Page 96 of Between Never and Forever
“Hey, Dusty,” I call out, “how about you head back to work and let her dad know we’re right behind you. I’m just going to sign this magazine for her.”
“Uh, um, I can wait,” Dustin says, uncertainty lacing his every syllable.
He knows he fucked up now, but what’s he expect? Taking blind orders from a sassy seven-year-old. I bet she really is smarter than her dad. I bet she’s smarter than a lot of people, Dustin definitely included.
I give him a suggestive smile, bat my eyelashes a little, and drop my voice a bit.
“It’s okay, Dusty. You did great bringing her here. We’ll be right behind you.”
He blinks at me a few times, jerks his head in a nod, then looks at Brynn.
“Right behind me, okay, Boss?”
Brynn salutes him, and I can’t hold back my laugh. I don’t wait for old Rusty Dusty to drive away. Instead, I move to the side and gesture Brynn into the trailer.
“C’mon on in here, ya little troublemaker.”
She just smirks and skips inside, then I turn to Red.
“Hey, text Dakota and tell her I need a golf cart, will ya?”
He eyes me suspiciously. “What are you up to, kid?”
I shrug.
“Just having a little fun, Red. Don’t be a fun sucker, okay?”
From inside the trailer, I hear a bark that sounds like it came from my very excitable, rude dog, then a grunt followed by giggles that sound like they came from a sassy seven-and-three-quarters-year-old. I rush inside and find Brynn on the floor with Ziggy lick attacking her.
“Ziggy Lou Stardust, get off,” I command, but she ignores me like a jerk.
“It’s okay,” Brynn says through giggles, “I like dogs.”
I watch them for a few seconds, and when Ziggs starts to chill a little, I walk to the counter and flip through Brynn’s magazine, finding the article on my band to sign. Red walks back inside, sliding his phone into his pocket, and gives me a scolding look. I narrow my eyes at him and resist the urge to stick my tongue out.
Fun sucker,I mouth. He just shakes his head.
“Whoa,” Brynn says, and when I look up from finishing the final S in my name, I find Brynn staring at my acoustic in the corner.
My signature white custom Gibson is locked in a closet back at the rental, but the beat up acoustic in the corner has been with me since the beginning.
“Is this the guitar you debuted ‘Just One More’ on at your show in D.C.?”
My jaw drops and I flick my eyes to Red. He’s eating his club sandwich, but has stopped mid-chew, just as shocked as I am.
“Yep.”
That’s all I can say.Yep. This kid was barely a toddler when we played that show. Plus, she saiddebuted. I don’t if I’m more impressed or flattered.
I watch as she reaches her hand out and hovers it over the strings, but never touches them. Like it’s something holy, and that gets me. To me, itisholy. It’s the closest to church I’ve ever gotten. That guitar.
I walk over and stand next to her.
“You know how to play?” I ask, and she shakes her head, glancing from the guitar to me and back. “You should learn.”
She whips her eyes to mine and her question comes out so rushed that it sounds like one big word.
“Canyouteachme?”
