That hair.
That body.
He may have aged, but time has been kind to him.So very, very kind.
Our eyes meet, and it seems as though no one else exists as I drink him in.
It has been eighteen years and yet my body is still physically reacting to him.Wanting his touch.
He is still here—living in Sweetgum Valley, despite our grand plans to make it in the music industry.Here he is, with that guitar slung over his shoulder and his faded blue jeans, looking sexy as all hell.
Kelly nudges me out of my trance and nods to the stage.
“What?”I ask, having missed whatever the lead singer said.
“He wants you to sing.He’s invited you up.”
“No, I can’t do that.”I shake my head, still spinning from seeinghim.
“You can’t say no now.You kinda have to!”Kelly says with that look on her face that said she wouldn’t take no for an answer, and she stands up so I can pass.In the time it takes for me to walk to the stage, I try my hardest to regain my composure.
I can do this.I hope.
“Hi, I’m Frankie,” the singer says to me away from the mic.“We know all your songs.What would you like to sing?”
“You do?”I can’t help liking Frankie and his confidence.Then I turn to see Chase and find him standing in the shadow, watching me.
I name the song and take the mic.“Thank y’all for inviting me to town.I didn’t intend to sing tonight—I just wanted to watch this band.”I wave my hand at Frankie and the other band members.“They sounded real good from outside, so I wanted to come in and join y’all.”
The sound of the crowd’s applause and cheers washes over me, and I feel a sense of relief.The stage has always felt like my sanctuary.Making people laugh and smile is what I was born to do—my true calling in life.
From just behind me, I hear the acoustic guitar intro for my most famous song start, and I know it is Chase.I listen to the way he strums his guitar in that hypnotic way of his.
I begin to sing the heart-wrenching love ballad that won me my first Grammy.As I close my eyes and pour all of my emotion into the lyrics, the room falls silent except for the sound of my voice and his guitar.It feels just like old times, when it was just the two of us making music together.
The sound of drums fills the room, followed by the bass.Frankie begins to harmonize and I am lost in the music.The way each instrument complements and elevates the others is perfection.The lyrics are powerful and the notes flow seamlessly together.I pour my heart into my performance, and when I finish my final note, I open my eyes to see the audience on their feet, clapping and cheering.
I beam at them, feeling a sense of excitement and joy that I haven’t experienced in years.I return the mic to Frankie and thank him before making my way back to the table.Along the way, people stop me to snap photos and ask for autographs as the band resumes playing.Finally, I reach my seat where Kelly is grinning at me and holding out her phone.“You did amazing!”she exclaims.
The video of my performance plays across the screen, though I can’t hear it over the noise around us.I see myself singing, being swept away in the music.And I see Chase.He doesn’t take his eyes off me the whole song.
Fuck.How am I going to make it through the week knowing he is still in town?
I turn back to the stage and watch him play, but try to avoid direct eye contact.What is he doing these days?Is he in a relationship?Does he still think about me?
Years of unanswered questions swarm in my mind.
The thought of talking to him fills me with fear, but I cannot deny the urge.The girl he once knew is not the same as the one sitting here.I will never be that naïve and trusting child again.
I finish my drink and tell Kelly I am ready to go.I can feel his gaze on me as we make our way out of the bar, the band’s music fading into the background as his intense stare follows me all the way.
CHAPTERFOUR
Chase
I letmy guitar hang loosely by my side as I take a sip of ice-cold water.The crowd at Monty’s is electric tonight, and it is fueling our performance.We thrive on their energy and the more they cheer, the better we play.Frankie, our expert performer, is especially engaging with the audience, and he’s building them up more than usual.It is clear in the way they cheer at the end of our last song; their enthusiasm almost drowns out the sound of the drums.
After setting the bottle down, I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand and turn to face the stage for the next number.That is when I notice the audience suddenly becoming animated.I hear Frankie’s voice amplified through the microphone: “Bayleigh Gilmore!”He points towards a table in the center of the room, and my heart skips a beat when I lay eyes on her.
