Chapter 51 Tally
TALLY
I finally recognize the woman staring back at me from the mirror.
Win or lose, tonight, I’m letting my body and my soul take up space on stage. No layers of glitter. No wig giving me a headache. No blue contacts. No shapewear pinching me into the box of expectations others have of me.
Just me and my curls, fresh-faced make-up, and a real smile on my face. I feel beautiful in a maxi skirt with a floral pattern and my favorite yellow peasant blouse. I feel like myself.
Rust’s eyes catch mine in the mirror. He grins like we’ve already won and my anxious pulse quietens enough for me to take a deep breath.
A knock shakes the door. “Operative Junker,” Caleb whispers from outside.
Rust rolls his eyes as he gets up and opens the door, letting his best friend into the room. “You gave yourself a codename?”
Caleb shrugs. “Yeah, don’t like it? I thought it was cool. Erin’s gonna be here in a moment. She had to use the ladies’ room.”
“You’re really enjoying this, hmm?” Rust teases.
Caleb scoffs. “Are you kiddin’ me? I got to take a first class red-eye to LA to play bodyguard for a hot blond dancer and I get to help out my oldest friends. Who wouldn’t enjoy this? It’s like one big party!”
“Thanks again for coming,” I cut in.
Caleb gives me a warm smile. “Stop thankin’ me, Tally. The first fifty times in the motel were plenty.”
“I’m still not used to people doing nice things for me,” I mumble, twisting the ties on my blouse.
“Well, better get used to it then.” Caleb brushes over his black suit and tugs on the collar. “Also unrelated, but I look incredible in this.”
I laugh. “You can keep the suit when we’re done. Rust gave me your size and I bought it especially for you.”
Caleb pumps his fist. “Wow, thanks! I thought it was a rental.” He turns to Rust. “Also, if I can’t melt Erin’s heart, I’ll pull so many chicks back home with this story. I’m bound to find the one sooner or later! Only sharing with y’all’s permission, of course.”
I nod. “After tonight is over, you’re free to share.”
“Hell yeah! You two gettin’ back together made me catch the love bug. The way y’all look at each other with heart eyes is so fuckin’ cute.”
Rust and I exchange a glance and Caleb snickers. “See, that’s exactly what I mean! I want me some of that true love. I want a house and a gaggle of kids and two dogs and a bunch of puppies and—”
Another knock comes from the door. “Operative Tiny Dancer,” Erin whispers from outside and Rust lets her in.
Caleb already roped her into his codename nonsense. She’s so finished and I love that for her. Under the jokes, he’s a good guy. I’m sure he’ll treat her right.
Erin’s face is red and she’s breathing heavily as if she jogged all the way here from Arkansas. “Jeez, your fans are rabid! I thought they were gonna tear me apart before we made it inside.”
“I’d never let that happen!” Caleb says, chest puffed.
Erin clicks her tongue. “You and which army?”
“I’m a one-man army, darlin’.” Caleb winks.
I giggle and hug Erin. She puts her hands on my shoulders and fixes me with a lovingly stern gaze. “I know that teary look, Tally! Don’t you dare say thank you again.”
“Alright, fine. But I’m thinking it and you can’t stop me.” I sniffle, making a zip-up motion across my lips.
Erin takes her phone from her handbag. “By the way, you got more people rootin’ for you than just the folks in this room. Let me show you.”
We gather around her. The screen lights up with a picture of the ‘Boot Scootin’ Seniors’ under the disco ball in the community hall in Pine Bluff. Mrs. Bloom stands in the center and holds up a sign that reads ‘Good Luck, Tally & Rust!’
“I didn’t tell the ladies what was going on because you said it was a secret. But I got this text from Mrs. Bloom in the morning. I bet they forced the pastor to take the picture,” Erin explains.
Rust snickers. “Adorable. They look so sweet. Nobody would guess they’re feral in person.”
She scoffs. “Tell me about it!”
“Guess we gotta stop by again soon. We got some Tupperware to return, duh!” I joke.
“And I’m comin’ with!” Caleb chimes in.
Erin ignores him, focusing her attention on me, but the blush on her face indicates she heard him alright.
