Loving Dallas

by Caisey Quinn

  “I just . . . I thought you’d met someone. I thought you and Wade—”

  “No,” Robyn says, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly. “There’s never really been anyone else for me, Dallas. I kind of thought you knew that by now.”

  That feels so damn good to hear, I feel like I could sprint to Mexico.

  “Dallas!” Mandy barks again. “Time to go!”

  “Wait,” I say more to Robyn than Mandy. “Then how’d you know I punched him? Wade tell you?”

  “She mentioned it,” Robyn informs me, nodding at my manager, who’s growing more impatient by the second. “When she dropped by my place to tell me to stay away from you.”

  The fuck?

  “She what?”

  “She’s also the one who told Dixie to sit out the encore at the showcase in Nashville. Said she was holding you back. You might want to discuss that with her.”

  My blood pressure rises so high I can feel it. Dixie’s hang-up about holding me back makes so much more sense now.

  “Dixie tell you this?”

  Robyn nods. “I’m happy for you, Dallas. I am. And I meant what I said about being here when you get home. Regardless of what you decide. But one thing is for damn sure. You need a new manager. Like yesterday.”

  She glances around me to glare at Mandy.

  “You can say that again.”

  “Okay, I will.” Robyn leans up and brushes her sweet little pouty lips past mine on her way to my ear. “You. Need. A. New. Manager.”

  God her voice does it for me. I let my hands fall to her hips. “Message received, sweetheart.” I wink while simultaneously lowering my head to give her a kiss.

  She pulls back before I make contact. I squeeze her hips firmly in protest.

  “Let’s not do this here right now. Just take some time and think about what you want, okay? I love you, you know I do. But things are different now. We can’t do the casual hook-ups anymore. We’re going to be parents.”

  “I’d argue we can hook up all the time since technically you can’t get any more pregnant.” I grin and she slaps me playfully on the chest.

  “I’m being serious, Dallas. I mean it. I don’t want you in our lives because you feel obligated or something. I want you to think long and hard about what you want. Okay? Promise me?”

  “I promise. But I want you, baby. I’ve always wanted you and I will always want you. I already know that. I’ve known that for a long time now.”

  Robyn makes a sound like I’ve kicked her and there are tears forming in her eyes.

  “It’s not just me anymore, okay? And it’s one thing to say that and another to mean it.”

  I can already picture her growing round with my baby in her belly and fucking hell, I’ve never really had a hard-on for pregnant women, but this one, this one being round with my baby is about to push me over the edge in a crowded airport.

  “I love you, Robyn Breeland. And I’ll come home as soon as I can so that I can show you just how much I want you and all that comes with you. Or . . . tell me to stay. You need me to stay, pretty girl? Say the word and I’ll tell them to go on without me.”

  And now she’s crying.

  “Dallas!” Mandy has lost her patience and marched over into our moment. “We have to go right now.”

  “No, Dallas. I couldn’t live with myself if this held you back from your dream. Go. I’m fine,” Robyn says through her tears. I wipe them with my thumbs and kiss her gently.

  “There. She said go. Let’s go,” Mandy demands.

  “I’m on my way.” I turn my attention back to my girl. “You’ll text me every update?”

  “I will. Promise.”

  I steal one last kiss. And then another. And then one more, until Robyn pushes me toward the escalator.

  The numbness wears off and reality settles in as I make my way through security check.

  I’m having a baby.

  With Robyn.

  I’m going to be a dad.

  I couldn’t be more ill-equipped if the pilot announced we had to jump from the plane.

  36 | Dallas

  “WHAT IN THE EVER-LOVING HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM, DALLAS?” Mandy’s shrill voice greets me as soon as I step foot offstage. I’ve barely pulled my in-ears out when she starts in on me. “You’ve been avoiding me since this leg of the tour began and now you’re performing like a brain-dead zombie out there. Care to tell me what exactly is going on with you?”

  I rub my throbbing head for a solid minute while she waits for my response. What exactly is going on with me, she wants to know. I can only imagine her face if I gave her an honest answer.

