Page 50 of Sing Your Heart Out

Mellie gasps, her hands flying up to her mouth. Smith flinches a little but nods silently.

“Mellie, congratulations,” Dwayne says. “It has been a pleasure to listen to what you’ve turned out over the last few weeks. The prize money and the recording contract are yours. You deserve them.”

Wiping my eyes, I clap hard as hell for Mellie. She grins, standing up and throwing her hands straight up in the air.

“My wife is going to be so excited,” she cries. “I should go call her first thing.”

She rushes to the back door, pulling her phone out of her pocket as she goes.

I stand up, so does Smith. He doesn’t even make conversation with Dee and Dwayne now, nor does he try to talk to me.

Instead he simply bows and walks away toward the foyer.

I suck in a breath and paste on a smile. “Thank you both,” I say to Dee and Dwayne. “It was such an honor working here. I don’t even have words to describe it, honestly. I’m just really really thankful.”

My heart aches in my chest as Smith disappears out of the room.

“Oh, honey. We are definitely going to offer you a spot with our company.” Dwayne comes over and hugs me. “You were meant to be a songwriter, sweetness. And I really hope that we can watch you blossom.”

Now I really start to cry. “Are you for real?” I hiccup.

Dwayne nods. “Yeah. We want all four of y’all that were in the final round today to come work with us.”

“Oh my god,” I whisper, tears in my eyes. “I can’t believe that this is really happening to me!”

“Believe it,” Dee calls out.

Looking to where Smith disappeared, I bite my lip. Should I go talk to him?

Even after all the thing he said to me last night?

“Sarah?”

I turn my head and see Mellie beaming at me from across the room.

“Hey, Mellie.” I sniff, trying to calm down. “If it couldn’t be me, at least it was you. Congratulations.”

I hurry over to give her a hug. Mellie returns it with a laugh.

“Thanks man. I’m actually pretty blown away by this, I’m not going to lie.” She looks over at Dwayne and Dee, who are engrossed in their own conversation. “Did they talk to you about working with me yet?”

“Uhhh… a little. I didn’t get any details, though…”

Mellie grins. “You and me, making some ass kicking country music. I’m heading to LA tomorrow to start writing, if you’re free.”

I pause. But I refuse to look toward the foyer again. If Smith doesn’t care about me, I should for sure make any and all plans that are wagged in front of my nose.

“Absolutely,” I say, clearing my throat. “I’m free and clear, no plans on the horizon at all.”

She arches a brow. “What about Smith?”

I give her the tiniest shake of my head. “I don’t think that will be a factor at all, going forward. It’s just me. A…” I gulp in a breath to steady myself. “A single girl, ready to make it in the world. Okay?”

Mellie hugs me again. “Men are trash.”

“They are!” I say, leaning against her.

“We’re going to kick some ass and take some names. You’ll see.” She rocks me a little.

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