Page 191 of Movers and Shakers

“Are you sure?” he asked. “Because Selena and Max are hanging out with Lynn, and I have nothing but time.”

“Why are they hanging out with Lynn?”

“I sent them to. I wanted to be sure you were all right.”

“Oh.” I blinked. “You care that much?”

“We’ve been through enough that youknowI do.”

“It’s still weird, you know. We’ve fought or ignored each other for so long that I’m still shocked when it’s not like that anymore.”

“It’s going to take time to adjust, but the more we talk, the easier it’ll get. Can I come in?”

I nodded, stepping aside. I shut the door behind me, knowing we were free to discuss whatever we needed to.

“Something is going on with the tour,” I admitted. “Something I can fix in the short-term.”

“Then do it.”

“But this problem will still be there after, and I can’t do this and be at Movers and Shakers simultaneously.”

“I’m guessing this is music-related.”

“Yes. And I care about it so much that I could almost leave Nashville for it. But I made something back home. I need to stay there.”

“Wow,” was all he said.

“You think that I should stick with the bar, right?”

“Why would I think that?”

“It’s my responsibility.”

“It’s still your bar . . . unless you’re thinking about selling. And from what I’ve heard, you have a good team.”

“But I should be there in the flesh, working.”

“Working? That sounds like something Dad would say.”

“You know what I mean. I’m sure Todd and Mom were waiting for me to step away, but they’d want me to go to college. I promised myself I could never do this.”

“Things have changed, though. You have an opportunity that you want. Go for it.”

“For the record, I’d be backstage. I’m not . . . No one willseeme.”

“Do you want them to?”

Yes.

But I couldn’t say that out loud.

Tom got the message anyway.

“If I know one thing about you,” he said, “it’s that you’re the most creative of us. This problem you have? I have no doubt you’ll find some way out of it.”

“But I have no ideas this time.”

“Give it time. Put away any expectations you have. No matter what you do, we’ll be proud.”

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