Page 1 of Lexi Lets Go

Prologue

Sweat dripped off Liam's body as he left the stage. He had played his set and the last encore in the scorching heat. The energy of the audience had kept him going, but now he was about to collapse. He grabbed a water bottle someone put in his hand and drained it. Some of the water spilled out of his mouth intermingling with the sweat that already soaked through his shirt.

"You have someone in your trailer, Mr. James," said a stagehand as they handed him another bottle of water.

"Thanks," he said as he walked toward his trailer. "Make sure you're staying hydrated too, it's a scorcher," he called back to the stagehand.

"Thank you, Mr. James."

Liam made his way through the dust-covered rows of trailers until he came to his.

"Liam," his manager called, “You have time for a quick shower and maybe a short nap. Once the buses are loaded up we are hitting the road. I left some food in your refrigerator when you want it. I’ll be by to get you when we are ready. Probably ninety minutes or so."

"Thanks, Jacinda. I'll be ready," he said as he climbed the steps to his trailer. He opened the door and there sitting at the table was a short round woman with wild red hair.

"Hello Mr. James, I was told ye wanted to see me," she said in a thick Scottish brogue. Her eyes twinkled with a knowing look as she shuffled the cards in her hand.

"Yeah, thanks for coming over. I heard you tell a good fortune," he said with his million-dollar smile.

"I've been known to tell a fortune or two in my day," she quipped.

She gestured to the empty chair and Liam sat. "Now, what is it yer wanting the cards to tell ye?"

His mind raced. What didn't he want the cards to tell him? Even though he was only twenty-six, he was one of the most successful performers on the planet. He loved his job, he loved his music, and above all else he loved his fans, but something was still missing. It felt like he had just been going through the motions. He still loved performing, but he hadn't written anything in over a year. He had lost his inspiration. He was willing to try anything at this point, and this delightful woman across from him might be able to guide him back to his muses.

"I'm just trying to find my muse again. My creativity is blocked," he said as he ran his hand through his sweat-dampened hair.

"I see, well let's see what the cards have to say about that." The woman started shuffling a well-loved tarot deck. “Cut the cards, lad,” she said, setting the cards on the table before. After he did, she picked the cards up and started flipping.

“The first card will represent your past.” The card had a large heart with three large swords all stabbed into it. “Oh my,” she said, giving him a sympathetic look, “The Three of Swords is a card of heartbreak and loneliness, but also one of betrayal. Someone has not had your best interest at heart, and it appears to have caused you some heartbreak.”

Liam just nodded. He’d had his fair share of heartbreak, but that was public knowledge. That is what his whole album was about. The heartbreak that had all been caused because of a very public scandal.

“This next card will represent your present,” she said as she turned over the next card. There on the card before him sat a skeleton riding a horse and holding a giant sickle. The death card.

“Never fear, dear. This card may look big and scary, but this is quite possibly my favorite card in the deck. This is a card of transformation. A card of leaving behind things that no longer serve you and getting a new beginning. A fresh start to maybe recovering from the heartache and loneliness of this card,” she said pointing to the card next to it.

“Now let’s see what the future holds,” she said as she held up a third card. She looked at it and hummed with a content smile. Before her lay a hand stretching out from the clouds holding a single stave. “Never fear lad, your muse will be returning to you shortly.”

“Really?” he asked, maybe there was some hope after all.

“That’s what the cards say, this card is a renewed sense of energy. You will find your north star, and you will steer your own ship with renewed energy,” she said with such certainty, Liam found himself hoping it was true.

“So, I know things have been broken down, life is full of heartaches, but I think you will find the perfect spot for renewal, wash it all away in the rain and the waterfall, and then you will find what you need for your next phase. I think you will find a new love to be your inspiration. Then I think the creativity will flow but will be different this time.”

That may not have made sense to him, but for the first time in a long time, he was hopeful. He had a few more shows, then he would spend a month at home with his family in Ohio before getting ready for the last leg of his tour which would end in NYC in the summer. After that, he didn’t know what was next, but if this lovely woman in front of him was correct, his muse would return, and he would know the direction to take things.

After his reading and his shower, Liam got on his tour bus heading to the next city. He had been told to watch who he trusted and be on the lookout for love. It seemed like pretty stereotypical advice to tell a person in his situation. And as much as he loved being in love, his life right now just didn't allow for it. Still, he did find himself pondering her words late into the night as he lay in his bed strumming his guitar as they barreled down the highway.

Chapter1

Lexi

The inn door shut behind Lexi as she made her way to her car. She looked at her watch. Six o’clock. Not bad. She had been staying late at work the past couple of weeks. Okay, that was a lie, she had been staying late at work since her promotion a couple of years ago. She knew this inn backwards and forwards, and she found some sense of fulfillment here. If she was being honest, it was a good thing because that fulfillment was missing from every other part of her life.

She made her way to her car and flung her lunch bag and purse onto the passenger seat. Putting the keys in the ignition she heard her phone beep in her purse. She wasn't even out of the parking lot, surely it wasn't work yet, and if it wasn't work there was only one other person it could be... well, two people.

Josh- Hey Lex, I know it's short notice, but I'm tossing some pork chops on the grill. I have one here with your name on it.

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