Rebel Sweetheart

by Sydney Canyon

  “You mean when I come out they’re going to flip the fuck out, right?” she laughed. “I know that. Are they already talking about cutting me?”

  “No, they haven’t caught wind of what’s going on…however, I’ve been promoting you to another label.” He held his hand up when she went to speak. “Let me finish. They’re very interested, and they’re very open to speaking with you.”

  Haley crossed her arms. “Did you out me, Rich?” she said in a low voice with one brow raised up.

  “Hell no. That’s not my place. I was fishing around, talking with friends in the industry and after speaking with one of them, an executive from this label went to your show in Atlanta. I had no idea until I got a call from him they next day.”

  “So, he thinks I’m gay after going to one show and wants to sign me to some other label?”

  “Nope. He has no idea. You blew him away with your show and he wants to buyout your current contract.”

  “So, what does all of this have to do with me being me?”

  “He’s an openly gay man, and has no qualms about anyone else being openly gay.”

  “What does he know about country music?”

  “Last year’s vocalist of the year, is with this label. And, their artists have won several other awards within the last couple of years.”

  “Wait a second. Isn’t that the label with the two young guys?”

  “Yes. Clive and Arnie Tillman.”

  “One of them is gay?”

  “Arnie is, and together, they co-own the label.”

  “Wow.”

  “It’s a good deal. I don’t have all of the details yet because Arnie is waiting to see if your current label cuts you first. That will save his company big bucks. Either way, he wants to meet with you. They are looking for a headliner, and I think that’s you.”

  “So, you sold me like a beef cow to the highest bidder,” she teased.

  “You and your big, fancy label mix like oil and water, and they’re going to cut you, it’s a matter of time. I had a feeling this would happen when the album released. So, I put a plan in motion. You don’t pay me to sit on my ass and be at your beck and call. I promoted you where I knew you would have a chance to be yourself as an artist. The fans adore you, radio loves you, it’s time you had a label that did, too.”

  “This is why I let you win certain arguments. I trust you, Rich. You’ve never steered me wrong.”

  He hugged her. “I’m not old enough to be your father, but if I had a daughter, I would want her to be like you.”

  “Don’t get all sappy on me. I have to go rock the roof off this joint!” she laughed. “Come on, we have one more show to do!”

  Rich radioed the security team that Haley was heading into the venue.

  ***

  Nearly twenty thousand screaming fans cheered as Haley worked through her regular set list, which ended with Smoke by A Thousand Horses, which reminded her of Shane. She’d added it to the tour as soon as they’d started back. As much as it hurt to sing it, the words were true and she’d let her heart bleed them out all over the stage every night.

  As soon as she finished, Haley wiped a tear from her cheek and grabbed her Telecaster. “Who likes Joan Jett?” she yelled into the microphone before singing, “Ahh.” And playing the begging licks of Crimson and Clover. The crowd went wild, cheering and singing along as she started, “Now I don’t hardly know her, but I think I could love her.”

  ***

  “Wow. When did she start singing this?” Shane said into Rich’s ear.

  “Oh my God!” he yelled, turning around and pulling her into a hug just as Haley slowed the music down.

  “How are you?” she replied with a smile.

  “Good. You? How’d you get back here?” he asked.

  Shane showed her badge, then put it away. “I’m back with the marshal service.”

  “I had a feeling you’d do that.”

  “How is she?”

  “Still kicking ass and taking names.”

  Shane laughed. “I see that,” she said as she watched Haley singing and playing her guitar. “I didn’t know if she’d even want to see me, but…”

  “She’ll be happy,” Rich said, patting her on the shoulder.

  They both watched as Haley ended the song. Her band left the stage and she started walking with them, but stopped and walked back out to the spotlight. The fans chanted her name as she grabbed her Les Paul and pulled a stool into the spotlight.

  “This is my last show for this tour. I’m sure all of you know the ordeal I went through over the past few months,” she said. “It was Hell, but not all of it was bad. Some very good things came out of that nightmare.” She began strumming a few chords. “Anyway, here’s to you, wherever you are tonight,” she said as she began singing her blues rendition of Elvis Presley’s Suspicious Minds. “We’re caught in a trap. I can’t walk out, because I love you too much, baby.”

  The crowd quieted, hanging on every word she sang and every chord she played. The stage was dark, with only a single spotlight shining down where she sat…completely alone on the stage.

  Slowing the song down in the middle, she took her hands off her guitar and let the fans sing along with her. Then, she started right back up, strumming her Les Paul like a lover as she went on with the song. When it ended, she got up and set her guitar in the stand. Then, she turned back to the crowd and smiled brightly before walking off the stage.

  Her eyes searched in the dim lighting for Rich, but landed somewhere else instead. She paused, holding her breath. The roar of the crowd was loud, but the thumping of her heart in her chest was all her ears heard. “You’re here,” she mumbled, believing her mind was playing tricks on her.

  “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be,” Shane said. “I love you, Haley. And whether or not you feel the same way, I had to be honest with myself.”

  Haley crossed the distance between them with a look in her eyes and a stomp in her feet that made everyone around them think she was going to punch her out, but when she reached her, Haley said, “You’re like a very, very good bad habit,” as she wrapped her arms around Shane’s neck. “I’m pretty sure I fell in love with you a long time ago,” she added, pulling her down into a sultry kiss that left them both breathless.

  Rich, along with her band members and road crew, clapped, whistled and cheered with happiness.

  “How long are you here?” Haley asked, as they started walking out of the arena.

  “I went back to work with the marshal service…and moved here. I’m renting a small apartment in town,” Shane replied as she held open the car door for her.

  The two security officers were slack-jawed as they watched Haley kiss Shane before getting into the car. She grinned as she walked around to the driver’s side.

  “Move in with me,” Haley blurted as Shane started the car and drove away.

  “What?”

  “I’m serious. I love you, Shane. I want to go to bed with you every night, but more importantly, I want to wake up next to you.”

  “I don’t know what to say.” Shane shifted gears and rolled to a stop at the light. The billboard sign had a huge picture of Haley’s face with the announcement of her concert that night. “Are you sure you want to come out? Because you know at some point, it’ll happen.”

  “I don’t give a shit what anyone says. I love you. That’s all that matters to me.”

  “Always the rebel,” Shane laughed, then looked over at her. “I love you, and I’d love nothing more than to live with you.”

  Haley smiled and leaned over, meeting her lips for a heated kiss.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Sydney enjoys reading everything from magazines to historical books and boasts about her massive collection of paperbacks and hardbacks in her personal library. She's also a huge fan of multiple TV shows, which she says take up too much of her time. She enjoys writing novellas and is the author of the bes
tselling novellas: One Night and Shadow's Eyes, as well as the bestselling full length novel: Second Chance.

  You can like her fan page at facebook.com/sydneycanyon

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