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“That’s the plan,” I replied. Then I looked at Riley. “Will we see you there, too?”
He chuckled and shook his head. “Nah. Have fun though.”
Before I had time to think on why he wouldn’t be there, Laney gave me a small smile and tugged him away. And like the fool that I was, as lost as last year’s Easter egg, I watched them go all the way until her shiny black truck went out of sight.
8
LANEY
The next day, I woke up way earlier than my alarm. I’d been dreaming. Dreaming of Everett, unfortunately, and as I stared at the ceiling of my childhood bedroom the same way I had the morning after everything fell apart for us, I was immediately transported back to that night and how the chilly December air had burned my nose and eyes as the tears fell. Everett had just barely uttered the big question when my phone rang loudly from my back pocket, making me jump.
We’d both laughed at the ridiculously inconvenient timing, but when I pulled it out to turn off the ringer and saw Elliot Wolton’s contact info on the screen, I lost my mind.
“Everett,” I’d shrieked, staring wide-eyed at the phone, “it’s him. It’s the guy from Legends about my offer.”
Everett shot up from his position on one knee with a bright-as-the-summer-sun smile on his face and shoved the ring box back in his pocket. “Answer it. You have to answer it, this is your big moment.”
“I was already having a big moment,” I’d protested.
“Let’s shoot for two, then, darlin’. Hurry up before you miss it.”
I answered the call with shaky fingers and pressed it to my ear. “Hello?”
“Laney Cole? This is Elliot Wolton. I’m sorry, I know it’s late in Tennessee right now, but I’m in LA and just finished up in a meeting I’m sure you’ll be interested to hear about. Is now a good time to talk?”
I looked at Everett with the question he hadn’t heard all over my face, but he’d only nodded in encouragement.
“Yes,” I’d said into the phone. “Now is great.”
“Well, I’d like to be the first to welcome you to Legends Recording Label, if you’ll have us.”
While he rattled off some numbers that blew my mind, I remembered jumping in the air and stifling a squeal as Everett wrapped me in a bear hug, kissing the top of my head before stepping back so I could hear the man on the other end of the line.
Elliot proceeded to detail how he needed me to fly out to Los Angeles immediately to sign the paperwork, and then we’d get started on my album before I’d be off on a year-long national tour a few months later opening for one of the biggest stars of the time—Carissa Mathews, who I’d quickly replaced at the top of the charts.
That news brought my celebrating to a screeching halt. A year? I’d just gotten Everett back. He’d been in the military for the last four years, stationed in California for most of that time and had done two deployments overseas, so I’d only seen him a few times a year, at most.
Did I want to do that again? Did he?
By the time he’d proposed, I’d been just about ready to stop trying to get signed by a major label. I’d had my fun in Nashville, played at some of the hottest bars on Broadway, and even made it to the famed Bluebird Cafe. Moments before that call from Elliot, I’d been ready to give it all up and move home to Charlotte Oaks so I could be with Everett.
I hadn’t a clue what I wanted to do outside of playing music, but I would’ve figured it out. Everett was worth it.
For that reason alone, despite my initial excitement over getting the news, I’d told Elliot I needed until the next day to answer him. He’d been confused, but he’d agreed, warning me not to wait too long to decide.
“What are you doin’?” Everett had asked, his breath coming out in tiny puffs of white as it met the cold air. “Why’d you tell him you needed to think about it? What’s there to think about?”
“He said I had to fly to LA right away and start working on my album before going on tour with one of their headliners.”
“So what? That’s great!”
“The tour will keep me on the road for a year, Everett.”
His face fell, but then he’d quickly righted it and pulled me into his arms. He’d kissed me like it was his dying wish, and then when he’d pulled back, he’d looked me square in the face and told me to go for it.
“Laney,” he’d said, his voice thick with emotion, “you gotta take this deal and live your dream. I can’t leave Charlotte Oaks, I gotta be here to help my dad run the shop. But this is something you’ve been wantin’ your entire life. You’ve worked hard for this, and you deserve to see it through.”
“But … what about us?”
