Chapter 4
four
Cash
T he stadium pulsed, the energy of thousands of people pressing in on the green room from all sides. I bent over, head between my knees, trying to get my heart rate to drop. The concert was starting in less than ten minutes. But my panic had nothing to do with that and everything to do with the fact that Millie was a snake, just as Mom had predicted.
“C’mon, Cass-Cass,” my very soon-to-be-ex begged, hands clasped together. “I promised Opal and Ivy that you would propose.” Opal and Ivy was the high-end jewelry brand on the verge of signing Millie as an influencer. “It’s the last hoop I have to jump and then the deal is mine.”
My fingers closed around the ring she’d slipped into my pocket—its sheer size making one thing clear. Opal and Ivy must’ve wanted the entire stadium to spot it without binoculars. “Why would you promise something like that? We’ve been dating for two months. I’m barely twenty-two. I’m not ready to get married.” Not to her anyway.
Travis, Dad’s drummer, pretended to check his belt buckle, but I saw him giving us the side-eye. Bro was eavesdropping, hardcore. He eyed Millie’s outfit and frowned.
My cheeks flushed at her outfit. A skin-tight, see-through lace tank top that left nothing to the imagination, Daisy Dukes that didn’t begin to cover her butt cheeks, and a ridiculous red feather boa around her neck that she kept whipping above her head like a lasso. The only part of her getup I could get behind was the white cowgirl boots. But it was all an act. Millie wasn’t even southern. She was from New York.
She playfully batted my nose with the end of the boa. “Relax. It’s just for the cameras. We don’t have to be engaged for real.”
Crew members shouted over the noise. “Cash,” Joanie, the tour manager called, glancing up from her iPad. “You’re on in seven.”
I nodded, my face frozen in a scowl. Dad had given me strict instructions not to let anything get me down right before the show. I had to be hyped. The concertgoers would feel it if I wasn’t. This was the last thing I needed right now.
Millie grabbed my cheeks, forcing me to look at her. “You’re going to propose right after ‘Please Come Home Tonight.’ I already told the camera crews.”
I definitely was not proposing after “Please Come Home Tonight.” I’d written that song for Charlie. Then again, I’d written most of my songs with Charlie in mind. Which, I realized at that moment, should’ve been a clue that Millie was not the one for me.
“No.” My head gave a hard shake. I held the ring out for her to take back. “That’s not how I roll, Millie. I don’t lie and I’m not a show pony to be trotted out whenever you need to go viral.”
Her eyes flashed like lightning. “Make it happen or I will,” she threatened.
My mouth fell open in shock. “What does that mean?”
“That means I’m hyping up a proposal to the audience. And you can’t stop me.”
Travis and I locked eyes for a split second before he darted out of the room.
I held my hands up. “Oh-kay. You know what? We’re done. Finished. Consider Cash and Millie over.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re not breaking up with me right before your concert. It took both of us to decide to be in a relationship and it takes two to decide it’s over. Once you’re over your little mood?—”
“I’m not in a little mood?—”
“You’ll regret it tomorrow,” she sang over me. “So no. I reject your rejection.”
“That’s not how breakups work.” I shoved the ring at her again. “Take it.”
Maybe Millie was a direct descendant of Dr. Jekyll. Because, as fast as Hyde had appeared, Jekyll took his place. A dazzling smile burst open on her face. “Break a leg, cutie!” She blew me a kiss. Then she whirled so fast, her boa slapped me across the face before she sauntered out of the room.
It felt like a grenade had gone off in my gut.
Joanie tapped away on her iPad before pressing her earpiece to say something to the crew, completely oblivious to the bomb that was about to detonate.
I waved to get her attention. “Do you know where my dad is?”
Before she could answer, Dad walked in with Travis, a look of serious concern on his face.
“Dad?” I said. “We have a situation.”
* * *
T he sun was long gone but the stage lights were bright, making it hard to see. Even if they were here for my dad, being in front of all these people was the best shot of adrenaline I’d ever experienced.
My entire body was in tune with this moment. My fingers glided over the guitar strings effortlessly. My brain told me where to go and when to go there. The lyrics flowed out of my mouth like I’d performed in front of a crowd this large a thousand times. I was made for this.
