Page 5 of Beneath a Tennessee Sky

Chapter Two

Jack

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HER QUESTION HURTS. The raw vulnerability in her eyes makes me want to look away, but I can’t. I feel like I’m standing on the edge of a cliff, with no good choices in any direction.

“I don’t know,” I admit, and the words taste bitter. “I don’t want to leave you. But I don’t know how to make this work if I go.”

Jinnie pulls on her shirt. “You’re seriously considering this?”

“I thought you’d be happy for me,” I say. “You were at first. So was I. And then reality hits.”

“I am happy for you.”

She’s going to have to try and convince me of her happiness because her face says otherwise. She’s not happy for me. And I can’t really blame her.

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” I say.

“I’m happy for you.”

I throw my hands up. “That’s not what you’re really thinking. Be straight. I’ve been thinking about this all night and day. I know you’re saying you’re happy for me, but it’s not real. Please, just be honest.”

She takes a deep breath. “Okay, I guess I have some questions.”

“Like?”

“Some random woman hands you a contract and you’re ready to sign your life away?” she asks.

“She’s not random. She’s from Rockline Records.”

“And you verified that?”

My jaw tightens. “I don’t need to. I played, she loved it, end of story. She gave me a business card.”

“That’s not how this works, Jack. You don’t just—”

“I know how it works!” The words come out sharper than I mean them to. “This is what I’ve been working toward. Why can’t you just—”

“Support you blindly?” She laughs, but it’s hollow. “I do support you. That’s why I’m asking you to think.”

I realize my pants are open, my belt hanging. I quickly do them up. Clearly that’s not going to be happening.

“I have thought about it,” I say. “It’s all I’ve been doing is thinking about it. I left home to chase this dream and now it’s within reach and you’re telling me it’s wrong.”

“I didn’t tell you it’s wrong,” she says. “I’m saying you wouldn’t be the first person to get stars in their eyes and get screwed over.”

I clench my jaw, feeling a tight knot forming in my chest. The warmth and closeness we had just minutes ago has evaporated like it was never there.

“Why are you treating this like I’m some naïve kid?” I snap. “This is what musicians dream about. I’ve thought about this moment my entire life.”

“I know that, but—”

“No, you don’t know,” I cut her off. “You have no idea what it’s like to have someone finally see something in you worth investing in. To validate everything you’ve been fighting for.”

Jinnie’s eyes flash. “You think I don’t understand validation? Seriously?”

“That’s not what I meant.” I run my hands through my hair. “What I meant was, I thought you’d be happy for me. I thought you’d be excited. Instead, you’re acting like I’m making some terrible mistake.”