“Mr. Banks,” Chase shook Leeland’s hand firmly.
“The crowd loved you tonight. Don’t hear much country in LA.”
“Thank you. It was fun to reconnect with my roots.”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. If you ditch the other stuff and play a full country set, I’d love to have you at the Hollywood Theater. We actually need someone to open for a bluegrass band in a couple weeks. Are you interested?”
Chase faltered, momentarily trying to process what Leeland just asked.
“Me? At the Hollywood Theater?” Chase never thought something like that was a possibility for him.
“Yeah it’d be for a couple shows. I don’t think I need to explain what doors an opportunity like this could open for you.”
“Playing at the Hollywood Theater would be an honor. Thank you.”
“So, you’re in?”
“Ah yeah, definitely.”
“Okay, let’s exchange contact info, and I’ll have my people send over the details and contract tomorrow.”
“Thank you.” Chase typed his info into Leeland Banks’ phone and handed it back to him. Leeland hit him on the shoulder and walked toward the exit.
“Dude, what just happened?” Arlo appeared in front of Chase who hadn’t moved. “Chase. Chase! Hello?”
Chase blinked as he tried to process landing the gig of a lifetime. “I just got offered the chance to open for a band at the Hollywood Theater.”
“What? That’s amazing. I’ve seen everyone from Lizzo to Bon Jovi perform there… Congrats, man! We gotta celebrate.” Arlo pushed Chase toward the bar.
Sitting on a bar stool, Chase looked around, “Where’s Maggie?”
“Ah, she said she had to run but…” Arlo hesitated.
“But, what?”
“I saw her walking out with Broden.”
“Broden? Broden Dallas? Maggie left with Broden Dallas?” Chase’s jaw clenched.
“Yeah man, sorry about that. I don’t want to be the guy that says I told you so, but I’ve tried to warn you… LA girls are only into guys with fame and money. Or the appearance of fame and money.” Arlo pointed to the flashy gold chain hanging around his neck. “In this case, though, you’re also to blame.”
“What do you mean?’
“Uh, you basically made out with that hot girl mid-set.”
Chase cringed. He was so caught up in the moment and then Leeland’s offer, he had forgotten a kiss happened. It meant nothing, but probably not from Maggie’s perspective.
“I gotta call Maggie,” Chase walked outside, praying she’d pick up. All three calls went to voicemail.
Resorting to text, Chase typed, “Maggie, please call me back.”
On the night of the biggest break in his music career, he should be on cloud nine, but he wasn’t. The thought of hurting Maggie flooded his chest with scalding lava. The image of her making out with Broden Dallas stole the breath from his lungs.
Chapter 18
Maggie
Musicblaredandwomenseemed to be swarming. There was a definite gender ratio discrepancy. Maggie had never attended a fashion show, let alone a rooftop fashion show at a luxury hotel, but she could have never in her wildest imagination pictured this.
