Lucky held onto the guitar like a security blanket and brought it over to Ian and his laptop. As he began scrolling through the photos she was speechless. In the white outfit, with the way he had her stand, he accentuated the curve of her waist and hips, making her look sexy and not big like she feared.
    "You look amazing girl!" Jordan exclaimed. "And how good are those shots of just you!"
    "See, I was right. Listen to the pixie, Lucky."
    "Ok, they're great. I just have one complaint. I really don't want to have to look at myself every time I look at my album."
    "Ahh that's a first. Usually everyone wants to see themselves staring back," Ian said.
    "Its not about me though, its about the music. That's what's important. This isn't some vanity project."
    "Yes, yes, the serious artiste. I should know better right?" He quickly cropped the photo, bringing her body closer and showing only the neck of the guitar but cutting it so everything from the shoulders up wasn't visible. "There. Guitar up front and center. What do you think?"
    "Its perfect Ian, absolutely perfect. Thank you!"

PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM

 
    Chapter Three
     
    The label had things on a tight schedule. Lucky wanted to head home to see her parents before hitting the road, but with practice there wasn't enough time. After the photo shoot, Black Dog flew the band to SIR studios in New York where they rehearsed almost non-stop for two days before heading over to Philadelphia for their first show–opening for Patchwork Quilt, a mid-level band on the rise.
    In the past month that she had been signed, the label "leaked" a song she recorded as a demo to radio stations. The song did well enough to book a ten-city tour of mostly small clubs or opening for bigger acts. She didn't have a problem knowing most of the audience wasn't there for her, that only meant she needed to win them over.
    The old bus groaned as people boarded. It had the distinct scent of disinfectant and lemon the band couldn't get away from since the windows didn't open. In a sea of grey and teal seats, Lucky sat in the middle of the bus with her acoustic guitar resting in the seat beside her.
    She smoothed out the skirt of her long black and white paisley print sundress, then swept the top part of her light brown hair off her face and clipped it back. Wearing a dress on stage was the only way she felt comfortable performing.
    Lucky hated airplane and bus seats. The metal arms always hugged her hips as she sat, making her feel larger than she really was. Sliding the arm in between the seats up, she grabbed her guitar and began strumming a few of the songs they were performing that night before turning to Jordan across the aisle.
    "I hate this, Jord. That feeling of impending doom I always get when I have to perform in front of people. Maybe I should've just stuck to songwriting."
    "Listen to yourself, you always get this way and then what