“This is all just a minor hiccup. We’ll get back on track … you, me, and Chap.” I flinched at her inclusion of the bastard who broke my heart, but remained silent. “Where are you?”
“I’m in Hume.”
“You went home?”
“I didn’t exactly have many options.” I guess I could have booked a room at the Omni Hotel, but what I wanted was to escape, not hide. “Hey, do you know why Moniece is coming all the way to Hume?”
“What?”
“She said she had to speak to me about something important.”
“No, I haven’t got a clue. Maybe she wanted to tell you about the potential canceled tour dates face to face.”
“Maybe, well I’ll worry about it when she gets here.” I released a long sigh. The sound of vehicles drew me to my window. Outside, Ozzie and my dad were fussing over something or other. My father could be a real hard ass when it came to work, but I guess that’s why Palmer horses were the best in the business because my father was a perfectionist. Oz was the opposite, but he was dedicated and one of the best horse trainers in the game. “Guess who I ran into last night at The Tipsy Owl?”
“Who?”
“Okay you’re no fun. Edison.”
“Edison Birch? How’s he doing?”
“He’s been drinking his milk, chopping piles of wood, and baling hay.”
“Edison Birch?”
“Edison Fucking Birch.” I bit my lip at the thought of him.
“Remember you have a boyfriend.”
“No, I don’t. Chap and I are on a break. He broke my heart and I’m considering letting Edison break my spine.”
“Fancy.” Darla was the most immodest person I knew, so why she was over there clutching pearls I’d never know.
“Okay not really, but I can flirt a little.”
“I thought you went to Hume for clarity?”
“No, you’re right and I don’t plan on doing anything reckless.”
I decided not to share I’d already been a little reckless by making out with Edison last night. Darla would judge me. I didn’t want to hear any of her rational thinking right now. I was mad. Mad at Chap. Mad at myself. I knew better. Everyone said he was a ladies’ man, but I ignored the red flags because I wanted the fairy tale. Girl from a small town moves to LA, becomes a huge star, and she starts dating the handsome well connected guy.
What I hadn’t told Darla is for months now, I’d been questioning whether this fairy tale was one I wanted. Mostly the relationship part, not the celebrity part. Dylan’s expectations of me and our relationship were ones I didn’t quite agree with. It was as if he was slowly trying to change me. He said I was a country music outsider and people knew it. After each concert or interview, he’d have a list of notes on things I could change or ways I could improve. Funny thing is he never gave Darla similar notes.
I wasn’t interested in changing my personality. Not saying I was perfect, but I didn’t need a bullet point list of all the things I needed to tweak. If you loved someone, why would you want them to change? Dylan could be selfish and didn’t recognize his immense privilege, but I accepted all of him, even the parts that weren’t polished.
“Are you still there?” Darla asked.
“Yeah.”
“If you need me just say the word and I’ll come running.”
“Thanks. I love you.”
“Love you too.”
When the doorbell rang,I gave myself one quick pass before heading for the stairs. I’d opted for a yellow sun dress that showed off my legs and cowboy boots. My hair was loose in big, deep curls which showcased the mulberry purple highlights I’d gotten a few months back. Downstairs, I found my dad and Edison on the porch talking about roofs.
“Hey, sorry to keep you waiting.” Edison was in his uniform of choice, jeans, a sage green T-shirt and rustic brown boots. He’d ditched the ball cap and I was treated to a freshly tapered cut. In LA, men spent thousands on designer clothes and none could touch the sexy simplicity Edison was giving.
