. . .
Just when Ithought this day couldn’t get any worse, piercing blue eyes found my own, pinning me to the spot. I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. My hands fell to my lap, and I clutched them together, trying to stop the shaking.
How could my father—an exceedingly talented and sharp-witted businessman—manage to book the only person in the world I didn’t want to be within one hundred feet of? We’d spent a good twelve years and thousands of miles apart, and I’d wanted to keep it that way for the rest of my life.
Seeing him here, in our hometown, for the second time in four months was putting a bit of a kink in my plan.
When Lennox had dragged me out to the Lonestar, one of the only bars in Ashwood, earlier in the summer, I hadn’t fought her. As the baby of the family, she usually got what she wanted anyway. It would’ve been useless to argue. Plus, I wanted to have some fun. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d gone out for a few drinks with anyone, let alone my sisters.
However, I should’ve known to ask a question or two before agreeing because my sister was too damn sneaky. She knew ifshe’d told me about the live music from the get-go, I would’ve stayed home. Not that I blamed her for what happened next. She didn’t know Lawson Wilde, county music superstar, was the small-town boy with a different name who I swore I’d marry someday.
If it hadn’t been for Lennox’s running into him after the show, he wouldn’t have even known I was there. I should’ve been able to slip out from under his radar, but that was too much to hope for. The moment he looked up and saw me standing mere feet away was like a lightning strike to my barely beating heart.
I thought I’d be fine. That our chance encounter was a one-time thing, and I’d never have to see him again. But now he was here, and there was nothing I could do, nowhere I could hide.
Had he taken the gig on purpose, or had it all been one massive cosmic ‘fuck you’ from the universe? Penance for some heinous atrocity I didn’t know I’d committed in a previous life?
My leg bounced beneath the table; an uncontrollable tick that happened whenever my anxiety was racking up. I was hovering somewhere around a Defcon 2 status, which meant it was taking everything in me not to bolt and run for the hills.
“We’ve actually met before, Mr. Hayes,” Grady said, rubbing the back of his neck. “Cleo and I went to high school together.”
“Un-fucking-believable,” I scoffed, rolling my eyes. Of course, he’d drop that little bomb before flitting back to his perfect life. Meanwhile, I’d get hounded by questions from my mom and sisters, the lot of them wondering why I never said anything before.
Maybe because it was none of their business.
If I wasn’t so damn angry, maybe I’d be more hurt by his words. After all, we’d done a hell of a lot more than just go to school together. He’d been my first everything. First date, first kiss, first time, and then… first heartbreak. I hated that they all belonged to him. It hurt so much more remembering he was entwined with some of the most defining moments of my life.
Dad studied him. “Huh. I don’t remember anyone with that name in Cleo’s graduating class.”
“Yeah, Lawson’s a stage name. My agent thought it’d be a good idea, so I ran with it.”
Mom snapped her fingers, smile faltering as she connected the dots. “You’re Marsha Wilde’s boy, aren’t you? Grady?” He nodded, hiding the sting of a painful memory with a forced smile. “I was so sorry to hear about her passing. She was a good woman.”
“Yes, ma’am, and thank you. She was something special.” Grady rocked back on his heels, hands in his pockets. He always had this way of looking way too casual and cool. It was the first thing I noticed about him—like he was wholly unaffected by the world around him, just doing his own thing. His gaze found my own, waiting just for a beat too long. “I’d love to catch up if you have time?—”
No, I couldn’t do this. Not here. Not now. Not ever.
I pushed to my feet and grabbed my plate. Not that I was going to be able to finish it. My appetite had vanished. “Sorry, I’m busy.”
He stepped forward, bumping into the table. “I can talk while you walk. You know, just wanted to say hi and?—”
“And now you have,” I said quickly, attempting to keep my voice even. The damn thing was trying to betray me. “I’m sure you have better things to do anyway.”
“I don’t.” Grady smiled, nodding toward the stage. “The show doesn’t start for another hour, and I’d love to catch up while we wait.”
“I’ve got to get back to Cook. I told him I wouldn’t be gone long.” I paused, tapping my finger on the table before adding, “I’d say maybe next time, but I’m sure you’ll be gone by morning.”
Lennox mumbled, “Oh shit,” beneath her breath and laughed. Josie quickly jabbed her in the ribs when I looked their way.
I’d barely taken a step when his next words stopped me dead. “Actually, I’m home for good. Now that the band’s on a break, I thought it’d be a good idea to move back. I never got the chance to go through Mom’s things when she passed, and there’s a lot to do around her place.”
You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.He was moving back?
“You’re not leaving?” I whispered, closing my hand into a tight fist. I pretended I had a hold of my stress ball, that I could take away this burning hot flash of frustration. Just like this morning, no pressure was strong enough to take away the pain.
Grady couldn’t stay. This wasmytown.Mysafe space. I’d come back to get away from my past mistakes, not run back to them. It was supposed to be my chance to reinvent myself, to clear my head of all the bullshit I’d had to face in my marriage and move on with my life.
“I’m not leaving,” he said, softening his voice. It was almost like the voice in my memories, but it was deeper now. Melodic and soothing and ultimately so dangerous. It wouldn’t take much for him to persuade me to say yes. Not if he kept talking to me like that. “So, if you can’t catch up tonight, I understand, but I’d love to get together sometime?—”
