by Davida Lynn
A few tense moments passed before Colton laughed. “You set this whole thing up? Man, we were worried sick. You could’ve just said you needed some time or some shit. We thought you’d fallen off the wagon or worse. You owe everyone an apology.”
Kitt nodded. “I know. I know. I just got caught up. You know how that shit goes.”
Colton still had a broad smile on his face. “He had no idea what he was walking into?”
“Nah, man.” Kitt grinned. “Convinced him to get on the bill by spewing some shit about you trying to pollute Gracie’s mind.”
“Not far from the truth, actually,” Colton said, his mind back in the small room where he and Gracie had fucked before the show. He had sure turned her into a fiery little sex pot.
Kitt shook his head. “I didn’t think you’d knock the little fucker out. Figured you’d just scoop her up and head to a chapel. No complains, though. That turd was an asshole from start to finish. Good on ya.”
“What if things are too far gone?” The darkness of the situation fell over Colton. “You can’t get away with that shit, anymore. He’s gonna press charges; hard ones that will probably stick. Hefty fine, jail time, you name it. Wouldn’t surprise me if Gracie’s mama don’t let her anywhere near me. Hell, wouldn’t surprise me if the label dropped me. I’m on thin ice with them as is. What if I done fucked up one too many times?”
“What if?” Kitt knew that feeling well. Until his brother got him straight, he thought he was too far gone. “What if monkeys fly out of your ass? Man, you gotta risk something for once in your life.”
“For once in my life? I take a risk every time I step on stage. Don't talk to me about risk, Kitt.”
He could hear his brother getting angry, and it made him glad. Kitt wanted to see some passion coming from Colton, “That ain’t risk. You put on a bad show? You lose a few fans. Yeah, you’re right; the label might drop you. Is that the worst thing on the planet?” Kitt put up his hand to stop Colton from replying. “You might think so, but it ain’t. Far from it. You wanna know the worst thing? Even if you gotta work in a goddamn shoe store for the rest of your life, if you got the love of a good woman, all the bad shit in your life don’t mean a thing.”
After a minute, Colton looked up at his older brother. “A shoe salesman?” He laughed and shook his head. “Yeah, I think that is the worst thin in the world.”
“Maybe. But think about this: imagine you get off work at the shoe store. You come home, park the car in your modest garage, walk into your modest one-story, and Gracie’s waitin’ there. The kitchen smells like pie, and there’s some Chet Atkins playin’ softly. Tell me that ain’t fuckin’ livin’.”
Colton had to admit that it sounded good. He wouldn’t miss the fans or the shows. He had barely gotten a taste of money and real fame, but Colton had lived poor for so long that any steady paycheck would do him fine.
“But that ain’t real life, man. Gracie sells a million records a year. She’ll never stop. She’s in it for life.”
Kitt smiled and shook his head. “That’s not what I mean, Colt. I’m not sayin’ go live the nuclear family dream. I’m sayin’ imagine life with her, then imagine life without her.”
Colton didn’t have to imagine life without her. He had lived it, and it had been a dark two weeks.
“That ain’t the only song she’s written about you, and I’ll bet every racin’ horse in Texas that you’ve got new material hidden away in that notebook of yours, even after your two weeks in Gatlinburg.” Kitt watched his brother’s eyes and saw that it was true.
“How close have you been watching us from the West Coast?”
Kitt lifted his shoulders. He leaned back in the booth. “I know she was playing three new songs in her set. One song popped in and then didn’t come back. Four songs in two weeks. If I know you like I think I do, you’ve probably penned about the same. Bring ‘em together, and you got damn near a full album, and oh!” Kit’s eyes went wide. He over exaggerated leaning over the booth at his younger brother. “Ain’t that exactly what the label just said to do?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Yeah, yeah nothin’, Colton. Apologize to the douchebag, tell her just how you feel, release the album, fuckin’ fall in love, and ask me to be the best man. It ain’t fuckin’ rocket science.”
