Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
SCARLETT
“ Y ou’ve gained ten pounds.”
I frown at Maureen in the mirror. She’s the only person I know who can have ten pins pursed in her lips and still speak clearly.
“I’ve been taking care of my dad for a few weeks, Mo. I always gain a couple after I come off tour.”
“This is more than a couple.” She gives me the stink-eye, and I can’t help but laugh. “You think it’s funny, but it makes my job a shitshow.”
“You’re the best. And you know my body better than anyone. You’ve got this.”
“Humph.”
She scowls as she works on the side of the dress that Valentino sent over for tonight’s premiere. Mo’s been with me since my very first tour. At first, she just handled all of my onstage costumes, but as time passed, I asked for her to be my seamstress not only on the road but also for all of my events.
Like I said, Mo knows my body, and even with a few extra pounds, she’ll make me look amazing.
“We told Valentino you were a size four,” she insists.
“So, what am I now? A six?”
“Listen here, sassy pants, a six is way different than a four. You’re lucky they included some extra give in the seams so I can let it out where it needs it.”
“Like I said, you’ve got this.”
She rolls her eyes, and I gasp when she gets a little too close with the pins.
“Hey!”
“Serves you right.”
Mo’s in her late fifties. Her gray hair is long and frizzy, her face clean of makeup, and her voice is rough from too many years smoking cigarettes. I’ve never seen her without a tape measure around her neck.
She’s one of my favorite people in the world.
“You love me.”
“Humph,” she says again, but I see the way her mouth tips up at the corners.
She totally loves me.
“I love the hemline on this one,” I continue. It’s scalloped and hits me at mid-thigh. All of the leg work I do has paid off in spades. I have the best legs in country music, and I’m damn proud of it. “Once I get those heels on, my legs will look amazing.”
“What’s our timeline?” Mo asks.
“We’ve got a couple of hours.”
“Good. You can take it off, and I’ll work my magic. For God’s sake, eat a salad.”
“Love you, too, Mo.”
She mumbles to herself as she stomps out of the room, and I laugh again. Mo’s always a little grumpy. It’s part of her charm.
Once I’m out of the dress and into my robe, I’m ushered over to hair and makeup. By the time that’s finished, Mo will be done with the dress, and I’ll be ready to go.
I’d be happier if Tucker were here with me, but as much as I miss him and everyone else back home, I must admit, I’m having fun.
“Hey, gorgeous.”
I look up in the mirror and grin at my friend, Chase.
“Hey, yourself.”
“How’s your dad?” he asks as he sits in the chair next to mine while the hair and makeup crew keep doing whatever it is they do.
“He’s doing better. Getting therapy and stuff. But he’s got a ways to go before he’s back to his old self.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear that he’s going to be okay. I like Rick a lot.”
“He likes you, too.”
Dad’s come to at least one show of every tour I’ve ever done, and back in the day, Chase and I toured a lot together, so Dad’s met Chase a few times.
“What else’s going on with you?” Chase asks.
“That’s about it,” I say, grinning.
He smiles and then shakes his head and laughs. “Who’s the dude?”
“What dude?” I narrow my eyes and point to the hair and makeup crew, reminding him that ears are everywhere, and I don’t need them to babble to the rags.
“I must have heard something somewhere,” Chase says, but I know he’ll want to talk more later. I’ll tell him about Tucker in the limo.
“You’d better go put your monkey suit on.”
“Fine.” He sighs and stands, then leans over to kiss my cheek. “See you in a bit.”
I sigh and close my eyes, determined to enjoy these few minutes of being pampered. Tonight will be busy. Loud. Lots of lights and noise.
The quiet is nice, even if it’s brief.
“So, who is he?” Chase asks a few hours later in the back seat of the limo.
“Who’s who?”
“The guy that finally stole Scarlett Kincaid’s heart.”
“Do I have hearts coming out of my head like in a cartoon or something?”
“Pretty much,” he replies.
“Actually, I’ve been seeing someone I’ve known most of my life from back home.”
“A civilian?”
“No ties to Nashville at all,” I confirm.
“Wow.”
“What?”
“That’s brave of you, sugar.”
“Listen. Relationships in the biz don’t usually work well. Not everyone can be Faith and Tim.”
“True.”
“And I like him. A lot. He’s a good guy. I think you’d like him, too.”
