CHAPTER 22
CLAYTON
The following evening Clayton settled into his worn, overstuffed armchair in the living room, the soft glow of a lamp painting long shadows on the walls. He tipped his head forward and fixed Nolan with a steady gaze.
“You know, Nolan,” he drawled, his voice slow and deliberate, “I pulled off one of the slickest moves I ever did. I humiliated that no-good Derrick on live television last night.”
Nolan, perched on the couch with a glass of iced tea in hand, leaned in closer. “Yeah, I saw.”
Clayton’s eyes twinkled as he recounted the event. “Made him look like a fool without even being there to defend himself.” A slow, satisfied smile spread across his face. “It was like watching a tumbleweed roll through an empty field—quiet, yet mighty effective.”
Nolan’s grin was unmistakable as he told his brother, “I couldn’t believe my eyes. You turned his own career into his undoing.”
Clayton nodded, his tone softening. “After the show I talked to Jamie. Sat her down in my dressing room. I told her how I wanted to set things right.” He paused, swirling the water in his glass.
“Sometimes you’ve got to stir the pot a little to bring out the truth.
Humiliating Derrick on live TV wasn’t just payback—it was my way of showing Jamie that I’m a man of honor, and that I have her back. ”
Nolan settled into the couch, his eyes reflecting a mix of admiration and relief. “Clayton, you always did know how to serve up justice with a side of redemption.”
“Nothing’s sweeter than seeing a snake get caught in its own hiss.” Clayton chuckled, the sound rich and warm in the quiet of his home. “Sometimes even a man like me gotta fight for what’s right, and a little live TV magic can set things straight.”
“So where does that leave you and Jamie?”
A slow, confident grin spread across Clayton’s face. “Jamie agreed to be my opener on the tour. It gives me a real fine chance to show her how we do things in country music. And maybe win her over while I’m at it.”