Page 7 of Beneath a Tennessee Sky

“It’s legit.”

“Prove it,” Caleb cuts in. “Get her credentials. Talk to a lawyer. Hell, google her.”

I drag a hand down my face. “You sound like Jinnie.”

Another pause. I can practically hear them exchanging looks across the miles.

“How’d she take it?” Michael asks carefully.

“About how you’d expect.”

Caleb sighs. “You happy with her?”

“Of course I am.”

“Then why risk it?”

The question hangs there, heavy. I kick off my boots and lie back. “I’m not risking her. I’m chasing my dream. She can come with me.”

“On tour?” Michael snorts. “With what money?”

“I’ll have label money.”

“And if you don’t?” Caleb’s voice is quiet. “If this flops? If they drop you? What then?”

“And what if they don’t drop me and I actually make it?”

“Look, Jack,” Michael says. “You know we love you. We support you. But just make sure this is the real deal before you throw away what you’ve built there. People prey on guys like you who don’t have an agent or someone looking out for them. You’re hungry for success and people like to take advantage of that. Don’t throw away what you’ve got going there unless you’re certain this is real.”

“I’m not throwing anything away,” I protest, but even to my own ears it sounds weak.

“Have you even told Aggie yet?” Caleb asks.

“No.”

“Why not?”

I don’t have a good answer. “I don’t know. I guess I’m afraid she’ll tell me to go.”

“And that scares you,” Michael says. It’s not a question.

I stare at the ceiling, watching the shadows from the tree outside my window dance across it. “Yeah. It does.”

“That should tell you something,” Caleb says.

“I know,” I whisper. “But I also know I’ll regret not trying.”

The line goes quiet again. Too quiet.

“Just do some research on this lady,” Caleb warns. “Maybe you should find a lawyer or agent. Don’t sign anything until you’ve read it and understand it.”

“I know, I know,” I mutter.

“Does that mean you’re breaking up with the girl?” Michael asks.

“No. I’ll have her come to Memphis. She wants to move out of here. I’ll be making enough to support us. I can fly her out to Memphis if she doesn’t want to move. When I’m on tour, I’ll fly her to my shows.”

“Did you tell her that?” Michael asks.