“As long as he doesn’t break your heart.”
“If he does, I might get a hit single out of it.”
That makes him laugh. The limo pulls up to the red carpet, and we both take a long, deep breath before the door opens, and pandemonium starts.
This movie is a huge blockbuster and is being covered by most of the media outlets. Thousands of fans line the barricades, hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite actors from the film.
When Chase and I step from the car, the crowd erupts with screams and applause, and we immediately shift into publicity mode.
Smiles in place? Check.
Chase’s arm wrapped around the small of my back, hand planted on my hip? Check.
My shoulder tucked against him? Check.
We walk down the carpet, and then stop on the mark and turn to the cameras, posing for what seems like an hour. Flashes erupt. It’s taken a decade to train my eyes to stay open wide, despite the onslaught of bright light.
Before long, we’re ushered to where the entertainment channels have interviewers stationed to ask us questions.
“Scarlett! Chase!”
“Good evening,” Chase says, and we spend the next thirty minutes answering the same questions over and over again.
Yes, I was honored to be asked to sing the title song for the movie. Of course, working with Chase is always wonderful. He’s a good friend.
On and on we go until finally we make our way into the theater. The center of the place has been roped off for cast and crew. Once in our seats, we’re treated to all the soda and popcorn a person can eat—all delivered to us, of course.
The dress may be gorgeous for the red carpet or for when I’m onstage, moving around, but sitting is a bit of a challenge.
“You don’t look comfortable,” Chase says.
“Yeah, well, I was pretty much sewed into this thing. Sitting cuts off my air supply.”
He takes his jacket off and drapes it over my lap so I can get comfortable without putting on a show.
“Thanks.”
Chase just winks and shoves some popcorn into his mouth.
I pull my phone out of my clutch. I’ve hardly spoken to Tucker since I got to L.A., so I shoot him off a text.
Wish you were here with me!
“Awe, that’s so sweet,” Chase says. I smack his shoulder but laugh.
“Mind your own damn business.”
Tucker’s reply is instant.
Looks like you’re having enough fun without me. I’d just cramp your style.
I frown. What the hell is that supposed to mean?
You’d never cramp my style.
“Relationships are impossible for people like us,” Chase says, shaking his head.
“Stop reading over my shoulder.”
We’ll talk when you get home .
“You told him you were coming with me, right?”
My lips part, and I shake my head. “No, I don’t think so. I told him about the premiere, but that’s it.”
“There’s your problem. Your boy is mad.” Chase takes a drink of his soda and turns toward the movie screen when the lights dim.
“He is not.”
What’s there to be mad about? I’m only doing my job. Smiling for the camera with Chase is no different than Tucker pulling Maryanne Thompson’s cat out of that tree.
I put the phone in my clutch, determined to enjoy the movie. I’m reading more into it than is really there. You can’t tell what someone’s tone is from a text anyway.
But why do I get the feeling that I’m in trouble?
I didn’t sleep last night. Which isn’t good because I got on an early flight this morning from L.A. to Charleston, and then I had to drive down to New Hope.
It’s mid-afternoon, and I’m just pulling into Dad’s driveway, but I called Aunt Clarice ahead of time to give her the heads-up that I needed to have a conversation with Tucker before I came home.
She didn’t even hesitate before she told me to take care of my business and come over when I’m ready.
Aunt Clarice always was my favorite.
I leave my bags in the car and hurry to Tucker’s front door, hitting the doorbell extra hard as if that might make it ring louder inside.
“Scarlett!” Chloe exclaims as she opens the screen door and launches herself into my arms. “You were gone forever. But you were so pretty in your dress.”
“Thank you.” I kiss her head as she leads me into the house and come to a stop when I see Tucker standing in the living room, his hands in his pockets, and no smile on his face.
“Hey, Chloe, why don’t you go to your room while I talk with Scarlett?” Tucker says.
“I want to hear all about the movie—” she begins, but when she sees her father’s face, his gaze which hasn’t left my face, her shoulders slump, and she trudges up the stairs to her bedroom. Neither Tucker nor I say anything until we hear her door close.
“Hi,” I begin.
“Hello.”
This is not good. There’s no hug. No kiss. No, “ I missed you so much, don’t ever leave again.”
Nada.
“So, I get the feeling that you’re pissed, and I’m probably dumped here, but I’ll be damned if I can figure out why.”
