Moving Too Fast

                                    

                                          
I've been dreading this day since the moment Trisha told me Richard set up a meeting.
Before we open the studio door, Trisha examines me. She does this every single time like I'm her child. She fixes my hair a little and gives me a nod, making sure everything is perfect, straightens her skirt and we head into the conference room for our meeting.
The conference room is the same room we always use when it's more than just three people, otherwise my studio room is where we would go. Instead, I sit at a long table across from my producer, Richard, next to him typing away is his personal assistant, and on the sides are Elliott, a few of my music managers, then Trisha. Sometimes I feel like I'm in a courtroom when I come in here with a table full of people. People who conduct the life of Nate Hollan.
Less than one minute of small talk goes by when Richard dives right in.
"So, the first thing that we need to do is reschedule your trip to Austin." Richard taps his pen on his pad of paper annoyingly. Austin. God, am I even ready to do all this?  Richard rambles on about the things that were cancelled due to my heart attack and the position the record label was put in after advertising me for over a year. No 'Congrats you survived' bullshit. Just the fallout from my health problems getting in the way. I can feel my knee start to bounce nervously and Trisha swiftly puts her hand under the table and holds my knee making sure no one noticed.
I listen to Richard but say nothing. I'm not ready. I KNOW I'm not ready. Trisha can read me like a book. I swallow hard and my hands clam up.
"He needs to get medically cleared to travel. Nothing can happen until then." Trisha tries to buy me a little more time.
"So make it happen." Richard doesn't fool around.
"Right, I can work on scheduling his promos in Austin, but it will take some time. He has two local radio interviews and a performance with the band coming up first." She talks, but neither of them look up from their laptops, both deep in the agenda. I sit here fucking invisible while the two of them plan out my life.
"Ok, but make sure you rebook Austin. That was a big one."
 "Of course." Trisha squirms in her seat before saying her next idea out loud. "We could also make up some of the loss by incorporating San Antonio for some interviews as well while we are in the area."
What the fuck is she doing? My eyes quickly shift to Trisha, and I glare at her. 
"I like the way you think. Make it happen." Richard nods and finally makes eye contact with Trisha and then myself.
I stare at Trisha, and I know she can feel it but she continues typing the notes from the meeting in her laptop. I know what she's trying to do.
Richard has nothing more to say so he closes his laptop, adjusts his tie, and leaves without another word. Everyone else gets up, says their quick goodbyes and well wishes, and follows suit. Once the conference room is empty, I shut Trisha's laptop on her.
"What the hell, Hollan!" She flinches, moving her hands away from the laptop just in time, and furrows her brows at me.
"I know what you're trying to do." I grumble under my breath.
"What I was trying to do was finish typing my notes."
"San Antonio? Really?"
"What?" She knows exactly what I'm talking about.
"I'm not a fucking idiot, Trisha. You're not booking San Antonio for promotional purposes. You're trying to start things back up with Macy." I stand up and start pacing back and forth like an animal trapped in a cage.