  “Not particularly,” I tell her while pulling out my phone to see if Robyn’s sent any more updates. Nothing since last night. I frown at the screen.

  “So help me, God, I will have your phone cut the fuck off if you don’t put that away and give me a straight damn answer.”

  “Easy, Lantram. Damn,” Jase Wade calls out from behind her as he approaches. “This is a chill zone and I need to get in the right head space before going onstage. Give the kid a break, will you?”

  She glares at the both of us before pointing a finger at me. “Get your shit together, Dallas Walker. I mean it. You are replaceable. Keep that in mind.”

  I stare blankly after her as she storms off and I slide my phone into my back pocket.

  She’s right. Dallas Walker is replaceable. Hell, Dallas Walker doesn’t even really exist.

  I glance at the leather pants I hate, the boots I never would’ve bought myself, and the torn T-shirt she said “enhanced my edge”—whatever the fuck that is.

  I don’t even know who Dallas Walker is. And I don’t think I even like his ass.

  “You all right, kid?” Jase Wade kicks my boot, startling me out of my stupor. “ ’Cause Lantram wasn’t entirely out of line for once. You have seemed pretty fucking out of it since we left the States.”

  “Yeah. I’m great. Jet lag,” I lie. Mexico was a blur. Canada was a blink. I just played my first show in Rio and I can’t remember a single second of it.

  “Nothing to do with a certain redhead we both know?”

  His mention of Robyn surprises me and brings out a primal surge of protectiveness. “I know her a hell of a lot better than you do.”

  Wade laughs at my outburst. “Easy, killer. I know you do. That wasn’t my name she was shouting across the airport. I gotta say, after a scene like that, I’m kind of surprised you made it here.”

  “Why wouldn’t I be here?”

  “Honestly? Girl looked like she was about to propose to you. I figured you’d be on your honeymoon by now.”

  I snort, but there’s a part of me that wishes he were right. Brazil is beautiful. Colorful and vibrant like Mandy promised. But all I can think about is the way Robyn came alive in New Orleans. How she’d dance in the streets here, too, and moan about the food in a way that would have me hauling her back to our hotel room at lightning speed.

  If I don’t tell someone, I’m going to explode before sound check.

  “She’s pregnant,” I say quietly so none of the road crew members hear. “With my baby.”

  “Ah. Congratulations.” Wade claps my shoulder hard and shakes my hand. I feel the maniacal grin spreading across my face.

  “We’ll find out the sex of the baby this weekend. She’s going to text me the ultrasound photo.”

  At that, he frowns. “Text, huh?”

  I nod. It sucks but what else can we do?

  “You know, I got a lot of updates about my daughter via text message, too.” He rubs his chin thoughtfully. “That she was taking ballet. When my wife found out she was allergic to strawberries. Several years’ worth of school pictures. Dance recital videos.”

  He lets out a low sound, laughter devoid of humor, as if he’s forgotten I’m even in the room.

  “Hell, I even got the ‘Jase, I want a divorce and full custody’ update via text message. Gotta love technology, right?”

 
; I don’t miss his hidden meaning. “You trying to tell me something, Wade?”

  “Not at all.” He shakes his head like he feels sorry for me. “I’m too busy trying to figure out what the hell you’re still doing here.”

  “She told me to come. She said not to put my dreams on hold for this and that she’s fine. She can do this part without me.”

  Again he gives me this look, like I’m a complete and total dumbass.

  “I got news for you, kid. She can do all of it without you. The part you were needed for has already come and gone, so to speak.” He claps me on the shoulder again and turns to leave. “Have a good show. And when you get that text message telling you that she’s moved on, found someone who’ll hold her hand during the ultrasound and be there when she hears the baby’s heartbeat for the first time, call me and I’ll buy you a beer.”

  “That won’t happen to us. She understands. We got this.”

