Chapter 53 Rust - Fall, One Year Later
RUST - FALL, ONE YEAR LATER
“And the award for Entertainer of the Year goes to…”
Time grinds to a halt as the host’s voice rings in my ears. Shaking, I squeeze Tally’s fingers atop the table. The wedding bands around our ring fingers sparkle like her gaze and she looks at me as if I’m the most important person in this room full of country legends.
I’m wearing a custom-tailored brown suit, designer boots, and a brand-new Stetson, but I still feel like I don’t deserve to be next to her. She’s too beautiful in her black bootcut jeans with golden embroidery and a sequin top, red curls cascading in waves over her shoulders.
To me, she’ll always be the brightest star.
Cal slaps my back. He grins from ear to ear like he’s the one nominated in the most prestigious category of the Country Music Awards. Since mine and Tally’s folks aren’t with us anymore, he’s taken it upon himself to play the proud parent role.
He’s been doing a damn fine job—as my best friend and as the new head of our personal security team. That night playing bodyguard showed Caleb his true calling.
Beside him sits Erin, chugging water while she stares longingly at the champagne in Caleb’s glass.
Her other hand rubs absentmindedly over her baby bump, an engagement ring glittering on her finger.
She’s been shellshocked since we won Music Video of the Year with the choreography she created and we took her on stage with us to receive the award.
Caleb pecks her cheek and she grabs his hand in a vise grip, nails digging in. Her eyes flick to his face. She blushes before kissing him on the lips. He smirks, whispering something in her ear that has her flushing even redder.
They make a damn fine couple. Caleb’s laid-back attitude and Erin’s energetic nature are a perfect match. They balance each other. And Lord save us, their kid is gonna turn out sassy as hell.
The two were also the only people present for our Vegas elopement in spring. From the day Dalton got arrested, they’ve accompanied us every step of the way.
Since my big stage debut, life has been a whirlwind of change. The good kind.
We fired everybody associated with Dalton, which turned out to be the entire team behind Tally. One by one, we replaced them with carefully vetted folks of our choice.
We also hired the best lawyer money could buy. He got Tally out of the complicated contract with Dalton and her complicit record label, ensuring they’ll never see another dollar from her earnings. The clever bastard spun the law so skillfully, Dalton even owed Tally money.
Then we launched a class action lawsuit with the other talents he abused. When we were finished with Dalton and those aiding his schemes, he was a shell of his former self. Broke and broken behind bars.
Just like he deserves.
During that time, Tally and I officially announced our upcoming album as Kentucky Skies. We got countless offers from record labels, but in the end, we didn’t accept any of them.
With the help from our new legal team, we founded our own label. Right now it’s just us, but in the future, we plan to sign and support young country artists. We hope that way, no singers will be taken advantage of again like Dalton abused his talents.
Soon we were in the studio, recording an album as a duo for the first time. ‘Country, Crimes & Second Chances’ released at the start of summer.
Then there were talk shows. Press tours. Photoshoots. Radio interviews. Live sessions. Festival appearances. Red carpets.
The press dug up our failed first attempt as Kentucky Skies and tried to spin our divorce into a scandal, but thanks to our new PR advisors, we brushed it off. Instead, we released a raw and real documentary, telling our side of the story.
The truth.
Our upcoming winter tour sold out in twenty minutes. We had to add more dates, but they sold out instantly as well.
Everything happened so suddenly. Some days—and especially nights like these—it still doesn’t feel real. I still worry I’m gonna wake up alone in my bed.
The host’s voice booms through the speakers, yanking me into the present. “The winner is… Kentucky Skies!”
The room explodes in applause. ‘Love’s an Outlaw’ echoes through the hall and the video wall behind the presenters changes from swirly gold graphics to a split screen.
The left side shows our album cover. It’s a simple design, but it’s perfect. Just the restored polaroid from our first wedding taped together and the title underneath.
The right side shows snippets from our music videos. Highlights include the Boot Scootin’ Seniors dancing in a barn and Tally and I sitting on the tailgate of my F150, gazing into each other’s eyes as we sing.
Tally throws her arms around my neck, nearly knocking my hat off. “You’re shakin’ again,” she whispers. “Are you okay?”
“I can’t get over how stunning you are.”
She giggles. “Stop trying to distract me with your flattery. How many wins is it gonna take to make you believe you deserve this? I already thought you were gonna faint on the red carpet.”
I tap her nose, grinning. “You’ve been doing this for over a decade. Give me a few years to catch up, Trouble.”
As I let Tally go, Erin hugs her. Then she gives my arm a squeeze. “Congratulations… again!”
Caleb wraps me in a bear hug and kisses Tally’s cheek. “Go get your shiny awards! They should’ve kept y’all up on stage if you were gonna win ‘em all anyway!”
Hand in hand, we climb the glowing stairs toward the smiling presenters holding out a crystal trophy. Tally accepts it and we approach the mic. My heart jumps into my throat, but my poker face has gotten plenty of practice in the past months.
I casually wrap my arm around Tally’s waist and let her speak first.
