Loving Dallas(44)

I can’t even argue with him so I just nod. “I think dedication is important when it comes to making it in the music business. The window of opportunity is fairly small, so I had to jump when it opened.”

“Definitely,” Kim says, chiming in to agree with me.

“And your band didn’t want to jump with you?”

I grip my knee tightly under the table to keep myself and my temper under control. Telling Ricky Ray to f*ck off on national radio would probably not go over well.

“It had a lot to do with timing. Both my sister and my drummer had other obligations they needed to see to at the time.”

Kim’s voice is more curious and less accusatory when she inquires about Leaving Amarillo. “Do you think y’all might ever get back together? Or is Dallas Walker a lone road warrior from here on out?”

Good question. “I wish I knew the answer to that.” I focus on the mic in front of me. “Right now I’m just taking it one day a time.”

“One show at a time,” she corrects playfully.

“Exactly.”

“We posted about your visit to the studio today,” Ricky breaks in. “On our Facebook page. The most frequent comments we’re seeing are from local listeners wondering why you left your band to go it alone when it seemed like the natural next step would be for Leaving Amarillo to be on this tour instead of Dallas Walker. What would you say to those critics?”

It’s none of your f*cking business.

Sweat forms on my neck and drips into the collar of my shirt. I shove my shirtsleeves upward on my forearms and take a fortifying breath. “Well, honestly, all I can say is sometimes things don’t work out how you expect them to. Sometimes life gets in the way and you don’t get exactly what you want. But I am really and truly blessed to be on this tour and I don’t take anything for granted. I’m grateful for all of the fans and the listeners and people who’ve never even heard of me who will hopefully give me a chance.”

“There you have it, ladies and gentlemen. Dallas Walker.” Ricky is back to using his announcer voice. “We’re going to break for some music, including Dallas’s hit single, ‘Better to Burn,’ then we’ll be back to take your questions.”

Once Ricky takes his earphones out, I do the same. I don’t want to sit around and take questions. I want to get the hell out of here before anyone else asks about Dixie and Gavin. Those questions aren’t mine to answer anyway.

“Do I have time to get some air?”

Kim gives me a sympathetic look. “Not really. But we’re almost done here. A few minutes of questions and you’re free.”

Ricky laughs like I’ve asked something amusing.

“Spotlight gettin’ too bright for you already, Walker? Better buck up, son. It’s only going to get hotter from here.”

After this live interview I have several more via phone. He’s right. It will only get more intense.

The blonde from before taps on the glass and points at Ricky as soon as he steps back into the booth. She counts down from five on her right hand, then nods.

“And we’re back with Dallas Walker,” Ricky announces suddenly. “Dallas, we checked out fan feedback and we have another tough question for you.”

“Oh good,” I say, doing my best to sound like I’m playing it cool instead of letting the dread I feel deepen my tone.

Kim laughs but there is sympathy in her smile this time. “So this question comes primarily from the ladies, but a few fellas wanted to know as well.”

I hold my breath and keep my expression blank while I wait.

Kim tilts her head to the side. “We’re all dying to know, is there a special girl out there? Someone you’re missing while you’re out on the road?”

Robyn’s face flashes behind my eyes. I can’t help but wonder if she’s listening. Mandy’s warnings about encroaching on Jase’s territory come to mind as well and it pisses me off that I even have the thought.

We said we were keeping it casual. Surely Robyn will understand. Even if we were heavily involved I’m not the type to go announcing it on national radio. She knows this. She knows me. She was the one who specified that we keep this to ourselves for the sake of both of our jobs. But it still feels like a lie.

Rubbing my sweaty palms on my jeans I chuckle lightly. “Nah. Not really. Right now I’m just focusing on the music.”

“Well there you have it, ladies. And, er, gentlemen,” Ricky says with a hearty laugh. “Dallas Walker is a single man.”

“I bet that makes a lot of women happy to hear tonight,” Kim says.

Maybe.

It probably didn’t bring joy to one woman in particular, though. I pull my phone out of my pocket as soon as I exit the building, hoping against hope that she’s home.





26 | Robyn

WHEN THE TOUR HEADS TO TEXAS, I’M GRATEFUL FOR THE TIME to sleep in my own bed. The schedule has been grueling and nights with Dallas haven’t included a lot of actual sleep. Not that I’m complaining.

As much as I want to crash for the entire weekend, the first thing I do when I arrive home is have lunch and go shopping with my mom. I fill her in about Dallas being on the tour and she sort of half-yells at me for not calling her with this news sooner.

Sitting across from me at our favorite Tex-Mex place, she adjusts the vibrant pink scarf covering her head and gapes at me. “Are you sure you’re okay with this? Working with him after everything?”