She’d been better than good after the show in Arkansas, locking herself away to write and concocting a new contract for the label to look over. I’m proud of her, but she won’t let me in. Dalton assures me it’s just that she’s getting more confident, but I’m worried that she’s distancing herself to give Dalton and me the time to figure things out.
What is there to figure out, really? This is the easiest relationship I’ve ever had in my life.
A sleepy voice interrupts my racing heart, and I’m forced to leave the skeletons alone.“Thinking about Mae?”
Yes.
“No,” I lie. “I’m just thinking about you and me. I’m thinking about how the situations we’ve found ourselves in since we first met have never been easy, but every time it’s just the two of us, it’s the easiest life in the world. Like, everything just makes sense.”
Dalton hugs me closer but utters nothing more than a breath of a laugh.
“Have you ever felt anything as simple, as easy, as this, Dalton?” I tilt my head until I can see him fully. He’s already drinking me in.
“Never,” he answers. His fingers absentmindedly find mine, and we lace them together.
It seems as though he wants to leave it alone, but my busy mind needs reassurance. All I’ve ever known is heartbreak, so why does slowing down scare me so? “Do you think ‘that easy’ could be a bad thing?” I ask, needing more of an answer from him.
“Raleigh,” he begins, his fingers dancing across mine in a soothing motion. “I think easy is the best thing that could ever happen to me, especially if the definition of it is you.”
Overcome with warmth, I unlink our hands and maneuver to throw one leg over him. Straddling him with my palms dug intohis chest, I catch a glimpse at our future, but only a glimpse. It fades when he abruptly shifts and rolls us over.
Teetering dangerously close to the edge of the couch, I let out a giggle. He quickly silences me with a kiss that I swiftly sink into. Wrapping my arms up and around his neck, I pull him closer and get drunk on the smell of his cologne. Everything feels right in all the ways that matter.
He’s moving to pull me underneath him when my phone rings. He groans, but knows the importance of the call. With a smitten smile still on my lips, I tilt to the side and snatch the phone by my fingertips. Dalton kisses the soft spot behind my ear and I have to fight a giggle that threatens to undo me.
“Hello?” I ask, flicking Dalton away.
“It’s me.”
I immediately sit up and push my hair away from my ears so I can hear. It’s Mae and she sounds on edge. “What is it, kid?” Dalton leans in and I put the phone on speaker.
“Have you gotten any other calls today?” She sounds angrier than a moment ago.
Pulling the screen away, I quickly scroll through my notifications. “No, a few emails, but no messages or calls.”
Dalton reaches across and tilts the phone in his direction. “Mae, it’s Dalton, what’s going on?”
“Oh, you two are not going to believe this. Settle in friends.” She clears her throat and then dives into her morning. “Trenton’s agent called me earlier and said that some very interesting things are going to come to the light tonight. That all the information about who Trenton’s been seeing and all this stuff that happened during our relationship was going to hit the news. Yada, yada, yada. He says that you didn’t answer his call and that’s why I was the one receiving the message.”
My heart drops but I hold strong in my belief. “Mae, I swear that rat didn’t call me.”
“It’s okay, I believe you. That’s not even why I’m calling. I know he’s done some messed up stuff, and I know a little about the cheating and his new hook ups, but I just got a call from Genelle Cienski saying she’s the one breaking the story and would like me to comment.”
This causes me to get up from the couch and start pacing. “First and foremost, are you okay? Secondly, do not give her a comment, okay? I’ll reach out.” She has my number, I’ve told her time and time again to contact me for any statement or interview inquiries. In some capacity, I have to respect the young reporter’s tenacity. On the other hand, she needs to get with the program if she wants us to play nice.
“Yes, I’m okay. Confused and shocked as to why this would need to be a big story. I guess, maybe, I didn’t know the extent of everything.”
I look to Dalton for help, and he instantly picks up the slack. “It was happening for months, Mae. Months. But Raleigh didn’t know the truth of it until right before the Arkansas show.”
“He is such a coward,” Mae seethes with disgust.
“Is that the official statement you would like to make to Genelle for her story?”
Mae laughs but doesn’t say anything. I think we both know that while Genelle would get a kick out of a simple sentence such as that, she’s also chasing juicy stories. She’d merely dig for more, and the whole general public would get involved.
During the lull in the conversation, my eye catches on my dress hanging on the bathroom door. Dalton and I have plans for dinner this evening, but we both know the importance of Mae’s care. I’ve never been more excited for an evening out, but I offer my day away anyway. “Mae, we can be right over.”
There’s a sigh from the other end of the line. “I know the two of you have plans. I just needed to vent. I think I’ll have Theresa over and we’ll write or compose something crazy.” I have nodoubt in my mind that they will. “Actually,” Mae starts again, “why don’t you tell Genelle that she can expect my comment in the form of a song in the coming weeks.”
