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)
“Ah, don’t be so close-minded,” Amos said as he waved his hand dismissively at the other two. “I think it’d be fun to sing with someone else. I’m a sucker for harmonies.”
“Same. Let’s spice things up,” Carson chuckled as he lifted his eyebrows playfully. He had enough energy for the whole band, but even the older guys could give him a run for his money when they got on stage.
“I’ve looked at a few possible singers, and they’re all great in their own right. I just think we’re at a point where we could start tapping into other artists’ fan bases,” I explained. Most of my decision was business-focused, but there was a personal touch as well.
Instead of a few singers being on my mind, the only one who took residence there was none other than Delilah Harrington, my sister’s old friend. I didn’t mean to fall in love with her when we were young and free-spirited, but who could resist that glowing face and beautiful voice? She was damn near like an angel, but I didn’t want to clip her wings.
She had a record label offering her the deal of a lifetime for a small town artist, but she was as hooked on me as I was on her. She wanted to be with me, to explore a life together. Hell, I wanted it too. I craved it, but I knew how much she loved music too.
I couldn’t let her pass up a deal like that. What if she denied it and later regretted it? Started resenting me? My conscience refused to let me stand by and watch her brush away her future for me, so I took matters into my own hands and disappeared for a little while until she left to go to New York.
Until she became the person she had always wanted to be.
“So, no one specific in mind?” Carson asked as he cocked an eyebrow at me. The others gave him pointed looks, but he was the newest in the band and in our friend group. He forgot things.
“No, this is strictly business. I have a girlfriend, who I should be getting home to now,” I told him, making my voice as firm as I could. I just wished I could say those words with more emotion, more pride.
Kerrie, my girlfriend of a few years, was a great woman with a bubbly, bold spirit who could make a grumpy man grin, but I wasn’t sure if she was great for me. I didn’t exactly miss her during the day when we were apart. We didn’t really go out of our way to go on many dates. We just sort of… existed together.
“Have fun with that. See you guys tomorrow,” Carson quipped before throwing up the rock and roll sign and heading out of the studio.
“I’m glad that kid is sober now, or he’d be stirring up trouble all over town,” Jesse said with a smirk. “I need to go relieve my babysitter. Maria is probably missing me like crazy at this point.”
“Tell her Uncle Ryder says hey,” I told Jesse as we bumped our fists. Jesse was the best father to his daughter and was a single parent since he and his ex-wife split up a while ago.
“Will do. Later,” Jesse said, nodding to Wyatt and Amos, who were already changing their boots for running shoes.
“You should join us for a run sometime, Ryder. Good for clearing your head,” Wyatt commented as he laced up his black shoes.
Amos remained quiet as he fidgeted with his fitness watch. He knew what Wyatt meant by that, and so did I.
Maybe it was because we were around each other so much, but some of the guys had started to notice how unenthusiastic I could be about my relationship at times. A tingle of guilt occupied the back of my mind, but I shook it away. I cared a lot about Kerrie. Not every moment between us had to be one full of fireworks, and that was okay. That was realistic.
“See you,” I merely said before heading out of the studio and walking twenty feet over to my actual ranch house. Behind it was my field of cattle, along with a large farmhouse with all of the equipment and supplies I needed to take care of my land and animals, and a cattle shed. It was a lot of work, but it kept me from just sitting and strumming all the time. At twenty-seven, I needed to be active and not let the twenty-eight-year-olds outrun me by that much.
I stepped inside of the two-story house made out of board and batten siding with windows with white borders. The floor plan was open with wood flooring, modern appliances, and vintage lighting. There were two guest bedrooms, a large couch in the living room, and a sleeper sofa in the den, so the band stayed over from time to time if we had a late night or planned for an early morning studio session.