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)
Oak and pine trees. A plethora of local businesses, like the old ice cream parlor owned by an elderly couple I frequented in the summer, and the boutique owned by a single mom of one of my high school friends where I bought the dress I wore for my first record label meeting. Downtown only being one street. There wasn’t much here.
As a kid, the only thing that I could do was go to school, hang out at home, or spend time with friends. There was nothing else around. There wasn’t even a movie theater. Singing in choir at school was the only musical outlet available to me, along with the periodic play held at the local theater.
It felt like I had no chance of growing there. I wasn’t interested in teaching at the local high school. I didn’t want to work at the pharmacy or the doctor’s clinic. I wanted to get out and start my singing career, but my only way of doing that was to leave. Being here again just felt like a step backward.
The driver of the black sedan that picked me up at the airport that was forty-five minutes away took me all the way to Overton Ranch, which I was very familiar with. I spent more time here with Brianna and Ryder than at my own house where my parents judged my every move, wishing that I would settle for a boring life.
The ranch essentially looked the same, besides a new, small building that was next to the main house. I had no clue what that was for, but since I would be stuck here for a few weeks, I figured I would find out. Once the car rolled to a stop, I thanked the driver, grabbed my suitcase next to me, and got out of the car.
I faced the front of the house, my heart racing as ghosts of my old memories flickered in front of my eyes. I saw Brianna and I gossiping on the front porch. I saw Ryder and I rushing out of the front door to grab our bikes and head into town. I saw the three of us carrying all of the food, drinks, and decorations into the house for my eighteenth birthday party.
I saw it all.
Then, the front door swung open. A taller version of Ryder with more lean muscle under his red and black flannel shirt and dark jeans stepped onto the porch. To my surprise, he grinned at me and bounded down the steps to walk toward me. It almost seemed like he was going to sweep me into a hug, but he paused two feet away from me.
“Wow, you look great, Delilah,” he said as he gestured to me.
I glanced down at myself, having picked out a white summer dress that came down right above my knees with a tan belt around my waist.
“Oh, thank you. You too,” I replied, offering him a polite smile.
On the inside, my heart was hammering rapidly, my cheeks heating up at the sight of him. It was like he was greeting an old friend, and I was a bit weirded out. I didn’t know how to act. He’d broken my heart, and I was supposed to act buddy-buddy with him.
“Thank you for agreeing to make this song with us. We’re all really excited,” Ryder told me with a genuine sound to his voice.
“Thanks for thinking of me,” I said. “I wasn’t sure if you guys heard of me back at home.”
Ryder chuckled.
“People dote on you all the time. I hear your songs played in the local shops,” he replied.
My eyebrows lifted in surprise. I honestly didn’t expect to hear that. I thought everyone here had forgotten about me after I left.
“What about you guys? It seems like you’ve hit it off here too judging by your stats,” I told him.
Ryder shrugged.
“Yeah, we’re doing pretty good. We’re able to tour a little in the region, but we’re trying to reach farther. I think our collaboration could help both of us,” he explained before glancing over his shoulder at the door. “The guys are inside if you’re up to meeting them and having dinner with us.”
I didn’t expect to jump into it so quickly, but I figured I needed to meet the rest of the band I would be working with for the next two weeks. Hopefully, I could get along with them. I nodded and followed him inside, my eyes sweeping over the interior. Again, not much had changed.
“I liked how things looked when we were younger,” Ryder said once he saw my eyes darting around. “My girlfriend, Kerrie, added some decorations, but that’s about it.”
Girlfriend.
For some reason, hearing that felt like a punch to the stomach. Of course, I should’ve figured that a handsome guy like him had a girlfriend. He looked even better than he did a few years ago, having grown into his body more and styled his hair into a slight faux hawk.