How many times did Colton need to hear it before he could get off his ass and do something about it? He’d never been afraid his entire life, so why did Gracie make him feel paralyzed? When they were together, she gave him this power, but he was powerless without her. He needed her. Colton had never needed another person before. He’d been on his own, and even through Roger took him to levels he’d never dreamed of, Colton didn’t think of Roger that way.
He’d written lyrics about love, but Colton realized they weren’t shit before Gracie. He had words pouring out of him at all hours of the day, and it was all because of Gracie. His brother was right. It wasn’t rocket science. It was scary as all hell, but it wasn’t rocket science. He just nodded to his brother, and they moved on to a different subject.
Colton thought about Romeo and Juliet. He and Gracie didn’t fall into that category, but he was thinking more of himself and her mother. Kathleen started out hating Colton, and she had good reason, he supposed. His lifestyle didn't align with the way Kathleen raised her daughter. Colton knew that Gracie wasn’t the good girl that Kathleen thought, but he supposed that mothers always had different ideas of what their daughters were like. He had spent weeks making headway and actually showing her that he was the man her daughter could rely on, and one stupid mistake might have thrown that all down the shitter.
“Guess we gotta pay our tab. I got some shit to atone for, but how 'bout we hit our usual Nashville after-party first?” Colton sighed.
Kitt nodded. “Oh by the way, I accept your apology for the errant punch.”
Colton was halfway through sliding out from the booth when he froze, “The fuck you talkin’ about?”
“You don’t need to apologize, but I accept anyway.”
Colton’s brow folded. “I ain’t apologizing. You tried to pull me out of that fight. You got what you got.”
Kitt’s eyes opened wide. “You’re goddamn right I tried to pull you out. There were six bros there. They’da pounded you into the dirt.”
Colton laughed and stood up, “You should’a been beside me throwin’ blows, you dumbshit.”
“Are you serious?” Kitt brushed an invisible mane of hair back over his shoulder. “And mess up this gorgeous face? I think not, brother. I think not.”
“Jesus, Roger, what in the hell just happened?” Kathleen stared across the large hotel room at him. She wasn't angry with him, but it was coming off that way. “I mean, good lord!”
Roger paced. His head was down, his back sunken. Colton had done his share of dumb shit in the years that Roger had known him, but this one took the cake. There was no getting ahead of it; there was no spinning it; there was no stopping it. The media would have a field day. Shepard Green was a respected man in Hollywood, known for his charitable work.
“I’m still processing.” The phone in his pocket had vibrated numerous times, but he hadn’t built up the courage to check it, yet.
“It’s all over Twitter. Someone started the hashtag ColtonAli.”
Roger looked up, a bright, almost maniacal smile on his face. “Wait, seriously?” She nodded. “That almost makes this all worth it. Almost.”
Roger turned out the window. The city lights flickered. It all felt so peaceful, but he knew that it was just an illusion. The closer you got, the easier it was to see the chaos.
“I know this is such a cliché, but I am too old for this shit.” Kathleen could see the crazy smile on Roger’s face in the window’s reflection. He dug into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out his phone. Seven missed calls, four voice mails, and ten text messages. It was hell on earth.
He turned and saw the worried look on Kathleen's face. It twisted at his
heart to see her like that. In just a few weeks but they had been together, her smile had changed something big inside of him. It had filled hole he didn't even know was there. Roger had buried himself hard in work for so long that he forgot about anything else. Kathleen had helped him remember, and now she had been pulled into a major fiasco because of him.
“Gracie and I had no idea Shepard was going to be there. Honest.” She sounded purely defeated.
Even from across the room, Roger could see tears welling up in her eyes. He tossed his phone onto the bed and came to her side in just a few quick steps. She sobbed against his shoulder as he held her. He couldn't blame Kathleen for crying. If he wasn't used to Colton's antics, he might be crying along with her.
“Kath, I know. After hearing about Gracie's history with him, I wouldn't have let that clown anywhere near her, either. I don’t even know how he ended up on the bill. I think we were all caught off guard.”
