Chapter 18
Tate
The door is paintedwhite, chipped around the handle and other odd places.I bite my lip against the rising ache in my chest.I had hoped Levi would change his mind and come back.At least hear Jan out.But he’s right, I don’t know him.And I’m trying to figure out why that hurts as much as it does.A phantom arm drapes itself over my shoulders, the smell of strong perfume blanketing my senses.
“He’ll be back.They always come back,” Jan says in an old-timey voice.
“I’m not so sure.He’s probably halfway back to Tennessee by now,” I counter, still trying to will the door to open.
“Nah, that boy has spirit, but he isn’t dumb.He’ll come around.In the meantime, let’s work on you.”I turn out from under her arm to face her.“The idea is...drum roll...”She uses both of her pointer fingers to tap an invisible mini drum, face pinched in excitement.“We’re going to make ‘Cowgirl Take Me Away’ into a duet!With you, obviously, singing to him and he to you!”she exclaims, her smile wide and unmoving.
She’s waiting for me to respond, but I’m at a loss as to how.In theory, making that song a duet is a cool idea, but for me and Levi?Gabriella will have a field day.I tuck my hair behind my ears, the dampness from this morning’s shower sticking to my fingers.Jan’s still staring at me expectantly.I force a smile, but it’s tight.
“You’re not crazy about the idea?”
“I’m...indifferent.”I shrug, letting my shoulders pull me down a bit.
“Is this about Levi?Because I’m telling you, he will come around.”She straightens, her eyes and mouth falling back into their normal resting place.The posture of a confident, successful woman.
“How can you be so sure?”I watch as she takes a long drag of her coffee.Then the slam of the door sounds from behind me causing me to jump from my skin.My head whips back to where a large frame now covers almost the entirety of the doorway.Levi.His skin is dewy and a little off its usual color.He takes another step in until he’s at my side.From under the thin cotton of his shirt, his chest tugs, and pushes.His breaths are heavy and off pace, like he’s been running.My eyes swing back to Jan’s in pure amazement.
How did you know that?I ask wordlessly, and she responds with a quick wink.
“Levi, I’m so glad you came back.Tate and I were just discussing the set.Won’t you join us?”She motions back towards the stage.
He responds in a rough grunting sound, his eyes avoiding mine completely as he walks back towards where we first started.Jan gives me another look that says, It’s going to be okay.Really!So I follow slowly behind.
“Alright, so here’s the deal, Levi,” Jan says quickly, switching from TV exec to musical director in the matter of seconds.“We’re going to sell you two as Johnny and June, so if you want to win, you need to lean in and play the part.Onstage and off.”
Now I’m the one avoiding eye contact.She walked that one in with a sledgehammer.
“You two are going to sing ‘Cowgirl/Cowboy Take Me Away’ as a duet.You’re going to split up the verses, alternating till the very last chorus, which you will sing together.Capisce?Levi, take the stool.Tate, follow me.”Jan speed-walks to the corner of the stage until she comes to a panel of lighting against the wall.She flips a couple switches, and half the room goes dark, leaving Levi illuminated at the front.She looks over at him through narrowed eyes and twisted lips before turning back to the panel and pushing more buttons.I stand partially frozen behind her.The bright yellow lights over Levi melt before casting everything in a moody blue.She turns to me.
“Alright?How are you?”The question seems loaded, but I think the only acceptable answer is “fine.”
“Here are the lyrics.”She pulls a folded paper from her trousers and hands it to me.Levi’s parts have been highlighted in blue, mine in yellow, and “cowboy” and “cowgirl” in their respective places.
