Page 68 of Whiskey Lullaby
By the time I got home, Old Man’s lights were out, and he wasn’t in his yard. I was so busy staring at the dark windows I nearly missed the Mazda parked to the side of myhouse.
I slammed the door shut, glancing over at the car. “You know, you don’t answer your texts,” Daisy’s voice floated across the yard and I caught the cherry-red glow of her cigarette when she lifted it to herlips.
“Yeah, that’s the beauty of freewill.”
She rolled her eyes on a huff. “You’re adick.”
I feigned a bow as I step onto the porch. “What are you doinghere?”
“Well, that guy, Brice Taylor, that’s been trying to get in touch with you…” She took another drag, blowing a steady stream of white smoke through her lips. “He asked me to have a word with you since you keep hanging up onhim.”
How the hell does she know?I scrubbed my hand over the back of my neck, swatting at the mosquitoes still buzzing around. “How do you even know aboutthat?”
She laughed and tossed her cigarette down. “I told you my videos would make you famous oneday.”
“Yeah,right.”
“He saw the video and commented on it.” She pulled her phone from her pocket and swiped her finger over the screen. “Look.” She held up the phone and I took it from her with a roll of my eyes. Daisy was the type of girl who would do just about anything for attention. I stared down at the comment from a profile with the name: TheRealBriceTaylor. “Okay, so some dickhead made a fake profile to befunny.”
“No… he emailed me and said he loved your sound, something about looking for some new talent. I don’t know, but I gave him your number and you keep hanging up onhim.”
“It’s bullshit. Go home.” I crammed the key into my lock and opened the door. She of course followed me in, but I stopped in the doorway. “Daisy, look, I appreciate it, I do, but I’m justnot…”
She trailed a finger over my cheek and I jerked away from her touch. “You’re too humble, you knowit.”
“Would youleave?”
“He’s gonna call you again tomorrow.” She rolled one shoulder. “It could change yourlife.”
“And why do you evencare?”
“Jesus, I’ve had a thing for you since sixthgrade.”
“And?So…”
“All great love stories have asacrifice.”
Swiping my hand down my face, I groaned. “Daisy, that doesn’t even make sense. You aren’t sacrificingshit.”
“I just want you to be happy, for you to see how good you are at something.” She smiled, and I almost felt bad for being such a dick to her. “And besides, whether you like me or not, you have a great voice.” And then I did feelbad.
“Shit, Daisy… I, I’m sorry. Thankyou.”
She took a small step toward me, placing her hand on my chest.Give them an inch…I grabbed her wrist just as she pushed up on her tiptoes and closed hereyes.
“Just kiss me, one time.” She huffed. “I’ve earned that at least, haven’tI?”
I leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek. She groaned. “Wow. You really are adick.”
“Daisy, just go home.” I took her by the shoulders and shoved her back astep.
“Don’t forget where you came from, Noah Greyson.” She glared at me as she took a step back onto myporch.
“Oh, don’t worry about that.” And I shut the door in her face, locking thedeadbolt.
Halfway across my living room, I pulled my phone from my pocket and swiped through the received calls until it landed on the number with no contact information. 615. I typed the area code into Google. Sure enough, it was a Nashville number.What thefuck?
My heart banged against my ribs, adrenaline flooded my system. It couldn’t be legit. It couldn’t be real. I glanced around my shitty house and through the window at Old Man’s house. Itcouldn’t…
