For a long moment, they stood there, the world outside the barn slipping away.Then he kissed her.Slow, sure, the kind that felt like an anchor dropped in open water.
When they finally parted, she looked up at him, her voice soft.“You’re sure about this?About us?If we break up, it's another scandal.”
He didn’t hesitate.“I’ve never been more sure of anything, Carlene.I've been married before, and it didn't work out.I'd decided after my divorce that I was married to my music.She's been my mistress for years.It was you who said I was disconnected from her.Initially, your boldness irritated me.Now I see you're right.Music isn't the only thing in life.Mine or anyone else's.My bandmates have proven that."
Carlene’s eyes glimmered, and she swallowed.“Jami...”
He touched his forehead to hers.“You scare me, though.”
"You scare me, too."
Outside, the night hummed with distant sounds: waves against the shore, crickets in the grass, a world still spinning while theirs stood still.
Jami had spent years chasing applause, chasing meaning through noise.But standing here with her, with his band solid at his back, a fight waiting on the horizon, and a new direction with the band and life, he finally understood what it meant to feel alive.
Taking Carlene's hand in his, he led them out of the barn door, locking it behind them.Continuing with her by his side, he did what he'd wanted to do earlier.He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her tightly to his body.They strode together to the house.Before they reached the steps, he chuckled, "You should check out of the hotel and move your things here."
She stopped and turned toward him."What?Really?"
"You're here all the time anyway.We've moved our relationship from professional to personal, so you’ll save money and time by not running back to town.Plus, I'd really love for you to be here.Let's see how this works for us."
He watched her eyes as she thought about what he said.What it meant for them.It wasn't like she was actually moving in with him.All she had at the hotel was a couple of weeks' worth of clothing, toiletries, and shoes.Her laptop was here.She swallowed the knot in her throat.
"Okay."It was a leap of faith, but she felt ready to take it.
"You want to do it now?"
Her chest rose with the inhaled breath."Sure, let's do it now."
He leaned in and kissed her lips.Taking her hand, he led her to his truck and helped her inside.
Pulling into the hotel parking lot, he chuckled."Back in the day, my friends and I used to run around behind the hotel at night and act like ghosts.We tried to frighten the people staying here, convincing them the place was haunted.”
"Jami.You were a brat."
"I wasn't a brat.I was precocious and fun."He chuckled."Plus, no one believed we were really ghosts anyway."
She shook her head and opened the door."Hang tight," he reminded her.
Moving from his side of the truck to hers as quickly as possible, he opened her door with a flourish and held his hand out for her.She took his hand, a grin on her face."Thank you.You're always such a gentleman."
"My mama would box my ears if I wasn’t a gentleman."
"Is she still alive?"
He took a deep breath and shook his head."No.Both she and my dad are gone.They're buried out of town at the Lutheran Church Cemetery.It's just me now."
"No siblings?"
"No siblings."
They strode through the lobby and took the stairs to her room.Inside, he closed the door behind them, and Carlene began packing up her things.She brushed past him twice, going from the bathroom to the suitcase on the bed.The second time, he reached out and stopped her.
He kissed her lips softly, then almost instantly, his kiss deepened.He pulled away only long enough to husk out, "Let's take advantage of the hotel's bed."
She chuckled."You're terrible."
He picked her up and carried her to the bed without a suitcase on it and said, "I promise you I'm not.I'm actually very good at this part."
