“You just couldn’t help yourself?”He laughs, looking at the photo.
“Nope!Alright, I’m heading in.”
As soon as I make it down the hall, I see Tate and Gabriella right where I left them.Tate’s eyes widen.“There you are!Where did you go?!”She wraps her tiny arms around my forearm and tugs me close to her and doesn’t let go.I savor the feeling of the warmth of her skin bleeding into mine.
“You okay?You looked kind of upset when you left.”Gabriella blinks her lashes up at me.
“Nah, why would I be upset?I’m with my best friends.”
“We need to get in place.You ready?”Tate asks, seemingly unaware of all the side conversations going on around her.I nod and she directs our steps to the corner of the stage, the one opposite of where Jan is standing.Mia is finishing her version of “I Hope You Dance,” and her vocal range is out of this world, but all I can think about is the girl holding me.I look down at her, wanting to memorize this moment.Our bodies cast in dark blue.Every once in a while we shift slightly and one of the stage lights bounces off mirrored freckle stickers applied to the slender bridge of Tate’s nose and up and over the rounds of her cheeks.Sparkles rivaled only by her toothy grin.
“You ready for this?”she asks, looking up, catching me off guard.The rasp of her voice, among other things, has wrapped itself around my heart, twisting me up in the best sort of way.
“Always.”
***
Mia does a little bowand walks off the stage towards Jan.The lights overhead dim until you can’t see anything but the small footlights of the stage.A man dressed in all black runs to place the stool and adjust the mic before scurrying off.The overhead light clicks back on, spotlighting the stool.I grab the guitar from the stand next to the wall, squeezing Tate into my side once more, before taking wide strides towards my seat.I arrange myself, every movement charged due to the nearby mic.Once settled, I look out towards the judges, nod, and then begin a slow strum.
Down, down, up.Down, up, down.
Admittedly, when I got the song list.I thought my dreams of making it to the top were over, but then Tate came and turned everything around.She helped me to see that what I thought was a problem was a push towards finding my voice.My sound.I love country, cliche as it sounds.The Chicks or Waylon Jennings...it just fits.Then they told me it was a duet, and I don’t know if I was feeling the lack of control or what, but I had an absolute toddler-worthy tantrum.
I take a glance over my shoulder to where she’s swaying, eyes closed.My cowgirl in metallic boots.As I hit the last line, another spotlight drops at the edge of the stage, uncovering Tate.She walks out towards me.My breath hitches as she gets closer.Definitely not a great thing when singing, but the crowd is too busy losing their minds at the sight of her to pay any attention to me...and for obvious reasons.Our knees brush as she takes her first line like it was made for her.She rounds me, running her fingers along the span of my shoulders.I straighten, pressing back into her fingertips, with my head slightly rolled back so I can look at her.When she does finally release me, I stand, chasing her touch.
We take turns walking in and out of one another’s space.Like a bee dipping in and out of the most beautiful flower.I pick up the mic and bring it to my mouth as she finishes her portion, and the chorus begins.The hooting and hollering we’re getting is nothing short of that at a Tennessee Volunteers’ game.Tate’s eyes are glossy with amusement.No way did we expect this response, but I hate to say it, Jan was right.Tattooed Michelle Pfeiffer’s words fill my mind.“Show her how you feel and then take the next indicated step.”I’m going to show her tonight.I’m going to kiss her.We’re so close now as we sing the last lines.
Cowgirl take me away, closer to you...
I take my shot, pressing my lips to hers.They’re so soft and plump.I want to stay there, to explore, but she pushes my chest, ripping our lips from one another.The lights dim and the look on her face isn’t a good one.
“What is wrong with you!”she hisses, and I know I messed up big time.
***
My phone rings andit’s an unknown number.Normally, I wouldn’t answer it, but it’s got an LA area code, and who knows, maybe it’s someone who wants to sign me and pull me out of this mess I made with Tate.It’s been two days since the performance, which, by the way, went really well.We made it to the next round.Tate won’t even look at me though, let alone talk to me.I pick up the phone.“This is Levi.”
“Hey there, cowboy.”The voice is of a woman, familiar...yet not.
“Who is this and how did you get my number?”
There’s a sound of frustration through the phone.“You know, you’re really touchy.This is Kim.You know, the blonde bartender you had against a pantry wall a couple weeks ago, but then declined a repeat performance with last week?”
I laugh.“You’ll never let me live that down, will you?”
“Nope.”
“How did you get my number anyways.”
“I have my ways...”I think for a second she might tell me, but nope.
“So, what’s up?”It might be a little short, but I can’t play any more games.I’m still trying to untangle the mess with Tate.
“What’s up is that kiss, man!What were you thinking putting her on blast in front of the entire country?I mean, it wasn’t your best look.”
I feel wires cross in my mind, sparking to life.“You told me to do it!”
“I did not,” she quips back.
