Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 57804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
“This is Jesse Dean’s little girl, right? Are you two together?” Laura asked me as she nodded to Maria.
My blood rushed cold for a second. I didn’t even realize how this looked.
“Oh, no. He’s just… a friend. I’m doing him a favor while he’s out of town,” I explained, trying not to stumble over my words. “I’m recording a song with his band.”
Laura’s eyebrows shot up.
“Oh, yes! You’re all the talk of the town,” she told me. “Everyone is so excited to hear the new song.”
My face warmed slightly in pride. At least the local reception was good. I wasn’t used to so much support around here, but it had been proven to me time and time again that things had changed here.
“You won’t have to wait much longer,” I promised her.
Laura nudged my arm with an excited look on her face.
“You’ll have to perform at the annual fall festival. I work on the festival committee,” Laura told me. “I’d love to grab coffee with you whenever you’re not busy. We can talk about the festival, and I know the local radio people. We can do some promotion for the new song!”
I gave her a surprised look.
“Really?” I asked her.
Laura laughed like I told a joke. She handed me her business card before taking her son’s hand.
“See you soon, Delilah. Everyone is glad you’re home,” she told me before heading out of the restaurant, leaving me with a confused expression.
“That was John. He’s my friend,” Maria said, snapping me out of my dazed thoughts.
I realized that she must’ve been referring to the little boy who she had been talking with. They must’ve been classmates.
“He seems really nice,” I replied with a bright smile, my heart fluttering slightly. I used to go to the fall festival all the time as a kid. Watching the local artists perform on stage was one of the experiences that solidified my dream of becoming an artist myself. It would be full circle to get to perform on that same stage.
Honestly, it felt like quite a few things were falling into place, but did the pieces actually fit? Was I meant to fall for these men? To reconsider my thoughts on this town?
The answers to those questions weren’t obvious, but what I did know was that I hadn’t felt so happy and at home in quite a long time.
Chapter 17
Carson
A mixture of savory smells filled the ranch house as Delilah and I stood in front of the stove together, our arms brushing and our laughter mingling.
“He wrote an entire song for me just to ask me out,” Delilah said, continuing her story about a desperate new country star who wanted to take her out.
“Did you say yes?” I asked her as I shifted the blackened chicken around in the pan.
Delilah nodded as she watched over the mashed potatoes.
“And he ended up being very weird. I think the song should’ve been a red flag for me,” she laughed.
I cracked an amused grin and shook my head.
“If I was going to ask you out, I would do something very special,” I told her.
Delilah lifted an eyebrow at me.
“Like what?” she questioned me.
I shrugged playfully.
“Well, I’d bring you somewhere private away from everyone. Maybe that lake on the outskirts of town,” I told her as I angled my body more to face her. “Dinner on a blanket at sunset. Some sparkling cider because I’m a bore.”
Delilah gave me a pointed look before placing her hand on my arm.
“You’re not a bore because you don’t want to drink alcohol. I’m proud of you for staying sober. I know it isn’t easy,” she said in a soft voice.
My eyes locked with hers as my heart rate started to ramp up. Something about her telling me that she was proud of me nearly knocked the air out of my lungs. Maybe it was because she truly meant those words. She rooted for me, and that meant the world to me because it was hard.
At times, especially when I was stressed about music or just life in general, I thought about having a drink. Tossing months of work away for a burning sip. It made my mouth water. My throat grow tight. But I fought off the urge, and I didn’t want to fail her. She was my new inspiration.
“I wanted to do this dinner tonight with you and the guys because today marks a year since I decided to be sober,” I told her.
Delilah’s eyes grew wide as she cupped my face, turning away from the stove.
“Why didn’t you say anything? I would’ve gotten a cake or at least some balloons,” she worried out loud.
I smiled and placed my hands on hers.
“It’s fine. I didn’t want to make it a big deal. I just wanted to be with the people who mean the most to me,” I replied.