Page 27 of Tennessee Trouble

My older sister continues her rant, barely pausing for a breath between sentences, to the point where it all starts to run together in my mind. Nothing but a big jumble of words, each one losing their meaning as they fade into the background. Soon enough, she’s going to sound like the teacher from the Peanuts.

I should be listening. Should be nodding along, supporting my family and our business—our legacy—during all this. But I can’t. Because how can one be expected to concentrate on work right now? On anything else right now.

It’s him.

Sitting in my conference room. Goading on my sister. Smirking like this is all one great big comedy of errors. His affable personality cuts through the tension, as if he were a golden retriever on roller skates, sent here to win everyone over with a laugh, a goofy smile, and a few kisses.

Which…maybe he was.

No, can’t be. He didn’t know who I was. He thought my name was Luna.

Or did he?

For all I know, he’s the world’s best actor and he just spent this past weekend putting on the performance of a lifetime. All so he could save his own company.

No. No. That’s not the man I know.

Only…I don’t know him. Do I?

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Kyra shift in her seat. I look over at her, my heart racing, trying to keep up with my thoughts. She’s staring at me, also not paying attention to Mikayla, a quizzical look on her face. She can tell something is off.

I need to pay attention.

“Reparations are the only way this can be made right,” Mikayla says sharply.

Reparations? Is she serious?

“We feel that it would be more than fair for Southern Brothers to share the presenting sponsorship of Dustin Wild’s next tour with Tennessee Trouble.”

Brandt scoffs in disbelief. “You wanna what?”

“Co-sponsors. Southern Brothers will shoulder all the financial burden, however both our names will appear with brought to you by credit.”

“No.”

The answer is sharp and powerful, leaving no room for interpretation.

I don’t blame him. That’s a massive ask. Period. It’s especially massive when you consider what she wants it as a make good for. Wink & Shine did not take the hit she thinks it did thanks to that comment. If anything, it gave Kyra a number of new ideas for posts and marketing. Ones she hasn’t run with yet since Mikayla is making such a fuss over this.

“I feel that what we’re asking for⁠—”

“No,” he says again, not letting her finish. “First off, Southern Brothers has that sponsorship because of a personal relationship with Dustin. A relationship we are not going to risk jeopardizing by bringing in an unknown entity. Second, who’s ever heard of co-sponsors?”

“Lots of people,” Rylan answers.

Wow, good one, bro. Way to really jump in there…

“Considering everything you have jeopardized for Wink & Shine, it’s the least you can do,” Mikayla snaps.

Rylan reaches over, gently placing his hand on Mikayla’s arm. The unspoken calm down shifts the air in the room, our sister’s huff filling the now silence. A silence that is making the tension build like we’re stuck in a pressure cooker. Give it a few more minutes and we might just blow an actual gasket.

“If y’all wanna work together on a joint promo, or giveaway, or something like that, let’s do it,” Brandt offers. “I’m all for something that is gonna smooth this over and benefits both of us in the process. But sharing the presenting rights…not gonna happen.”

The sharpness is back, darkness taking over his features, making him almost unrecognizable. I hold my breath, letting my lungs burn, my insides feeling like they are ripping in two. How is this the same man I thought I could fall for?

More than that, how could I consider not taking my family’s side? Sure, this whole issue is stupid—there are much bigger problems. Like the heating element in still three. Which, if I had to guess, is what Rylan is currently doodling about in his notebook right now. Our family problem-solver trying to do what he does best—find the solution.

Too bad he’s not working on finding the solution to this meeting.