Chapter 21
Elodie
Give Me a Reason
“Hello?” Remy reaches for the phone at my ear, so I place her in her playpen and catch the phone before it falls from my shoulder.
Lennon’s voice comes through the line at increased volume. “Girl, when were you going to tell me that you’re famous?”
“Uh, last time I checked, I wasn’t.”
“Have you been on social media today?”
“No. I logged out of all of my stuff when I moved to Blossom Peak. Why?” My heart rate picks up. “What’s going on?”
It’s the Monday after my concert at Hart Winery, and yesterday I was basking in the afterglow.
Henley cooked breakfast after Remy let us sleep in, and then we took her to the park and visited with Carol and Nick.
Surprisingly though, Henley didn’t bring up my performance or the fact that my mom never showed, but neither did I—because voicing my disappointment would make it all the more real that my parents truly don’t want me to succeed with music.
Luckily, Henley’s mind was exactly where I needed it to be when we got home that night—in the gutter.
The man made love to me with nothing between us, and that was the moment I knew that I was head over heels in love with him.
It’s been in the back of my mind for weeks now, but watching him hover over me that night solidified it.
The reverent look in his eyes, the softness of his touch, the way he couldn’t form words and instead used his body to show me what he was feeling—it was exactly what I needed in that moment.
And that’s how I know that he’s what I need too.
I can’t wait for our date tomorrow so I can tell him.
“Your performance at the winery is all over the internet. And girl…that song you wrote about your boss’s daughter?” Lennon whistles, bringing me back to our conversation. “Freaking gold.”
My stomach drops. “Oh my God.”
“And when were you going to tell me that you performed at The Charming Bull?” she continues. “You know that place was our stomping ground back in college.”
I can hear my pulse in my ears. “Is it bad?”
“Is what bad?”
“The comments? The posts?” I struggle to find the couch behind me so I can sit down in preparation for her response. The last thing I anticipated this morning was finding out that my absence from social media has actually made an impact, and not just on my mental health.
“Do you think I would have called you if they were?”
My hand covers the center of my chest. “Lennon, just answer me, please.”
“You’re a sensation, Elodie. Seriously, why haven’t you posted on social media in months?”
“I just needed space from that grind, of constantly feeling inadequate. That’s why I logged off when I left LA.” A chime rings in my ear. I lower my phone to see a number flash across the screen that I don’t recognize, but the area code is from Los Angeles. “Uh, Lennon?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m getting a call from someone in LA.”
“It’s probably spam. You know how you put your phone number down in one survey or application for something, and suddenly you’re getting random calls from numbers in Greenland? Like, who the hell lives in Greenland?”
“Good point.” I press ignore and then slump back against the couch. “So, is that why you called this morning? To tell me that I’m an internet sensation?”
“Yes, and for you to bring me up to speed on your boss. The last time we spoke was after Charlotte when you told me you two slept together.” Lennon sighs. “So now that means you’re in love with him, right?”
It’s my turn to sigh. “I think I’ve been in love with him since long before that.”
“Elodie…”
Groaning, I cover my face with my hand. “Look, I know, okay? I’m pathetic.”
“You are not pathetic. I wouldn’t have been able to resist a handsome single dad who wears flannels either. So, what does this mean? Are you still going back to LA?”
My phone rings again with the same number, but I press ignore once more.
“I—I don’t know. I guess I’m kind of waiting for a sign, like something to help me make that decision. Henley hasn’t brought it up. But did I tell you that he invited my mom to my performance the other night?”
“What? No. Girl, your communication with me has been lackluster, at best.”
“I’m sorry, but life has been a little crazy and I’ve sort of been wrapped up in my boss.”
“Hey, I understand. If I could wrap my legs around a man that looked like that, I would ignore my best friend too.”
“Yeah, well even him defending me wasn’t enough to make my mom show up.” Sadness overwhelms me. “I can’t even believe that I thought she might.”
“Well, you know how your parents feel.”
“I know, and hearing Henley put them in their place just made me fall for him even more. He said things to them that I wish I had the courage to say.”
“He did what?” I recount the night he spoke to them on the phone. “Oh my God, Elodie. That man is in love with you.”
My pulse spikes again. “You think?”
“Uh, yeah. A man doesn’t do something like that if there aren’t real feelings there.”