“Some more than others, I guess.” Her voice was muffled, but Roger was relieved to hear a little dark humor in her voice. Welcome to life with Colton Wade, he thought.
“I have no idea where we go from here. Maybe it would be best if you and Gracie distance yourself. There's been no real announcement about the two of them dating, so maybe she can avoid some of the collateral damage.”
Kathleen sucked up the tears and took a step back from Roger. “No way. Those two have been through too much. So have you and me, for that matter. We've played the publicity game for too long. If we force those two apart, it will be the end of it. Not because they don't love each other, but because the stress is just too much. I can't speak for Gracie —God knows I've tried— but she will try to stand beside him even if they burn down in flames together.”
Kathleen had this quiet fortitude that made Roger beam. She wasn't afraid of the hard fight. Maybe that was why she was with him. Roger only seems to associate himself with trouble. For him it wasn't a choice, but Kathleen would willingly accepting, and for that he owed her everything.
He gave a quick nod. “Let’s try and get the whole gang together, and we can start sorting this all out.” Roger grabbed his phone, ignored all the messages and missed calls, and dialed Colton.
Kathleen held her phone up. “Easier said than done. Gracie ran off…again.”
“No answer from him, either. Great.” He laughed and dropped his phone on the bed, again. “Just fucking great.” Roger shook his head, the grin back at his face. “I think we’re going to have to wait for them. Those two are slippery. They’ll come back.”
Kathleen tossed her phone onto the bed beside Roger’s. “And what do we do in the meantime? Damage control?”
His grin turned into something more private and knowing, “No.” He pulled her against his body. The youthful feeling was surging through him. “If we’re going to play the waiting game, we might as well pass the time in a very fulfilling and satisfying way.” He kissed her as Kathleen fumbled behind her for the light switch.
The night air felt glorious on Gracie’s skin. Her heart was still racing, but as she sat in the lawn chair and looked out over the lake, her worry eased. There was plenty to worry about, but she was going to enjoy a few moments of silence before all hell broke loose.
Her mother’s Mercedes had done a surprisingly good job getting through the dirt roads that led to Colton’s spot. As Gracie had navigated her way through the airport property, she heard more than one scratch and scrape from errant branches at the side of the dirt road, but she didn’t care all that much. What were a few scratches when your boyfriend was probably going to jail?
That’s what Shepard had repeatedly shouted once he got off stage, anyway. She couldn’t avoid him, especially when he’d ran straight up to Gracie, shouting in her face. She froze as Shepard yelled at her. All the bad memories became reality again, and tears streamed down Gracie’s face. Finally Roger and Kathleen had stepped in.
Someone had pulled Shepard away backstage, and after that, Gracie disappeared. She had to get away from the theater, and she had to get away from the world. After a few wrong turns, she found the parallel dirt tracks that led to the lake by the Nashville airport.
With the flashlight on her phone leading the way, Gracie pulled a chair up and watched the airplanes taking off and landing. She tried to think just how much money she had saved up, and how long she could live off of her royalties and sales. If she never performed in public again, it would be too soon.
Fucking Colton. Gracie hung her head. Her sigh turned into something angrier. No, fucking Shepard. Just who in the hell did he think he was to do that to her? He had pushed her too hard and tried to force her into something she didn’t want, and now? Now he was going to use his fame and charm to try and trick her? Was he so arrogant that he thought it would work? Gracie’s hands balled into fists, and she told herself to clear her mind. That’s what the spot was for, after all.
She wished that there was a cooler with some beer stored in it somewhere. The fond memories came to her, stomping out the fresh, terrible ones. She remembered spilling the beer and getting Colton’s shirt off. It had been an accident, but damn, had it been a great one. A smile came to her in the dark.
The fond memories first got her heart racing, then calmed her into something near sleep. It wasn’t the headlights that pulled her from it, but the engine notes revving as it navigated the dips in the dirt road.