  “Then do something for me. Picture her sitting all alone in the waiting room watching all those moms-to-be with their husbands next to them. Imagine what that must feel like for her. Picture her going into labor while you’re onstage somewhere and no one can get in touch with you to tell you until after your show. Picture your kid’s first birthday party and imagine attending it via FaceTime on your phone because you’re in some godforsaken city three thousand miles away.”

  Christ. I can picture all of that. His words come to life behind my eyes and there’s a pang deep in my chest.

  “Now picture her face. Picture her raising your child by herself while you live your dream. Picture her seeing thousands of fans commenting online about how badly they want you and posting pictures of you with them in bars and buses and at parties. Tell me that girl understands. She’s a tough chick. Maybe she does understand. But just because she understands doesn’t mean she can live that life. It’s lonely and most women don’t do lonely well. For that matter, who does?”

  “I have been picturing that,” I practically yell at him. “Every second of the damn day and night. It’s why I look like a member of the living dead onstage. But what am I supposed to do? Just walk away from everything I worked for? Give up my dreams to sit in waiting rooms and at birthday parties? Because I’m thinking I could give my kid a hell of a lot better life on this income than if I go home to Amarillo and work in construction. I don’t see you running home to the missus.”

  Shit. That was low. The guy told me about his divorce and his ex-wife getting remarried recently. But I can’t help it. I’m in an impossible situation and I know it.

  Wade leans down, putting his face level with mine. “If I had it to do over again, I would run home before you could say my name three times fast. But you’re right. These are the decisions you have to make. Sacrifices. No one said it would be easy.” He straightens, nodding at someone who’s entered the backstage area to announce that it’s time for him to go on. “Good luck to you, kid.”

  I hear the unmistakable click of heels coming toward my room, then a knock rattles my door. I highly doubt I have groupies in Rio de Janeiro, so that only leaves one person.

  “There you are,” Mandy says, sliding open my door and slapping me with a hate-filled glare. I switched seats with my drummer on the plane so I didn’t have to deal with her. She wasn’t too thrilled about it.

  “Here I am,” I say evenly.

  “So I heard you have big news. I’d say congratulations, but I figured we’d find another way to celebrate.”

  She pulls a bottle of champagne from behind her back and it’s like a twisted scenario of when Robyn helped me celebrate “Better to Burn” going gold.

  “Celebrate whatever it is for me. I’m pretty beat. Jet lag. You understand.”

  Her eyes narrow on me and she stalks over to my bed. I wasn’t ready to discuss Robyn and the pregnancy so I’ve been avoiding my manager mostly. And I was angry about how she treated Dixie and afraid I’d lose my temper. But it looks like she’s going to force a confrontation so it must be time to get it all out in the open.

  “Dallas, I’m going to try my best to make something very clear to you.” She sits down and I fight the impulse to shove her into the floor. “I have a very special relationship with my clients. One that allows me to become as close to them as I possibly can. It makes for a much more symbiotic relationship, in my opinion.”

  “Meaning you fuck all of them, right?” Afton Tate mentioned this to me on the unsigned artists tour. He turned her down so she wouldn’t sign him.

  “Meaning we don’t keep secrets from each other. Meaning I know everything about their lives so that if they knock up some random hanger-on from their hometown I can do what needs to be done before it affects their career. Do you understand?”

  “Wade talk to you?”

  She nods. “He was my client once. He knows how important it is to me to know what’s going on with my clients.”

  “For you to know about it, Mandy? Or for you to try and control it? Because the way I see it, you told my sister to sit out in Nashville, then you told my pregnant girlfriend to stay away from me. What I can’t figure out is why you think either of those women is any of your business.”

  “You are my business, Dallas. So anything or anyone that affects you is my business. If I hadn’t told your sister to sit out that number, you wouldn’t be here right now. And if your girlfriend, or whatever she is, hadn’t gotten knocked up and trapped you in a relationship, I wouldn’t be having to try and contact every one I know who can help us frame this in a more positive light.”

  “Don’t bother. Far as I’m concerned, you’re fired anyway.” I stand and walk over to the door. “Here. Let me walk you out.”