“I’m so crazy about him and his daughter, Lennon.” My gaze drifts over to Remy shaking one of her toys around while squawking. “But…” The same number from earlier is calling again. “Uh, Lennon. That number is calling for the third time now.”
“Maybe it’s important. I’ll let you go.”
“Thanks. I’ll call you later,” I say before answering the call with hesitation. “Hello?”
“Hi there. I’m looking for Elodie Olsen.”
“This is she.”
“Hi, Elodie. My name is Sandra from Regal Records. How are you today?”
“Uh…” I’m momentarily speechless, but not just because a record label is calling me. No, it’s because this is the label that Liam works for, making my skin crawl. “I’m good, thank you.”
“Great. Is now a good time to speak with you?”
I glance over at Remy who is perfectly content in her playpen. “Sure.”
“Perfect. Well, Elodie Olsen, you have made quite the splash on social media this past weekend, and I think I speak for everyone at our label when I say that you are very talented.”
“Uh, thank you.” I can’t feel my hands as Sandra continues to speak.
Her laugh comes through the phone. “Look, I know these calls can seem sort of formal, so let me break something down for you. I found your demo in Liam’s old office.”
That information makes my body snap back up. “Wait? Old office?”
“Oh yeah. That slimeball got exactly what was coming to him, including several charges for sexual harassment.” My mouth falls open.
“Anyway, I found your demo and was blown away. Then when I looked you up online, clips from your performance this weekend were everywhere, and I just had to reach out to you. Are you busy this afternoon? I’d love for you to stop by the office so we can chat more. ”
My eyes land on Remy again. “Uh, well…I’m actually in North Carolina.”
“Oh, dear. Yeah, that’s not a short commute.”
“No, it’s not,” I say through a laugh.
“Well, when’s the soonest you can get here?” I hear clicking in the background. “Time is of the essence here, Elodie. The executives are very interested in you, but they have the attention spans of a gnat. Meeting in person will allow them to fall in love with you even faster.”
My mind is spinning as I’m trying to process what she’s saying and everything that I’m thinking and feeling right now. “Um, I’d have to ask my boss…”
“Hey, I get it. Tell you what, you call me back later after you’ve talked to your boss. Ideally, you can catch an early flight tomorrow because I really want to introduce you to the executives here at the label and show you around.”
“Uh…is this for real?”
“Elodie, this is a good thing,” she says quickly. “You have a future in music, my dear. And I’m going to help make you a star.”
***
“Holy shit!” Lennon shouts through the phone when I call her back.
When I got off the call with Sandra, I had to sit on the couch for a moment to process what happened.
Then Remy got fussy so I fed her, changed her, and put her down for her afternoon nap.
But now that the call has sunk in, I knew I had to process this turn of events with my best friend.
“Yeah. Say that about a dozen more times and you’ll be where I’m at.”
“You have to go, Elodie. This is huge! A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!”
“I know, Lennon,” I say as I pace the living room, glancing at the clock and realizing that Henley won’t be home for a few more hours, so I still have time to gather my thoughts and decide what I’m going to say to him. “But I feel bad just springing this on Henley.”
“Girl, he’s a grown man. He can find someone else to watch his kid while you go to L.A. for a few days and possibly get everything you’ve ever wanted.”
“But what if what I wanted has changed?” It’s the one question I am still scared to admit the answer to.
“Are you—what are you saying, Elodie?”
Sighing, I sit down on the couch and stare across the living room. “I—I don’t know. This is all happening so fast, and I—” I take in a deep breath. “We’re supposed to go on a date tomorrow.”
“You can’t seriously be considering giving up this opportunity for a man?” Lennon snaps. “Girl, I love you, but this is it. This is your chance. If you don’t go and at least hear what they have to say, you’re going to regret it for the rest of your life.”
“You’re right. I know you’re right. I just…”
“Figure out how to get out there. If Henley truly cares about you, he’ll let you go.”
That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.
***
“Mmmm.” Henley’s lips meet the juncture between my neck and shoulders as I stand at the stove, stirring the beef stew I made for dinner. “I missed you today,” he whispers in my ear, nibbling at my lobe.
“I missed you too.” I can feel my voice already starting to crack, so I clear my throat. “How was work?”
He releases me from his hold and moves to the fridge, reaching for a soda. “Busy. I had a lot to catch up on from last week, but people were talking about your performance all day, and I got roped into several conversations about it.”
I turn the stove burner off and twist to face him. “Really?”