Page 6 of Fresh Tracks
I’m a musician who spends more time fishing and managing my real estate holdings than I do making or playing music.
“Remind me why we’re friends again?”
He shakes his head, still smirking at me. “I’m pretty sure it’s because you have a thing for the pasta at Gloria’s and you spend an unhealthy amount of time at the chef’s tasting counter. You know,mycounter? Speaking of…” He checks the time on his phone and slaps his thigh. “I have food to prep.”
“Ass.” I call after him when he turns to leave. He flips me the bird over his shoulder before shutting the door behind him.
This is why I like him and his brothers. Yeah, we do business together. But that started after I was friends with Sutton. They don’t give a damn that I’m famous, and they will never stop giving me shit.
Looking at my phone, I realize what time it is.
Three hours until the wedding.
It’s only going to get more hectic as the day goes on. I turn back toward the window, looking out at the guesthouse with the mountains towering in the background. Like a reflex, my eyes drift back to the door, hoping to catch another glimpse or flash of that colorful hair.
I shake my head and peel my gaze away from the window, trying to clear those memories out of my head.
Those eyes. That voice. That smile.
What is wrong with me?
I let out a long, ragged sigh before looking around my studio. I key in on the guitar that Sutton was messing with. A decade ago, that's what I’d do right now to distract myself.
But now? I just want to crawl away and enjoy my peace and quiet.
Yeah. Maybe that’s what I’ll do. I can just lock the door to the studio and come out when everyone has left and I have my house back to myself again.
But no, I can't do that. My friends are here. Myrealfriends. Not like the ones from years ago that just clung on to me because of Teal Tigers, my fame, and my money.
No, the Chapmans are genuine friends. Now V, her brother, Collin, and Lizzy are too. They are real friends and couldn’t care less about any of that stuff. And even Sutton too, I’m glad he’s here. I’d even list Grace as a friend, but I don’t think that’s quite the right word.
No. I think she’s something else entirely.
And that’s why I’m going to power through and be here for their wedding today. Even if there’s a certain distraction looming around here that I clearly haven't been able to get out of my head over the last seven months.
It’s just a few hours and then I can go back to my nice, quiet, calm life.
I haveto give Tanner and V credit. When he said she’s a fanatical planner and detail oriented, he meant it. She spent the last two days with her best friend, Lizzy, transforming the open living space of my house into an intimate wedding venue. My large living room, entryway, and dining room with the floor to ceiling windows looking out over the mountains now has seating for forty. I told them they could probably invite more, but she said she was keeping it small and with the way she laid it out, the house looks like it was designed as a damned wedding venue.
Standing in the kitchen, I keep my distance, quietly nursing a beer and watching the last guests trickle in.
“Shouldn't we get seated? It looks like everyone is here,” Sutton whispers.
I look over to shoot him a glare, but he’s still focused on putting the finishing touches on the hors d’oeuvres for the casual cocktail hour they wanted instead of a formal dinner.
“Yeah. You’re probably right.” I take the last sip of my beer and toss it in the recycling. “You sitting on the groom’s side?”
Sutton nods, but keeps his attention on perfectly placing the last garnish on the tower of bite sized snacks. I groan, clearly impatient waiting on my friend.
He chuckles to himself. “Hold your horses. You’re awfully antsy for someone that doesn’t even like going to these kinds ofthings.” He finishes and wipes his hands off on his apron before taking it off and setting it aside. “There. All done.”
I shake my head and start to make our way to our seats. Sutton is right behind me when we take two spots in the back row. From here, I have an even better view of how V and Lizzy decorated my place.
The seats are laid out to capitalize on the angular shape of the room, almost making it look like a cathedral to the mountains outside, with the small, white altar right in front of the windows. Sprigs of evergreens are placed throughout the space and with it being late in the afternoon, facing the Northwest like this, the mountains are framed by the glowing sunset.
I always joked with the architect about the million dollar views from every room, but shit, this is a billion dollar view. And it should be, as much as I spent on building this place.
“Do you think our boy, Chap, cries?” Sutton whispers playfully into my ear, grabbing my attention away from admiring the view that never gets old.
