AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You’re sure as hell not living.”
She rounded the table and thumped Mike Paul on the chest. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
He looked at her, his expression so genuine, it brought tears to her eyes. “It means exactly what I said. You exist. You eat and sleep. You hang out with me and your cat. You have your bar. You play music from time to time, but the real stuff, the stuff you write, the stuff that matters”—he frowned—“no one gets to hear. Your light is dim without Cal, and it’s been amazing to see it come back to life while he’s been here.”
Millie Sue looked away because, dammit, she didn’t want to cry. She gathered her thoughts. “What good is that when he’s going to leave again? Cal can’t commit to me, even if he wants to. I can’t exist in his world, and he refuses to be a part of this one.”
“Have you asked him about that?”
“Have you talked to Ivy about these so-called feelings you’re having?” she shot back.
He opened his mouth to reply, but snapped it shut before a word was uttered. For the longest time, they stared at each other in silence, and then Mike Paul got to his feet.
“I didn’t come here to fight. I love you. You know that. I wasn’t sure at first. About you and Cal. But I think this time, you could be happy. The kind of happy that doesn’t come easy, but the kind of happy that’s worth fighting for.” He folded her in his arms. “You didn’t give Cal a chance before, Millie. You let him leave without telling him the whole story.”
“That’s not fair,” she said hoarsely.
“No,” he replied. “It’s not. But it’s true. He doesn’t know about the baby.”
She pulled away, her voice heavy with emotion. “He would have stayed.”
“Would that have been so wrong?”
Millie Sue smiled through her tears. “Yes,” she replied softly. “At the time, I didn’t want him to stay because he had to. I wanted him to stay for me. But I was too young and insecure to ask him to. And now…” Her voice trailed away as she realized the truth.
“Now?” Mike Paul prompted.
“I love him too much to ask him to stay. To give up his dreams. To not be out there in this big world spreading his joy and music. His heart and soul.” There it was. The arrow through her heart. “He’d grow to resent me for it.Hislight would dim. I can’t have that now, can I?”
She exhaled, feeling a little lighter. There was something to be said about truth. About knowing the end of the story and being okay with it. “I have to get to the Sundowner. We’re expecting a busy night.”
Mike Paul got to his feet and kissed her forehead. “I’m headed out to Old Chill Ranch to check on a couple of horses, but I’ll see you later.”
“You bringing Ivy?” she asked lightly.
“Let’s not go there. I’m more confused now than I was when she stuck her tongue down my throat.”
“Okay, that’s a visual I don’t need.” She chuckled.
Millie grabbed her purse and searched for her coat before realizing it was in the truck where she’d left it the night before, right around the time she was sticking her tongue down Cal’s throat.
She followed her friend into the fresh air and sunlight, pushing all thoughts of Cal aside. She had a Saturday to get through. Then she would ponder the revelations that had come to her.
And maybe, if she were smart, deal with a couple of them.
CHAPTER23
Cal hadthe band set up in the old barn, just past the bunkhouse. The acoustics were shit and it was cold and drafty. The acoustics couldn’t be helped, but he’d had large heaters brought in and they kept the cold at bay. They went over their setlist a few times, and now, more than six hours after they’d started, packed away their instruments.
By then, it was pushing six and Rosie had been good enough to come out and cook up some fried chicken. With salad and fresh buns as sides, the guys—Ollie, Matty, Jason, and Max—chowed down with gusto, joined by Scarlett and Ryland. Bent made an appearance, said a quick hello, and had some food before heading back to his bed. He still tired easily, but even Cal could see his progress.
Ollie, his drummer, walked over to join Cal at the kitchen island. The guy had at least two inches on Cal and had arms the size of small children. Heavily tatted, with a shaved head and big scruffy beard, he was a man who made most folks wary. Cal had met him the first night he’d spent in Nashville, and the two men bonded over their love of music from the Beatles and Elvis and Nirvana to Waylon and Hank. Ollie, a transplant from England, had become one of the best session players around and was much in demand. He’d had no desire to become part of a band and tour, until he met Cal. And that was something he was glad for. Ollie was the glue that held the band together, and Cal considered him more than a bandmate. He was a friend.
“You’re not yourself. Too quiet.”
“I guess I have some stuff on my mind,” Cal admitted.
“Benton?”