Most of the concertgoers were singing along—impressive since I was just starting and had only dropped this song two months ago. Everyone with the last name Dupree and Bishop swayed side to side, belting the words. My cousins couldn’t be missed—wearing matching crop tops with my name bedazzled in pink rhinestones on the front. All five of them: Theo, James, Griffin, Liam, and Bowen.
My nostrils flared, trying not to laugh. They kazoo'd along with the melody. With actual kazoos.
“Marry me, Cash!” Griffin screamed.
Theo cupped his hands like a megaphone. “I drove six states just to breathe the same air as you!”
Bowen rounded it out with, “I’m pregnant with your baby!”
I hardened my expression and narrowed my eyes at my aunts and uncles, sending a silent message to shut their adult sons up. But each one of them just shrugged and grinned.
Sorry , Aunt Christy mouthed but she laughed harder than any of them.
My cousins’ catcalling was horrid. But nothing topped my mom’s parents, who’d flown in from Orlando just for the evening, wearing custom Mickey ears. Nana’s were vinyl records with a black and white bow, while Pop-Pop’s were acoustic guitars—and they sang every lyric like backup singers.
While Randy, my lead guitarist, ripped his guitar solo, I tapped my earpiece. “Dad, where are Mom and Addie?”
The earpiece clicked. “They just arrived. They got held up in traffic.” Which meant they’d missed all but the very last of my songs.
From the moment I walked on stage, I’d heard whispers in the air. Proposal, engagement, ring . True to her word, Millie had hyped up the crowd around her.
Granny Dupree looked the opposite of hyped. She glared Millie down like an angry bull and I couldn’t have loved my grandmother more than I did at that moment.
My cousins started kazooing again.
I shook my head and looked away, just in time to sing above their terrible cacophony.
You left me standing in second place,
Chased your future without a trace.
Came back tanned, wearing his last name ? —
It’s hard to love you when it still feels the same.
Right behind my family, Millie screamed, “Cass-Cass! Wave!” Oh, that nickname. Thank goodness we were over. Her right hand was videoing, and her left arm was wrapped around the neck of one of her sorority sisters.
I ignored the request and focused on my song. I gripped the microphone, closed my eyes, and put every bit of emotion I could into the final words.
It was hard to love you, but I did it anyway,
Even when you ran, even when you strayed.
I should hate you, but I never will,
I’d take you back if you wanted me still.
I strummed the final chord and the audience roared. I tapped the earpiece. “Nice job, boys,” I said to the band Dad and I had put together.
“Great set, Cash.”
“They loved it.”
“Just stellar.”
“Couldn’t have done it without you guys.” I released the button so I could speak to the fans. “Thank you! It’s great to be here!” I waved to the sea of faces. “Alright, folks, I know y’all are excited to see a country music legend!” At that, they went insane. “We’ve got a real treat tonight. A man who has sold out arenas, topped charts, and somehow managed to make cowboy boots look formal. He’s a legend. A star. A household name. At least in our household.”
The stage shook beneath my feet as they stomped their excitement.
“Keep going, son,” Dad’s voice came over the speakers and the cheering intensified. “I like where you’re headed with this.”
I chuckled. “He may be a superstar, but he’s also the guy who used to tell me if I didn’t practice my chords, I’d end up flipping burgers for a living.”
Fireworks burst out of the spark shooters behind me which meant Dad was walking onto the stage. A wave of noise rolled like thunder toward us.
Dad shook his head but he fought a grin, his guitar slung across his shoulder. “And look at you now—introducing me . He tipped his signature black cowboy hat at the ocean of people. Grown men screamed like teenagers, and teenagers cried like kids.
“Y’all, give it up for the best man I know, my musical hero, and the guy who’s about to make me look real bad—Fooooord Duuuupreeee!”
The stage rumbled at the jubilee that followed.
Dad ruffled me on the head before hooking an arm around my shoulder. “He did good, yeah?” he said proudly.
The audience graciously screamed their approval. Blue, my cousin’s husband, a former NFL QB and more recently, the Seddledowne High football coach, stuck two fingers in his mouth and let out an ear-splitting whistle.