“Wow, thank you! We’re a little speechless.
” She pauses, dazzling the cameras with a smile.
“There are so many brilliant artists nominated in this category and they all deserve to win, but we’re honored to take the trophy home.
It feels extra special to be the first duo to receive this award since the nineties. ”
Applause rises.
I clear my throat, putting on my best stage smirk.
“We’d like to thank our friends and our whole team, everybody involved with inspiring and recording ‘Country, Crimes & Second Chances’ and every fan who played our album as their summer soundtrack.
It’s been a heck of a year. Thank you. We love y’all to the holler and back. ”
Cheers wash over us and I wait until they’ve peaked before I speak again.
“I’d like to express special thanks to the woman who made it possible for me to be here. She believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. She gave me courage to chase this dream. Please give a special round of applause for my wife, Tally.”
The crowd goes crazy. I meet Tally’s eyes and see tears glittering in them.
She leans in to the mic. “And I’d like to thank the man who helped me get my spark back and reminded me that I’m enough—exactly as I am. My husband, Rust.”
We bask in applause while Tally holds up the award. Finally, we shake hands with the presenters and walk off stage. We’ve barely stepped out of the spotlight when a ball of red sequins with a platinum blond bouffant hairdo barrels in our direction.
I instantly recognize the signature look of our new Nashville-born-and-raised manager, Polly Hayes.
She waves a lit cigarette and a staff member taps her shoulder. “You can’t smoke back here, ma’am!”
Polly shoves a palm in his face. “Talk to the hand, hon. I gotta see my darlins!” She sashays toward us, straightening her glittering pantsuit.
We grin at each other. Polly was the right choice for us. The retired country singer knows the ins-and-outs of showbiz and puts her clients first.
“Darlins, I’m so sorry I missed the show! My flight was delayed. Damn airlines can never be on time!” Her eyes light up as she sees the trophy in Tally’s hand. “I already heard the news! Congratulations. How many categories did you win?”
I count on my fingers. “Duo of the Year, Album of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Song of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year.”
“You forgot Single of the Year for ‘Love’s an Outlaw’,” Tally chimes in cheerfully.
I click my tongue. “Right! Sorry, my head’s still spinning.”
Polly claps. “Well done! I’m gonna have to build a new gallery wall in my office for all them prizes y’all bring home to momma. The team can’t wait to get you back in the studio as soon as possible.”
“No problem. We’ve been writing a bunch of new stuff and we have a whole book full of old songs to revise,” Tally says.
“Wonderful!” Polly takes her phone from her pocket. “Let me get a picture to commemorate the occasion. Y’all look incredible.”
Cigarette dangling from the corner of her mouth, Polly taps away on the screen. I coil an arm around Tally’s waist while she holds up the trophy.
The flash blinds me and Polly nods in satisfaction. “Beautiful! Stunning! I’ll make sure Rex gets to see this. I’ll send along some pictures of your other awards lined up, too. That’s about all the entertainment he gets in the slammer.”
Tally squirms with glee. “Thanks, Polly.”
She pockets her phone and takes a long drag from her cigarette, exhaling smoke toward the ceiling. “Nonsense, darlin’. That’s what you pay me for. And I can’t lie. It gives me pleasure to see that pig finally get what he deserves. Now I gotta run. I’ll see y’all at the after-party.”
She turns and immediately spins back around to us.
“Oh, between us, darlins… I heard talk of an invitation to the Grand Ole Opry comin’ your way if you keep this up.” She winks and dashes away.
While the hosts wrap up the ceremony on stage behind us and announce the last performance for the night, Tally hooks her arm under mine.
“Ready for fake smiles and jealous glares?” she asks, a hint of worry crossing her face. “We don’t have to go to the after-party if you don’t feel like it.”
I frown. “Why would you say that?”
“Tonight’s been a lot to take in. The whole year has been a lot. You were right when you said that I’ve been doin’ this forever but it’s all new to you. It can be overwhelming. I need to be more aware of your feelings.”
I pull her into my arms and dip her, kissing her deeply. She winces as I run a hand across the left side of her ribs below her breast.
“Hey, my tattoo is still fresh!” she whines.
My heart swells when I think of the ink hidden beneath her sparkly top, spelling out my name in my handwriting. It was her idea to match my tattoo of her autograph.
I hold her close, tipping her chin up. “Look, I admit all the attention still gives me the vapors sometimes, but I love every moment of this life with you. I want it all. The flashing lights and jealous stares. The applause. I want the calm when we’re cruising alone in my truck.
The early mornings when I wake up with you in my arms and the late nights when you rest your head on my chest.”
She touches the golden band on her left hand. “My life didn’t feel complete until you put this ring back on my finger and no awards can compare to the meaning of the vows we shared. I love you, Big Guy.”
“I love you more, Trouble.”
Her grin turns impish and she tugs on my collar, making me bend down to her. “So, when are we goin’ on our next crime spree?” she whispers.
I kiss her hand. “Anytime you want, Bubblegum Outlaw.”