  Mandy stands, staring at me like I’ve said I want to rap folk music with a gospel choir. “Are you insane? Do you really want to throw all of this away? After how hard we’ve worked for this? You signed a contract. I can sue you.”

  “How hard I’ve worked, you mean? And no, I don’t plan to throw everything away. Just you. Sue away, sweetheart.”

  I don’t bother waiting for her witty comeback. I just guide her gently out of my room and close the door behind her.

  37 | Robyn

  SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER DALLAS LEAVES, MY BOSS MAKES A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT. The Martin family has decided to expand into more than just bourbon. They’ve partnered with a midsize rum distributor they’ll be renaming Sunset Bay. Next up is a moonshine manufacturer they plan to call Moonlight Bay.

  Everyone is ecstatic, hugging and cheering, and already chatter about who might head up the teams for the new companies is flooding through the conference room.

  “You’re the front-runner for the PR campaign on the expansion,” Katie tells me as the conversations around us die down. “Drew said he overheard Mr. Martin talking about it this morning when he was taking some photos for the press release.”

  “Thanks for the heads-up.” I should be thrilled. This is huge, even bigger than the promotion I’ve been vying for. Instead I just feel . . . overwhelmed. I still haven’t told my boss I’m pregnant and I’ll need to schedule my maternity leave. If I do that now, it’s likely I won’t get to head up this campaign or even be involved with it at all.

  As the meeting comes to a close, I hear Mr. Martin call my name. I wait for the room to clear before making my way to where he stands. Thankfully, Katie hangs back with me.

  “Good news,” he announces with his booming voice as I approach. “The board voted and we want you to head up the campaign to promote the expansion. We need new logos, new label mock-ups, new banners on all the social media pages, and something huge to celebrate. I’m thinking a gala downtown. I’d like to see a list of ideas in my email inbox by tomorrow. And reach out to local vendors and see who might want to host exclusive previews of the bottles once we’ve updated the labels.”

  “Yes, sir. I’m on it.” A cold, clammy sheen of sweat rolls down my neck to the middle of my back. “Thank you for the opportunity, sir.” I smile at the executives standing
beside him.

  “Oh, and I’ll need you to stay late this evening and then again tomorrow. We’re doing a tasting of the new products after work.”

  “The new products?” I can literally see my worlds colliding. I’ve tried to keep them separate. In one I’m a successful marketing assistant and promotions specialist and in the other I’m an expectant mother. Now I have to figure out how to be both at the same time.

  “The rum today and the moonshine tomorrow,” he clarifies. “Call a local sandwich shop, that one we get those Italian subs from, and have them bring several platters over. We’ll need something to soak up the liquor.”

  “Yes, sir.” I’m frozen, stuck in place and unable to figure out what to say to avoid this impossible situation.

  “Actually, Robyn, didn’t you say you had that thing after work today? That new, um, class? The one you can’t miss?”

  “Right,” I say with a sigh of relief. “Wow. I totally forgot about that.”

  Mr. Martin looks skeptically at the both of us. “Class?”

  “Um, Spanish. I’m taking a Spanish class at the university. I was hoping to branch out so I could be more of an asset for our international clients.” The lies are just spilling out of my mouth at this point.

  “I can handle the tastings. And the sandwich order,” Katie offers “I’ll fill Robyn in once she gets home from class.”

  I want to tackle-hug her right this second. Or collapse on her when the tightly wound strings of tension holding me together unravel.

  Mr. Martin frowns. “Okay. I guess that will work. In the future, please let me know if you’re taking any classes that might interfere with your work schedule.”

  I nod quickly. “Yes, sir. I definitely will.”

  Like when I have to take that Lamaze class. I am so screwed.

  “Thank you,” I whisper to Katie on our way out. “I owe you one. More than one.”

  “You’re welcome. You know you’re going to have to tell him eventually.”

  I swallow the lump in my throat. “I know. I will. I just . . . I need to tell my mom first. I keep thinking I can wait until Dallas gets home but they just added more dates to the tour and—”