As the cheering continued, Dad pressed his earpiece and gestured for me to do the same. “Don’t worry about Millie. We have a plan in place. I need you to go with what’s about to happen next, all right? And stay center stage. Do not cross the yellow tape.”
“Got it.” My body tightened, bracing for whatever I’d just gotten myself into. It had to be better than proposing to Millie in front of this crowd.
Dad and I both tapped the button again, turning our mics back on. Suddenly, two stagehands appeared, dressed in black, and placed a stool behind each of us.
“Before we let Cash go,” Dad said. “How about one more song? A father-son duet. It’s one of Cash’s best songs, in my opinion. Called, ‘Please Come Home Tonight.’”
We settled onto our seats, our guitars in our laps. I flicked my brows, giving him the signal. We both began to play. But, like we’d practiced, I sang the first verse alone.
You always had a way of getting under my skin,
The kind of trouble that I loved to be in.
Told myself I’d let you go, leave it all behind,
But here I am still singing ‘bout you every dang time.
A few tiny dots of light flickered on, like early stars appearing at dusk. Within seconds, it had gone to a full-blown Milky Way of phone flashlights, swaying with the music. I’d dreamt of this exact moment so many times. It felt surreal to finally be here. For those lights to shine for me, on stage with my dad.
I gazed out at my family again. Still no Mom. Still no Addie.
Two Opal and Ivy cameramen were on Millie who was fanning her face as if she were fighting tears. Like this song was for her. She started making her way toward the stage.
I tapped my earpiece. “Any time now would be good,” I hissed.
Dad gave me an easy look that said he wasn’t worried. Then he joined in with his smooth tenor, hitting the harmony to my melody.
We were tangled up, soaking wet,
That kiss still burns, I can’t forget.
I closed my eyes, trying to ignore the anxiety of Millie’s forced proposal hanging over my head.
But you walked away, left me standing there,
Like none of it mattered, like you didn’t care.
Dad was supposed to sing this with me, so why had I just sung that solo? I opened my eyes to find him gone. I continued on alone.
I ain’t over you, maybe I never will be
My head jerked back because suddenly it was a duet again. With a female alto that sounded like…
Charlie?
I looked around, never missing a word.
I’m still waiting for you to see ? —
Our voices blended like we’d sung together a thousand times before. Because we had. Not this song though. How did she know the words?
Even though Dad had warned me to play it cool, I couldn’t. I turned left, but all I saw was Randy, my lead guitarist. I spun to the right, but the only person there was the bass guitarist.
Gasps broke out—probably from my family—bringing my focus straight ahead. Did they see her? Aunt Tally was sobbing into her hands. Uncle Ashton looked like he’d seen a ghost. And my cousins, who’d made it their mission to embarrass me with their loud mouths, were suddenly speechless.
Mom and Addie stood in front of them, waving frantically so I’d know they’d finally arrived.
Mom beamed, so happy.
“Miracle! Miracle! Miracle!” Addie screamed, pointing behind me.
I whirled…
And it felt like someone had stolen my vocal cords.
Because Charlie was walking toward me, like Jesus on the water, about to save Peter from drowning. She sang into a handheld mic.
I see your ghost in the rearview glass,
Every road I take still leads to our past.
A complete contrast to Millie, everything about her said simple. Effortless. Her dark hair was in one long side braid hanging over her shoulder. She had on a blue and white floral shirt with puffed sleeves, a basic pair of jeans, and brown leather Ariats I recognized from when we were in high school.
She waved at me and grinned.
My hands shoved into my bangs, still unable to form words.
“Hey, Cash.” She laughed, her voice light and perfect. “Aren’t you gonna sing your song with me?”
But I couldn’t. I had no air. My eyes were cooperating about as well as my lungs—watering uncontrollably, obstructing my view. The best view of my life.
I swung the guitar to the side and rubbed my eyes. My legs had no problem doing their job though. I jogged across the massive stage.
My earpiece clicked.
“Cash! Center stage!” Joanie warned.
I skidded to a stop, my toes touching the yellow tape.
