May 18
Best Country Album of the Year
Whiskey and White Lace- Juliet Jacobs
Rust on the Radio- Travis Cross
Bowling Alley Ballads- We, The Romantics
Long Haul to Memphis -Mason County Mercy
last call at the silver spur- Beau Boone
Don’t miss the North American Music Awards on July 23, 8-11:30 p.m. ET/5-8:30 p.m. PT
Chapter One
Darcy Kincaid was ruiningher fucking life.
Juliet’s hands stung from having to clap for her.
Her cheeks were sore from maintaining this fake smile.
If she let the façade slip, she had no doubt that long before morning, she’d be branded as an ungracious asshole, who couldn’t be happy for someone else beating her for Best Country Album.
And, of course, she wasn’t happy.
If it had been someone else – anyone else who’d been nominated – she was reasonably sure she’d make peace with it. She wouldn’t be “happy,” because who the hell was happy to lose?
This was supposed to have been her year.
She’d poured everything she possibly could intoWhiskey and White Lace, had worked on it tirelessly and obsessively for years, and it had paid off. After her last two albums, she’d made a comeback. Upon the release, there had been immediate buzz for album of the year awards in her near future.
Then…Darcyhappened.
As soon as the ceremony officially came to a close, Juliet was ready to escape. She’d become keenly aware of Brett Bradleyfrom her label, trying to lock eyes with her from his seat multiple times, and she knew he’d want to talk. Most likely, he’d want to figure out a way to force her into an official introduction with Darcy, too.
Not happening.
She was the first person out of one of the side exits, grateful for the quiet, for the moment alone.
Unfortunately, she’d only grabbed one nice, deep breath before she realized she wasn’t quite as alone as she’d thought.
Serena Fisher, one of the more dogged interviewers Juliet had crossed paths with in the last several years, had clearly been waiting.
More than anything, Juliet wanted to ignore her and walk out to her town car. Giving Serena a little evil side eye as she went for waiting here at this door.Technically, not against any laws given her press access, but certainly skirting the conventional understanding.
Serena was visibly excited, she and her cameraman already in her orbit within seconds.
“Juliet! We’ll keep this interview short and sweet: how are you feeling about the outcomes tonight?”
Like shit, thank you.
Juliet forced a smile, mentally reciting the party line:it was an honor just to be nominated. She’d been practicing it over and over in her mind since the second Darcy had been announced as the winner.
If she had to be brutally honest with herself, she’d been preparing herself to say the line since both she and Darcy had been announced as finalists in the category a few months ago.
“I feel great, really,” she effused, and in Juliet’s humble opinion, she thought she sounded convincing. “It’s a cliché for a reason, but ittrulyis an honor just to be nominated.”
