“She single?”
“Very. But fair warning, she’s picky. And terrifying. And will absolutely destroy you if you hurt her.”
“Good.” Decker’s smile was slow, dangerous. “I like a challenge.”
The show was incredible.
Cole commanded the stage as if he had been born for it. The crowd knew every word of every song. When he played the ballad he’d dedicated to me in Asheville, people swayed with phone lights held high, and I felt tears prick my eyes.
Faith’s harmonies soared, their voices blending in a way that spoke to years of practice. Decker’s drum work was flawless. They were professionals. A unit.
At the heart of it was Cole.
After the show, he found me in the crowd, pulled me backstage, and kissed me hard enough to make the world spin.
“Did you see it?” His eyes were bright with adrenaline.
“You were amazing.”
“David wants to talk tomorrow morning. He’s talking about a development deal, studio time, a real album.” He grabbed my face, his smile incandescent. “This is happening, Autumn. It’s really happening.”
And I realized with perfect clarity everything was about to change.
Chapter 7
THREE WEEKS LATER
The FaceTime call dropped for the third time in ten minutes.
I stared at my phone, at Cole’s frozen face mid-sentence, and resisted the urge to throw it across the room.
When he called back, exhaustion lined his features. “Sorry. Service is terrible in Iowa.”
“Iowa?”
“Yeah. We added dates. Three more weeks on the road before we’re back in North Carolina.”
My heart sank. “Three weeks.”
“I know. I’m sorry. The label wants us building buzz before the album drops.”
The album. Right. Two weeks after Charlotte, Horizon had offered them a deal. One album to test the waters. Studio time in Nashville. Marketing budget. The whole package.
I was happy for him. I was also exhausted from missing him.
“How’s the rescue?”
“Good. We got six new intakes this week.”
“You need help?”
The words slipped out before I could stop them. “I need you.”
His expression crumbled. “Autumn…”
“I know. You’re working. Building your career. I’m not trying to guilt you.”
“It feels like guilt.”