“We need those Opal and Ivy cameras to get all of this.”
My eyes dropped to Charlie’s left hand. Her ring was gone!
Standing still as she made her way to me was the hardest thing I’d ever done. My band stalled, replaying the build-up to the second verse over and over.
“Ladies and Gentlemen,” my dad’s voice broke over the speakers and the stadium went insane. “Give a hearty welcome to Cash’s favorite cousin, who’s technically not his cousin. At all,” he said in a flirty tone. “Chaaaarlieee Duuupreeee.”
The way the fans cheered, I had no doubt they knew who Charlie was. They seemed to know every member of our extended family.
Dad’s voice came through my earpiece. “You needed a diversion and you got one. Take advantage of it.”
He didn’t have to tell me twice.
As soon as Charlie was within reach, I yanked her over the yellow line and crushed her against me.
“What’re you doing here?” I managed to get out, forgetting we had an audience of sixty thousand. Until they let out a collective sigh. I distinctly felt her ribs beneath my fingertips. Why was she so skinny?
She leaned back to look at me, my arms still wrapped around her waist. Man, she was so beautiful. Her fingers skimmed across my shoulders, lighting me on fire. “You didn’t think I’d miss your first concert, did you?”
The crowd let out staggered, awww ’s.
“You’re really here,” I choked.
She gazed into my eyes. “I’m really here.”
Another sigh from the fans.
I was fully aware that my band sounded like a broken record, playing the same four measures on a loop—but I was still having trouble with my oxygen levels.
“Are we gonna finish this song or what?” She laughed. “You wrote it for me , didn't you?”
I stared at her, wondering if she knew how many times I’d prayed for this exact thing. “Of course, I wrote it for you. Who else would I have written it for?”
I heard a scoff that sounded distinctly like Millie.
Charlie’s espresso eyes twinkled. Her hands slid down my biceps and over my forearms. She tugged me toward the stools and I tripped over my own feet to follow.
Once we were seated, I looked over my shoulder at my band and nodded. With that, Charlie and I started our first public duet. I blinked as infrequently as possible, my eyes never leaving her face, for fear I’d open them to find out this was all a dream.
When we got to the bridge, Charlie stopped singing and once again, I was performing a solo. She leaned forward, elbows on her knees, her chin in her hands, watching me.
Every love song on the radio,
Feels like a story we left untold.
If you ever wonder where I am,
I’m still right here, trying to understand.
All the joy left her beautiful face. But I widened my eyes, inviting her to finish with me. She joined back in.
I ain’t over you, maybe I never will be,
I’m still waiting for you to see ? —
I’m the one who’ll love you right,
So please, please come home tonight.
I set my guitar down and slid to my knees in front of her. Her hands cupped my jaw as she held my gaze. I finished the song alone.
Please come home…tonight.
Maybe I was imagining it but it looked like there were tears in her eyes. And maybe four years of regret?
“I’m here,” she said softly.
I twined my fingers through hers. “You are. And I promised myself if you ever came home, I’d never let you go.” The entire stadium swooned. Well, all the women. A handful of men groaned, probably wondering how their Ford Dupree concert had just turned into a romance novel. “Stay with me,” I said, just like I had in Hawaii. “Never leave me again?”
Only this time she agreed. “Yeah.”
Her arms hooked around my neck. Then she leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. When her lips touched my skin, a ragged, broken sound ripped loose in my chest. As the pain of the last four years disappeared into the breeze, peace took its place. My mind stilled. No one was in this football stadium but the two of us. I couldn’t hear anything or anyone, except the quiet, rhythmic in and out of her breath.
Until Millie shrieked like a hawk, yanking me back to the present.
Charlie laughed, her nose nipping mine. She pressed my earpiece, turning off the mic. “Is that your girlfriend?”
A laugh came out, cracked and unsteady. “Ex-girlfriend, thanks to you. I missed you, cuz.”
“I missed you too.”
I looked into her eyes and for the first time, I realized they were different. Darker, sadder, missing the warmth that used to be there.
I tipped my forehead against hers. “Thanks for saving me.”
“I owe you, Cash,” she said so low I almost missed it. “You saved me every day for the last year.”