She came to with a start and turned to see the dim lights growing closer. There was a hint of fear. Maybe someone at the airport had spotted her, and security or the police were on their way. It was either them or Colton. She relaxed back into her chair. If it was the police, Gracie could only shake her head if she got carted off to jail. That would just be the icing on the cake.
The vehicle pulled to a stop. The engine shut down, and the lights dropped down to just the orange parkers. Gracie didn’t bother to turn around until she heard the door close. Even then, all she saw was a faint figure. A tall figure.
She stood, stopping herself from running to Colton. She wasn’t mad at him, but she wanted to stand her ground.
He ambled up to her. “Didn’t expect to find you here.”
She put a hand on her hip. “But?”
“But goddamn, are you a sight for sore eyes.” His voice echoed his words. Colton sounded tired.
She couldn’t resist for another second. She jumped up, and Colton barely had time to wrap his arms around her. He laughed. A grunt mixed in as he lifted her. Gracie kissed him, the significance of their first private rendezvous even stronger.
He had to fight to get his words out, “Whoa there, little miss stallion. My brother is in the truck, and I’d rather that he doesn’t get an eyeful.”
“Colton Wade!” Gracie sounded offended, but she wasn’t. She gave him a playful slap as he slid her down his body. She could feel the heat and hardness beneath his jeans.
“He and I had a heart to heart, I guess you could say. Cleared some things up between us.”
Gracie nodded. “I’m just glad he’s back and safe.”
Colton’s hands were at Gracie’s thighs. She could feel his strength, even from such a light touch. “He really opened my eyes to some important shit that I had been ignoring, I think. First of all, that stunt with Shepard, baby, I’m sorry.”
Gracie shook her head and traced a finger down his cheek. “He got what was coming to him. I mean it. No one’s ever stood up for me like that. It was…it was hot, Colton.” Sure, what Colton did wasn’t the best option, but it was the right one. To call her out on live TV like that? To surprise her? To think that he had a shot? Gracie couldn’t believe how arrogant Shepard was. He deserved the embarrassment Colton had dished out.
He chuckled, glad to be rid of that worry. “I know you and I have been on a real bumpy road ever since Muscle Shoals. It really feels like life is throwing everything at us, but we’ve come out stronger. You think?”
“Of course. You’re right. It’s been hard, but look at all we’ve cr
eated together. I can’t imagine what else life has in store for us.” Gracie’s heart raced. Despite her age, she could sense that something big was coming. Maybe it’s women’s intuition.
“I feel the same way. Sorry it took a verbal slap around from my brother for me to really understand that, babe.” Colton sunk down in the dim light of his truck. Resting on one knee, he looked up at Gracie. She looked heavenly, her big doe eyes sparkling reflections. “I’m yours. That’s the bottom line. I’ve got a notion that without you, I’ll die. No lie. I need you like a guitar needs fingertips.”
Gracie’s hands were at her mouth. Her eyes went wide.
“Bottom line is that I love you, Gracie Hart. I love the pop sensation. I love the goofy, young woman no one else gets to see. I love the private and brilliant person that you share with no one but me.” Colton stared up at her, his own heart beating harder than he could ever remember. The back of his neck was prickling with sweat. He’d never taken such a big risk in his entire life. A breeze could have shattered him.
After a few seconds of silence, he pressed her. “I ain’t sayin’ you gotta burst into tears or nothin’, but I’d love to hear that million-dollar voice say something.”
She couldn’t hold back any longer. Gracie burst into laughter and tears mixed together. “Oh Jesus. Colton, I love you, too! You’re a brash, dumb idiot from time to time, but there’s nothing in this world that could stop me from loving you!”
She pulled Colton to his feet and kissed him hard. When he held her against his body, they could feel each other’s speeding hearts.
“Brash, dumb idiot? I can tell just how much you care.” He lifted her and spun Gracie around.
Back in the truck, Kitt had a moment as he watched his brother take the leap. When Kitt saw Colton throw his arms around Gracie, he figured it was good news.