Chapter 16 #3
“Sorry, Unc. I’m on it!” She hurries past him and back out to the floor.
When she’s out of earshot, Hank’s blue eyes narrow sharply. “Hurt her and I’ll end you, Tannen.”
He’s protecting Willow, something I deeply understand and respect. “No need. If I hurt her, what you do to me won’t be nearly as bad as what I do to myself.”
“Hmmph,” he grunts, which translates to ‘we’ll see about that’, and I remember that Hank was in the military for a short while.
I wonder what he did and what secret skills he might be hiding.
He’s damn good with a baseball bat, I’ve witnessed that firsthand, but for all I know, he’s a crack shot and has ninja knife skills.
And even if he doesn’t, I’m a damn big target, which makes me pretty hard to miss.
We walk down the hall together, me slowing my pace to match his.
“Polo shirt guy was asking questions about you. Thought you should know,” Hank says with zero expression on his face as we re-enter the main room. I could almost pretend that I imagined it, but I know he actually said that. Unfazed, he walks behind the bar and plops himself back on his perch.
The info is an olive branch from him, a sign of respect after I passed whatever test that was by not cowering in response to his threat of violence.
I huff a small laugh. Violence, I know. Violence, I understand.
I sit back down with my family, who congratulate me on a great show.
“What’s the title of that new one you did?” Allyson asks. “Brutal’s been humming it nonstop, so I know you’ve been working on it recently.”
“He has?” I’m surprised. Brutal listens to me write all my songs because I find pockets of time here and there to work, usually in the fields when we’re taking breaks.
And melodies get in my head and I hum them on repeat until they make sense for a song.
I hadn’t realized that Brutal was picking up the melodies too.
He’s scary observant, so I knew he was aware of my process, but singing them when I’m not around is a sign that the tune is catchy.
And that he cares. Allyson nods, and I tell her, “It’s called Bridge Over my Broken Heart. ”
“It’s a great one. My favorite of the night for sure.”
“Thanks.”
I don’t tell her, and sure as shit haven’t told Brutal, that they’re the inspiration for that song. A love that was meant to be but got so epically screwed up. Fate intervened, and in the end, they got their happily ever after the way it should’ve been.
I take a sip of the Jack someone ordered for me, sighing as the alcohol goes down my throat, soothing the sting of prolonged singing. Putting the glass down, I realize no one is looking at me. Instead, they’re looking off to the side of the table.
Another groupie who wants to hop on my dick? Fuck, don’t be Loretta. Please don’t be Loretta.
The good news . . . it’s not Loretta. The bad news . . . it’s polo shirt guy.
“Hi, Bobby. I’m Jeremy Marshall of NCR Records. I’d like to talk to you about your career, if that’s okay?”
“My what?” I growl.
Wait. Did he say NCR Records? Like music records?
Polo Shirt—I haven’t decided if I’m calling him Jeremy yet—takes a chair from a nearby table, spinning it around. He sits backward, straddling it and putting his arms on the chair back.
As he talks, I can’t believe what I’m hearing.
I can’t wait to tell Willow!
We’re celebrating, sweetheart, because your man’s going big time. Maybe.
Willow’s exhausted after a long shift and a late clean-up once she got everyone kicked out well after two. I’m exhausted from farming, Shay’s deliveries, and the show, but I’m buzzing inside.
“Tell me again what he said,” she orders.
We’re sitting in her bathtub, which is way too small for the both of us, but it’d seemed like relaxation we both need.
We both deserve some before we fall into bed tonight.
I’m still going to take her, I’m never too tired for that, but it’s nice to simply sit here in hot, bubbly water with her ass pressed up against my cock and her back lying against my chest. As she breathes, her tits lift and lower out of the bubbles enticingly.
“Huh?” Distracted by her pink nipples, I have no idea what she said.
“What did Mr. Marshall say?” Her butt wiggles, teasing me, but it’s just her excitement, not a seduction.
I smile, not believing it myself. “He said he was in town with his wife for a wedding, but he’s a talent scout so he likes to get out to the local dives wherever he goes to ‘keep a finger on the pulse’.”
“Like Hank’s,” Willow interjects.
“And he liked my voice and wants me to fly out to Nashville for a meet and greet with his team. Do a demo, maybe hit a few places there to do a short set so they get some real-time feedback. Stuff like that.” I’m trying to downplay it because I don’t want to get my hopes up too high.
This is major, more opportunity than I’ve ever had.
“Oh, my gosh, I can’t believe it! That is so awesome. I told you I had a good feeling about tonight, and I was right. I’m so happy for you.”
She twists to look back at me, her smile beaming. Even when she kisses me, that smile stays, and I can feel it pressed along my lips. “Your name is going to be in lights, Bobby Tannen. Just like you always dreamed, just like you deserve.”
She sounds so sure that I can almost believe it myself.