I cock a hip to the side and cross my arms over my chest. I’ll be damned if I let him see me crumble. I’ll cry later, when I’m alone.
“Chase Walker.”
I tilt my head to the side. “My date?”
His eyes narrow.
“What about him?”
“Did you fuck him?”
“Did I—?” I shake my head, laugh humorlessly, and turn away from Tucker, heading to the front door. “You know what, Tuck? Go fuck yourself.”
I make it onto the porch and to the top of the stairs when Tucker’s hand wraps around my upper arm, and he spins me around to look at him.
“Scarlett—”
“No.” My voice is even and low because we’re outside, and at least a dozen ears can most likely hear us. “You don’t ever have the right to speak to me like that. You’re the one I’m currently fucking, as you so eloquently put it. But that’s over, too.”
“Listen to me, damn it.”
I stop on the steps and shake my head, pissed as all get out that tears are threatening.
“I shouldn’t have to explain myself to you.”
“Well, it seems you do because I was minding my own business, missing the hell out of you, when my daughter alerted me to the fact that you were wrapped around that son of a bitch like white on rice.”
I spin, my mouth gaping. “She did not say that.”
“No, she didn’t have to. I saw it.”
I march past him back into the house where no one can hear us, relieved when I hear my own music blaring from upstairs in Chloe’s room.
Once Tucker shuts the door, I round on him.
“So, you think that because I had a date to a function that was scheduled six months ago, I must be sleeping with said date?”
“Scar—”
“No, I want to make sure I understand what the hell is running through your pea-brained head, Tucker Andrews.”
“I didn’t like seeing you sidled up to the guy, okay? His arm was wrapped around you, his hand planted on your ass. You were as cozy as could be.”
“His hand was on my hip , thank you very much, and we have to be cozy because that’s what’s expected, damn it. Chase has been my friend for years. He’s just my friend. And we sang the damn song together, so we went to the premiere together.”
“You failed to mention that when you told me you were leaving town.”
“Would you like me to copy you in on my schedule?” I plant my hands on my hips. “Am I supposed to get permission every time I have to be somewhere with a man?”
“Cut me a break here, Scar,” he says with a sigh and drags his hand down his face. “I’m not used to the celebrity lifestyle you live. I’m just a small-town cop.”
“You’re not just anything.”
“And I’ve fallen in love with a woman who’s larger than life. When I looked at that television screen and saw you standing there with him, I almost lost my shit. I never lose my shit, Scarlett. I didn’t like it.”
“You…you, what?”
“I didn’t like it.”
“Before that.”
He frowns as if he doesn’t know what I mean, but then his face clears, and he licks his lips. “I said that out loud, didn’t I?”
“I think so.”
He worries his lower lip between his teeth as he watches me from across the room.
“I felt like a damn fool.”
“No.” I shake my head slowly. “You’re no fool, and I didn’t say anything about Chase because I honestly didn’t think anything of it. He was my date. Is my friend. But you’re my lover, Tucker. You’re the one I think about and miss when you’re not around. You’re the one I can’t keep my hands off of.”
I walk toward him, relieved when his hands come around my waist, and he pulls me close, staring down into my face.
“Now, what did you say?”
“I love you so much I ache with it,” he whispers as if each word is painful to admit. “And I’m afraid you’ll destroy me before all is said and done.”
I launch myself up, confident that he’ll catch me as I wrap myself around him and seal my lips to his, kissing him with everything I’ve got. When I pull back, I’m breathing hard, and I frame his handsome face in my hands and smile down at him.
“I love you, too, Tucker. And if anyone winds up with a broken heart, it’ll be me. I hated that you wouldn’t answer your phone last night.”
“I’m an ass.”
“Yeah, you are. No silent treatment, you hear me? Ever. Yell at me, whatever you have to do, but you must talk to me. Because there will be times that I can’t be here, and you better answer your goddamn phone.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he says, the muscles in his jaw clenching. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry, too.”
“But next time, give me a heads-up. At least let me know which asshole will have his hands all over you.”
I grin. “Deal. But for the record, no one will have their hands all over me.”
“What now?”
“Well, your daughter is upstairs, and I have to go take over for Aunt Clarice, so we can’t get naked and have make-up sex.”
“Rain check?” His lips twitch into a grin.
“Bet your sexy ass.”