“We’d all love that. Since the ladies cooked for you, they’ve been talkin’ about getting together for regular Sunday lunches.
Your arrival put a pep in their step.” She puts a hand on my shoulder.
“And you already know what you’ve done for me.
I’m gonna give my dream one last shot and I swear I’ll make it count. ”
I twiddle my thumbs innocently. “Then would this be a good time to ask if you’d like to be my new choreographer?”
Erin gasps. “Are you serious?” She turns to Caleb and Rust, clutching her chest. “She can’t be serious, right? She can’t be offerin’ me my dream job just like this, right?”
“It’s yours if you want it,” I add.
Erin whoops, jumping on the spot. “Yes! Oh my gosh, I’d love that! Thank you so much!” She hugs me again, squeezing me so tight I think I feel a rib crack. “Now go and kick some butt!”
I turn to Caleb. “Do you have the USB stick I gave you in the motel?”
He pats his pocket. “Yes, ma’am. While you go on stage, I’ll give it to the tech guy who runs the LED video wall and instruct him to play the recording when you say the words ‘Night Wolfe.’”
“Thank you. We have a few minutes before showtime, and I’d like a moment to compose myself. Caleb, could you keep watch outside?” I ask.
He crosses his arms, putting on a mean look. “Nobody’s gettin’ past me.”
Erin takes the sunglasses from her purse, putting them on. “And I’m gonna cause a little more confusion to make it easier for you to get through. While I’m at it, I’ll drop off your guitar backstage.”
She grabs the guitar case and the two walk out. When we’re alone, Rust coils his arms around me from behind, gently propping his chin on top of my head. I watch us in the mirror as I interlace our fingers on my tummy.
“Your pulse races like you’re about to ride a wild bull,” he teases.
“Sure feels like it.”
“You just gotta go out there and tell your story. Be yourself. Be honest. Then everything’s gonna be fine.”
I turn, wrapping my arms around his neck. “There you go again, always knowing exactly what to say.”
A commotion in the hallway freezes my thoughts. My heart tumbles into my belly as I recognize the booming voice.
“You by that door!” Rex bellows.
“Me, sir?” Caleb says innocently.
Panicked, I look at Rust, but he gives a calm smile. “Caleb’s gonna fix it,” he whispers.
“Yeah, you! Security said they saw you with Tally Creed! Where is she? I’ve been running through the whole fucking building! The nerve of that woman to miss soundcheck and turn off her goddamn phone!” Rex rambles.
Caleb clears his throat and I hear his suit brushing up against the door. “That was a coincidence, sir. I met Miss Creed on her the way to the VIP dressing room. She’s probably still there. I was hired by the venue management to guard the costumes stored inside this room.”
“For fuck’s sake!” Rex shouts. “If I get my hands on that wretched little diva…” His stomping steps fade down the hallway.
After a few moments, Caleb knocks. “All clear.”
“You’re shaking…” Rust says gently.
I swallow hard. “That was a close call.”
I feel like I’m about to faint. The almost-encounter with my abusive manager has knocked the wind out of me. Fuck, suddenly I’m so damn tired.
“I don’t know if I can go out there,” I admit quietly. “Right now, it feels like I ain’t got any fight left in me.”
“It’s the home stretch, Trouble. You’re not alone in this. Caleb, Erin and I, we won’t let you get hurt. Do you believe that?”
“I do. I trust y’all.”
He gives me a feather-light kiss, careful not to smudge my lipstick. “All you gotta focus on is claiming revenge for yourself and the other women Dalton has exploited. Let us handle the rest. And when you walk out of the stagelights, we’ll be right there waitin’ for you.”
I let his strength and courage flow into me and take root, fanning the flame of my determination.
Our future is worth fighting for. The future of other singers is worth fighting for.
My hand finds his cheek and he leans into my palm. “I love you more than anything, Rustin.”
“I love you, too. I’m so glad you committed accidental vehicular manslaughter and brought the corpse to me.”
“You’re such a romantic!” I laugh, pulling back my shoulders. “Okay, I got this. It’s a great day to crush my ex-manager like a gnat.”