Our Song Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title

  Copyright

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  About the Author

  Our Song

  A Country Music Novella

  By Casey Peeler

  Copyright © 2014 Casey Peeler

  All rights reserved.

  This book is a written act of fiction. Any places, characters, or similarities are purely coincidence. If certain places or characters are referenced it is for entertainment purposes only. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  The author recognizes all copyright and trademarks that are mentioned within this work of fiction

  Interior Formatting by Cassy Roop at Pink Ink Designs

  AS I HIT THE LAST NOTE of my most current single, the crowd goes wild, and the stage goes dark. “Thank you, Charlotte! Now put your hands together for Jake Bryant!”

  Exiting the stage, I glance over my shoulder into the crowd and cannot believe how my life has changed in the last six months. It wasn’t long ago that I spent my weekends hitting up every local country bar within a hundred mile radius of Lattimore trying to make a name for myself. Little did I know that Cole, the manager of my favorite country bar, Coyote Joe’s, had made sure that a certain country music god caught a glimpse of me at their amateur night.

  Walking down the hall backstage, I come face-to-face with the country music god himself. “Don’t worry, Belle. This never gets old. You do know that before long you’re gonna be closing a show down.”

  “Thanks, Jake. But I’m just gonna enjoy this ride right now. I’ll see ya from the crowd,” I say with a wink.

  Hurrying to my dressing room, I make a quick trip into the powder room, change into clothes a little less divaish and hurry back to find a spot in the crowd. I honestly think I could watch Jake Bryant every single night on that stage, and not just for the way that his ass looks in those jeans either. He has one of the best voices in country music today. It’s like sweet honey to my ears, and I swear, it gets sweeter every time I hear it.

  As I grab my water, I hear the voices of thousands of screaming fans, and with the first downbeat of his current number one hit, every word is being sung by Jake and the crowd. Gah! That’s got to be the best feeling ever. I walk double time to make my way out into the crowd. Security knows exactly what I’m up to. Since the first day I began touring with Jake, once my set is over, I enjoy his show just like everyone else, directly in the pit. One perk is that I always get a good spot thanks to security.

  As Jake slows it down, I laugh when he finds my eyes in the crowd and then winks. Of course, all the girls around me think it’s for them, but I know that it’s for me. The truth is, Jake Bryant has become my best friend since the day he signed me to his tour. He’s the complete opposite of what I expected a country mega star to act like; he’s a perfect gentleman. Maybe it’s due to the close quarters we endure while traveling, but he is an absolute sweetheart, and I’ll take that fine ass any day!

  I sing along with the crowd to every song, sway my hips back and forth, and lift my drink at the appropriate times. When the next to the last song in the set begins, I make my way back out of the crowd and to the stage entrance. I finish watching the show from the side of the stage.

  As Jake finishes his finale, he takes a bow and runs offstage toward me. He lifts me off the ground and spins me around.

  “Glad to see me?” I ask.

  “You have no idea what it’s like to look out into the crowd and find eyes that you know. Really know, Belle.”

  “If I didn’t know better, Mr. Bryant, I’d think somebody had a crush.”

  “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you liked it.”

  “What can I say? I’m a sucker for a country boy in tight ass jeans that knows how to work a stage.”

  Jake puts me down, and we start to make our way to sign autographs. This makes for a long night, but at least we have a few days off before hitting the road again. The big man upstairs must have been looking out for me because I can go home for a few days. That means no tour bus, cameras, hotel rooms, or getting decked out to the nines every night. I get to see my family and friends, be myself, and enjoy life as a normal twenty-two year old.

  “So, Jake, what have you got planned for your days off?”

  “Well, I guess I’m gonna just stay on the bus. Why?”

  “Well, I was thinkin’.”

  “Oh lord, you’re thinkin’?” he asks as he stops and crosses his arms.

  “Yeah, well, I was thinkin’ about goin’ home for a few days. I mean, it’s like thirty minutes from here. Honestly, I can’t believe more of my family and friends didn’t show up tonight.”

  “Um, Belle. You might wanna turn around.”

  As I turn around, I’m met by everyone that is important to me—my parents, my brother Beau, and my friends Lyndsay and Chase from Coyote Joe’s.

  Lyndsay and I do the same squeal, dance in place, and then rush to each other. Chase and Beau laugh, and Mama and Daddy just shake their heads.

  “Oh my gosh, y’all! I didn’t even know y’all were here! I didn’t see you in the seats I left for ya’ll.”

  “Well, that’s because Jake found us some a little closer.” Spinning around, I find Jake and place my hands on my hips. “You pulled this stunt, Jake Bryant?”

  Smiling, he answers, “Guilty.”

  “I freakin’ love you!”

  “Whoa now, Belle. Don’t go droppin’ a four-letter word over some concert tickets.”

  “Aw, hush! So, y’all wanna head to the bus? We have to sign a few autographs real quick.”

  “Sure, honey,” Mama says. As they walk to the bus, Jake and I make our way to fifty screaming fans.

  After we finish signing the last autograph and security whisks us away, I realize how tired I really am. I can’t wait to see my family, but honestly, I just want a caramel coffee from Dunkin Donuts and my bed.

