CHAPTER 6
CLAYTON
Nolan parked his truck in front of the Bluebird and hollered out the window, “Clay! Jamie just left. I offered her a ride but she jumped into an Uber.”
Clayton tossed his guitar into the truck’s cab before climbing in.
“She sang my new song with me then up and skedaddled,” he drawled, waving his hand dismissively.
Given the crowd’s reaction, he couldn’t believe she’d left without saying goodbye.
He’d felt this way only once before; the song was sure to be a hit single.
“She seemed kind of angry,” Nolan noted.
“I bet she’s more riled up about that breakup,” Clayton replied. “And Derrick Anderson? That no-good varmint is one hell of an asshole.”
“Are you still mad about what happened with Tammy?”
Clayton scoffed, “You don’t go telling another fella’s gal to shut up,” he said, rubbing his elbow, which was still aching. “Even though Tammy’s got herself a big damn mouth.”
Ten years ago Clayton ran into Derrick at Tootsie’s Lounge in Nashville. Derrick was there with some actors after a day of filming one of his “tough guy” movies and, coincidentally, Clayton was with Tammy, celebrating his first top-ten single.
As the night wore on and the alcohol took hold Tammy got more belligerent, yelling at Clayton for stealing her spotlight. She claimed she was the country singer in the family and he’d be nothing without her. She always put on a show.
Overhearing this Derrick interrupted and asked if he was going to muzzle her, or something to that effect. The exact details were a little foggy, but it was enough to set Tammy off and she let profanities fly about how his movies sucked.
Then Derrick simply told her to shut the fuck up.
After a brief pause Nolan said, “You shouldn’t have punched him.”
Clayton shrugged. “I know, but Tammy was fixin’ to hit him and I thought better me than her.” He grimaced. “I thought he’d block it or something, showing off some of that fancy martial arts nonsense.”
Nolan chuckled. “He’s not an action hero in real life. He just plays one in the movies.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Clayton replied with a wry smile. “Hollywood’s a load of bull crap.”