Chapter 49 Tally
TALLY
Erin drops her suitcase as soon as I open the motel room door. She flies at me, arms outstretched.
“I gotta confess something!” she whines, squeezing me in the tightest hug of the century.
“Air!” I wheeze.
“Dang, sorry!” She lets go, twirling a strand of blond hair. “I should’ve told you on the phone last night. But when you called, I was overwhelmed and excited and I thought it was better to say this in person cause—” She pales, beginning to hyperventilate.
I put a hand on her shoulder. “Hey, take it easy. Deep breaths.”
“I… recognized… you… when… we… first… met,” she gasps.
My jaw practically hits my boots.
She raises her palms, waving them around wildly.
“I had your posters on my wall since your debut album. I own every CD. I traveled to every single concert I could reach. I bought every calendar, every T-shirt and mug and keychain and—I think you get the point. Guess you could call me some kind of Tally Creed superfan.” She winces, arms dropping. “A you superfan.”
I quirk a brow. “But you didn’t tell anybody in Pine Bluff about me when I was there?”
She shakes her head, dangly turquoise earrings slapping her cheeks. “No! I might not have made it as a choreographer, but I’ve seen enough of showbiz to know its ugly, dark side. If you were travelin’ in secret, I reckoned you must’ve had your reasons.”
My chest warms and this time it’s me who initiates a hug. She’s stiff as a board as I wrap my arms around her.
“Thank you…” I whisper, choking on tears.
Her breath stutters. “You don’t hate me? You don’t think I’m creepy?”
I pull back, wiping over my eyes. “What you’ve done is one of the kindest things anybody’s ever done for me.”
“It… is?”
“Yeah, you knew who I was, but you let me be plain old Tally. You made an effort to get to know the real me without an ulterior motive. You treated me with respect and like a human, not a doll.”
She blushes bright red, the flush sneaking into her hairline and to the tips of her ears. “Because you’re an incredible artist, but you’re a spectacular human as well. I just considered myself lucky I got to spend time around you.”
Suddenly I’m blushing, too. “And you didn’t demand anything of me. You didn’t try to sneak pictures or sell the information about me to the highest bidder. When I mistrusted the whole world, you offered me genuine friendship.”
“So, we can still become friends?” she asks meekly.
“We already are.”
Erin squeals. “Life goal unlocked! Oh my gosh, I’m friends with Tally Creed!”
The door swings open and Caleb saunters into the room. “Well, would you look at that! I’m friends with Tally Creed, too. That’s already one thing we got in common, darlin’, and I can’t wait to find out the rest.”
Erin glares at Caleb in his jeans and black tank top, showing off his muscled arms. He’s not as buff as Rust, but he’s still an imposing guy. Handsome, I guess—if you like a blond man with an attitude problem.
“Hey, Tally.” He gives me a quick side-hug before he gently takes Erin’s hand to shake. “Pleasure to meet you. I’m Caleb Harper from Redbird Creek, Kentucky. That’s H-A-R-P-E-R so you can practice your signature for when you take my last name.”
Erin stammers. “When I what?!”
I thought she couldn’t get any redder than before, but her cheeks are approaching tomato territory. Huffing, she yanks her hand from his. “I think you’ve had one too many glasses of bourbon, Kentucky! I’m not lookin’ for a husband.”
Caleb smirks, blue eyes sparkling. “That’s alright. I’m a patient man. I can handle a little ‘no’ before we get to the ‘I do.’”
Erin takes a step back, scowling, but I notice her gaze lingering a moment too long on his lips. Ah, the poor girl. These Kentucky men are a curse and a blessing. She’s already falling and she doesn’t even know it yet.
“Caleb and I grew up together. He’s like my brother,” I explain.
“And he’s gosh dang delusional!” she hisses at him.
Rust appears in the doorway and makes a beeline for Caleb, pulling him back by the neck. “Alright, buddy. Calm your jets there for a second.”
Caleb’s still grinning, shrugging at Rust as he opens the mini bar and rustles through the tiny bottles.
Rust approaches and wraps his arms around my waist. He kisses me like he wants to swallow me whole. “I missed you, Trouble.”
“You were gone for an hour to pick up Caleb from the airport,” I tease, ignoring the fact I started missing him the second he stepped out of the room.
“That’s one hour too long,” he says and kisses me again. When we part, he slings an arm around my shoulder. “I already briefed Casanova over there on his role.”
Caleb toasts at us with a mini bottle of whiskey. “I’m gonna play Tally Creed’s bodyguard,” he says smugly.
Erin’s eyes turn to saucers. “Wait… and I’ll play Tally Creed…”
She looks at me, panicked. It seems the prospect of spending time with Caleb is worse than pretending to be me in front of a crowd of rabid paparazzi and eager fans.
“You still wanna do this?” I ask her.
“For my friend Tally, yes. And from what you told me on the phone, Dalton really deserves a life sentence.” She glares at Caleb. “But if Kentucky over there lays a single finger on me, I’ll bite it off and we’ll see if he bleeds bourbon, too.”
Caleb laughs. “Careful now, darlin’. Threatenin’ to bite a man is a hell of a first date.”
Erin tugs on my sleeve, whispering in my ear, “Lord help me. I’m about to sin and commit a murder.”
I giggle. “Or worse, fall for him.”
Erin gasps in outrage, but her eyes meet Caleb’s across the room and I can see the sparks fly. By the end of the night, these two are either gonna end up fighting or wrestling with their clothes off. Either way, somebody’s gonna get naked.
“Thank y’all for coming here to save my ass on such short notice,” I interrupt the sexually charged atmosphere.
Caleb’s chin dips. “What did I tell ya back in Redbird Creek, Tally? If you and Rust need help, I’m always just a call away.”
“And I promised I’ll be there anytime you need a hand,” Erin chimes in.
I hold back happy tears. A week ago, I thought I was all alone in this world and now I have these wonderful people on my side. What a lucky bitch I am.
Sniffling, I smile. “Alright, we ain’t got much time. I booked the limo and picked up some outfits for y’all. Then I made an anonymous call to the ‘Gossip Grove’ and told them Tally Creed will be signing autographs at the entrance of the venue before the show. That should draw a nice crowd.”
“And our cover?” Rust asks.
“Taken care of. I also called the organizers of the concert and told them to expect an emergency delivery from ‘Guitars R Us’ for Tally Creed. I faked a bill as proof. That’s our ticket to get inside the stage entrance while Erin and Caleb distract the press out front. Y’all ready for this?”
Suddenly, the mood shifts.
Caleb’s smirk drops and his shoulders pull back. “Ready, ma’am.”
“I’ve been ready my whole life,” Rust says.
Erin puts on her instructor game face. “Let’s give Dalton heck!”
A tear slips down my cheek, my belly tingling with nerves. Tonight’s gonna be one of the hardest nights of my life, but I’m glad I don’t have to do it alone.