  “I’ll let you have some time with your family. What was it that you were gonna say earlier?”

  “Oh, I was thinkin’ ‘bout goin’ home for a few days or so. I just need a little groundin’, ya know? I didn’t know what you were planning, but thought if you were in need of some home cookin’ and a real bed you might wanna come, too.”

  Jake stops, and I turn to face him.

  “If you can promise me that I won’t have a million teenage girls after me, we have a deal.”

  “Well, I can make that promise because there aren’t more than a couple hundred teenagers total in Lattimore.”

  “You should be a damn comedian, ya know?”

  “I’ll keep that in mind if this gig doesn’t work out,” I say as I walk up the stairs to my bus.

  “Just be ready in the morning, and we will head that way.”

  “Aight.” He turns and walks to his bigger mansion of a bus.

  ONCE I REACH THE TOP STEP onto my bus, Lyndsay hounds me.

  “Did I just hear that right? Jake Bryant is comin’ to Lattimore?”

  “Yes, but if you so much as post it on any social media site, I’ll kill you! You got it?”

  “Easy, killer,” Chase says.

  I give Chase a WTH look, and he gives me one right back. That is why he is my favorite bouncer at Joe’s. He keeps it real and looks out for me at the same time.


  “Well, I just don’t want a million screamin’ girls going goo-goo for Jake Bryant while we’re trying to enjoy a break.”

  “Please tell me that y’all aren’t dating?” my mama asks. She has never been one to sugar coat anything.

  “No, Mama! We aren’t dating, sleeping, or doing anything together. We are just friends, and I plan on keepin’ it that way.”

  Beau almost chokes on his beer at my comment. He’s always loved how I tell it like it is, and he’s always trying to keep things quiet around our parents. Leave it to me to spill every party being thrown in Lattimore, who was dating whom, cheatin’ on whom, or anything else that happens in a small town. I’m sure that being the older brother he is, he was probably ready to kill me six out of seven days a week.

  “Good to know,” Daddy says. “Well, I guess that means we need to get home and make sure things are ready for not one, but two, big stars to come to town.”

  “Daddy! There ain’t nothin’ special about us. We just got lucky, that’s all.”

  “Oh, there’s plenty special about you, sweetheart, and don’t you forget it.”

  Mama, Daddy, and Beau go home while Lyndsay and Chase hang around for a little while longer. We brew a pot of coffee, sit, talk, and enjoy a night like we used to every Friday night after Joe’s closed. I love these two, and honestly, every day is hard because they aren’t a part of my life like they used to be.

  As the clock approaches four in the morning, they stand to leave, but I can’t let them drive at this time of night.

  “Y’all just stay. I’m leavin’ in the mornin’. It’s late, and I’ve missed y’all,” I tell them.

  Lyndsay looks at Chase. “Whatever you wanna do, Lynds,” he says.

  “Well, I’ve never stayed on a famous country star’s tour bus before, so hell to tha yeah!” she exclaims.

  I loan Lyndsay some pajamas, and we get ready to watch a little TV before going to bed. Within ten minutes, Lyndsay is ready to call it a night, and I tell her to take my bed. She doesn’t argue and shuts the door behind her. Chase and I finish watching Grown Ups, or should I say, attempt to watch it. Before I know it, the sun is rising, and I’m snuggled into the crook of his arm. Shit!

  Trying my best not to wake him, I attempt to slide away as he begins to mumble something that I can’t understand. Then, his arm starts to squeeze me like a boa constrictor. That’s when I realize he’s no longer asleep and just being the ass that I love.

  “I can’t breathe, Chase! Let me go!”

  “I’ll let you go when you scream to the world that I am best man on Earth.”

  Without thinking, I do exactly that. I yell those words, and Lyndsay pushes open the door like the smoke alarm just sounded. Her hair is all kinda crazy. “What the hell was that?” she asks.

  “Oh, you know. It’s just me professing how Chase is the best man on Earth, because if I don’t, he will squeeze all the air outta my lungs.”

  “Lord, can y’all fall in love already?” She turns around and returns to bed.

  Chase and I look at each other like she’s lost her damn mind. That’s one thing I know about Chase and me. We are just friends. He’s been there since the first day I walked into Joe’s, and he’s always stayed. When I needed a dance partner, he was there. When I needed a drinking buddy, he was there, and when I just needed a friend, he was there. Chase is my constant.

  Chase finally lets go of his death grip, as there is a knock at the door. I make my way over and open it. Jake Bryant is there, packed and ready to go to my hometown. Who would have ever thought that I’d take a country music star home to the podunk town of Lattimore?

  “Hey, Jake. Come on up.”

  Once he’s on the bus, he has a confused look when he notices both Chase and me still in our clothes from last night.

  “Chase and Lyndsay stayed last night.”

  “Well, I hate I missed the party,” he says as he eyes Chase.

  I just shake my head. Give me ten minutes, and we’ll be on the road.

  Hurrying into my room, I tell Lyndsay to get moving and also inform her that the country god is on the bus. I’ve never seen a girl move so fast in my life.

  “What?” she asks.

  “Um, he’s just a guy.”

