Leaving Amarillo(89)
“I heard him,” I say evenly. “Through the window earlier. I know he’s being kind of an ass, but you know how he is about emotional situations.”
Robyn waves her hand. “I know. And it’s your grandfather’s funeral. Like I said, y’all don’t have to entertain folks and be friendly. You just lost a loved one. It’s understandable.”
Despite her words, I can hear the wounded undercurrent flowing beneath them. Whether she’ll admit it or not, Dallas hurt her feelings. Nearly three years might have passed since they were technically a couple, but I could still hear the affection in her voice. Contemplating their issues is a welcome relief from my own.
“He never said why y’all broke up. I don’t even think Gavin knows.”
Robyn takes an audible breath that morphs into a sigh. “Some days, I don’t even remember why. But mostly we were just young and heading in different directions. I was in college, and he wanted to focus more on the band. Dallas didn’t want to leave Papa all alone so soon after your grandma died and he wanted to work until he had enough money to pay for a demo. I think he thought y’all would have some substantial plans lined up for the band before you left for Houston.”
I frown even though she can’t see my face directly. “But we didn’t. We placed third in the State Fair Sound Off, which won us a thousand bucks but only really resulted in a few congratulatory handshakes since I’d already accepted my scholarship.”
Mandy’s words about me holding the band back steal into my mind.
“But now it sounds like things are looking up. For the band, at least.” I stiffen and Robyn pulls back to look at me. “Aren’t they?”
I try to force my shoulders to shrug nonchalantly. They’re too heavy to cooperate. “Sort of. Actually our new manager is not really mine or Oz’s biggest fan.”
“Why? What do you mean, not your biggest fan?”
“She suggested I sit out the encore at the showcase.”
Robyn’s perfectly sculpted eyebrows rise almost to her hairline. “Did you suggest she go f*ck herself?”
I can’t help but smile at her outrage. I shake my head. “No.” A heavy breath escapes, taking some of my shame at sitting out with it. Feels good to be able to tell someone. “I was nervous and kind of jittery so she said I should sit out and let Dallas have the spotlight. And she knew some stuff . . . about me and Gavin so . . .”
“So . . . there’s stuff about you and Garrison now? Stuff she used to blackmail you into sitting out? What the hell, Dix? That’s messed up.”
I sit up straighter and watch my fingers twist into my comforter. “Yeah. I know. It’s just, it was just one song and—”
“And nothing. Did you tell your brother?”
“Not exactly.”
“Dixie Leigh Lark. You need to talk to Dallas. Like sooner rather than later.”
I huff out my frustration and release the comforter. “And say what, Robyn? By the way, D, Gavin and I are sleeping together and our new manager threatened to tell you if I didn’t sit my ass down and stop blowing your shot at making it big?”
I squeeze my eyes shut so I don’t have to see the expression of shock on Robyn’s face.
“I see,” she says quietly. “So Garrison finally defied your brother and made a move. Can’t say I didn’t see it coming.”
“No,” I say softly while shaking my head. “I finally made a move.”
“Nice,” Robyn says grinning appreciatively at me. “Good for you, girl.”
“It’s complicated. With everything that’s happened, I have no idea where we stand.”
She smiles sympathetically at me. “I bet. But you’ll figure it out. And you’ve loved each other forever, I can’t imagine you won’t have a happy ending.”
“Enough about me,” I say, eager to push away the messy confusion building inside of me. “Tell me what’s been going on with you.”
Robyn’s eyes brighten several shades. “Um, I have the best job ever. And I just got a promotion. Midnight Bay is sponsoring Jason Wade’s next tour, and they just put me in charge of the promotional campaign.”
Midnight Bay Bourbon is a thriving liquor distributor out of Dallas that hired Robyn immediately after she interned there in college. I had no idea they were sponsoring Wade’s next tour. I’ve seen him a few times in concert but don’t know him personally.
“Robyn, that’s awesome. Jason Wade is a huge freaking deal. What’s he like?”
She shrugs and blushes. Robyn. Blushing. This is a new development.
“He’s kind of a flirt. But you know, that country-boy macho-swag persona. Who knows if he means half of what he says?”
“Who knows if any of them mean half of what they say?”
We laugh and talk about her job for a few more minutes and I am grateful for the distraction. But soon she has to go, and I am alone again with memories and ghosts.
Chapter 31
“I DON’T KNOW, DAMN IT. I TOLD YOU I’M GOING TO TALK TO HER.”
Raised voices nearby threaten to drag me from the safe womb of sleep and I try to burrow deeper into my covers.
“Because he was late and saw the encore where it was just the two of us. That’s all she said.”