  “To you, maybe, but I’m no dummy. I see the way he looks at you. In fact, if I were you, I’d act on that if I had the chance.”

  As I stuff some clothes into my bag, I answer her, “I can’t go there. Do you know what will happen to this tour if we go there?”

  “Belle it’s only for three more months. Then after that, you know you’re going to get asked to headline.”

  “I don’t know about that, but if so, it would make things weird. And I don’t do weird.”

  Lyndsay drops it, and we make our way to the living area. Chase and Jake seem to be engaged an in-depth conversation. They both look like they are ready to throw blows at each other.

  “Everyone ready to go?” I ask to relieve the tension. “Chase and Lynds, Jake and I will follow y’all.” I have to say that it’s nice that he has his truck handy, because I honestly hadn’t thought that part through. I guess I would have ridden home with Chase and Lyndsay or called Beau to pick me up.

  As Jake’s diesel engine hits the highway, he turns down the radio. “What can I expect in this place called Lattimore?”

  “Well, it’s like any other redneck town. Everyone knows your business. We have the best burgers this side of I-85, a pool hall, and let’s just say, we know how to get down on the farm.”

  “Nice. Sounds exactly like where I want to spend my break. Do Chase and Lyndsay live there, too?”

  “Yeah, I’ve grown up with them, but we all started really hangin’ out when we were old enough to go to Joe’s. It’s in Charlotte. We learned every country line dance, partied hard on 1-2-3 nights, and when amateur nights started, they put my ass up on stage and that’s been all she wrote.”

  “I played there when I first got signed. You know that’s what people do, right? They play the small country nightclubs from city to city and hope and pray the fans love them.”

  “I know. I do believe that I saw a Jake Bryant there not so long ago,” I say with a smirk. “I’ve seen anyone from Florida Georgia Line to Blake Shelton there. That was always the plus of Lyndsay and Chase workin’ at Joe’s. I always got to meet people, and they were normal, just like you and me.”

  “Now, how did I manage not to meet you when I played there?”

  “Probably because you wouldn’t have noticed me with the groupies all over you.”

  “That has to be the worst part. You know most guys would kill to be in my spot, but I just want someone to like me for me, not because I’m this country music god that you say I am.”

  “I won’t say that I didn’t have a total fangirl moment once I realized I’d be touring with you. Well, actually both Lynds and I did. Chase laughed his ass off at us that night, but then I was over it. I realized we are professionals, and we need to keep it that way.”

  The inside of the truck is quiet for a few minutes, and then Jake finally breaks the silence.

  “I’m thankful they got you up on that stage, Belle. I was there that night. When you started singin’, I knew I had to have you on tour with me. You were a voice to remember and not so bad to look at either,” he says with a wink.

  Holy crap! Did he really just hit on me? I swear I just used the word ‘professional’ in my last comment, and now he’s flirting.

  “Well, I love music. I always have, and there is just something about connecting with people because your song touched their heart.”

  “Can I ask you one more thing?”

  “Shoot,” I say.

  “What’s really going on with you and Chase? It’s none of my business, but I see the way he looks at you.”

  “Nothing. He’s my friend.”

  “Right, if you say so.”

  “Why does everyone have that same reaction?” I question as we stop at the onl
y stoplight in Lattimore. Jake turns toward me.

  “Because I see the way he looks at you, and if you want me to be honest, I look at you the same way. I know you want to keep this relationship professional, but I’m not makin’ any promises.”

  Completely floored. That is what I am. Maybe bringing Jake Bryant home isn’t a good idea, because as much as I want to say that it needs to stay professional, I know deep down that I want a little bit of what’s in those jeans.

  AS WE PULL UP TO THE TWO-STORY brick house on seventy-five acres, I see the wheels turning in Jake’s mind.

  “Whatcha thinkin’?” I ask.

  “I think this is beautiful. You described a rinky-dink town, and this house isn’t rinky-dink. Do y’all own all this land?”

  “Yup. It’s been in the family for years. You see that little farm house right there?” I point out the window to the right. “That’s my mawmaw and pawpaw’s. They bought this when my pawpaw came home from the war. He always wanted his own farm like his dad but bigger, and that’s what he got. Daddy loved it just as much and decided to build on the land and run the farm with him. We sell cotton to all the local factories within the southeast.”

  “In other words, people know exactly who y’all are in town,” he responds.

  “No, it’s not like that here. Lattimore is a tight-knit community. We all work together, and my family provides a lot of jobs for people in town. We aren’t the biggest farm in town, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

  Pulling up to the house, Jake puts the truck in park. He is in complete awe, and it totally throws me off guard. What is his deal? His house outside of Nashville is a mansion, but for some reason, he’s blown away by a farm in podunk Lattimore.

  “Jake, it’s just a house that cotton built. There’s nothing fancy here. I promise once you walk through those doors, you will feel at home. My mama ain’t the best housekeeper, but she can cook. Daddy works from sun up to sun down, and Beau, well, that’s another story. He’s tried his best to make it outta here, but for some reason, he keeps getting pulled right back in.”

  “I’m sorry. It’s just that I didn’t expect this.”