After a few seconds he awkwardly pats my back. “He doesn’t make it easy but I try.”
When I don’t release him right away, he slowly returns the hug. “Songbird, I’m really not in the mood to have my arms ripped off today.”
Laughing, I pull away. “Sorry.”
He pats my shoulder. “Thanks for making him happy.”
“I try,” I quip.
“I don’t think you have to try. Just hearing your voice seems to do the trick.”
“What a sweet thing to say.”
His mouth twists down and he glances away. “Yeah, don’t let word get out.”
“Everything all right?” Rooster calls out.
I step back and wave. “Yup.”
He slips an arm around my waist. “We’re all paid up and ready to go.”
“Your little chickadee has made a nest for herself in the back seat and has nominated Jiggy as your co-pilot for the trip into San Fran,” I announce.
He rumbles with laughter. “That so?”
“Yup.”
Jiggy shrugs. “Songbird has spoken.”
“Let’s go.”
We bump into the parking lot earlier than I expected. The van and one of Dawson’s buses are already parked near the arena’s loading dock.
“Well, shoot, I thought we’d be the first ones here.” I slip my notebook into my guitar case and stuff my feet into my sneakers.
Jiggy glances into the back seat, watching me tie my shoes. “You meeting with the band?”
I peer up at him. “Yeah, why?”
“I think I got Ashley out of there without anyone from the tour overhearing…”
My heart squeezes and I don’t want him to fret about that for one second. “She sounded like a raving lunatic. No one would believe anything she had to say.” I squeeze his shoulder. “Thank you again for staying and dealing with her. She reminded me of one of those yappy dogs and I was fresh outta biscuits.”
He snort-laughs. “I like you.”
“I like you too, Jiggy.” More than ever, after all the things Logan told me about their long, interwoven friendship.
“Yup. All right.” Logan brushes my hand off of Jiggy’s shoulder. “Everyone likes each other. Fantastic. Let’s move along. Things to do. Concert to prepare for.”
Jigsaw raises his hand to his forehead as if he’s going to salute Rooster but flips him off instead.
Dex, Pants, and Steer’s motorcycles thunder into the parking lot, gliding to a stop next to us. Happy to see the guys, I run over and hug Dex first.
“Whoa.” He laughs and stumbles back a step. “Good to see you too, Shelby. We weren’t gone that long, were we?”
“Congrats.” Steer says, patting my shoulder.
“There’s my star!” Greg holds out his arms and rushes over. “Congratulations.”
For a second I can’t remember what everyone’s fussin’ over.
Awards show. Right. All the stuff with Ashley and talking to Rooster about his past made it feel like a couple months have passed instead of a few days.
Chapter Eighteen
Shelby
Once we’ve all settled down and gotten caught up, I tuck myself into the corner of the couch and yank out my notebook.
Every time my mind returns to the horrors Rooster’s lived through, my heart aches for him. I can’t continue playing White Knight show after show now that I know the truth about his parents.
I close my eyes and say a quick prayer for his momma.
“First, I want to take White Knight out of the set list,” I announce.
I doubt Abram and Kenny care one way or another. As long as they’re gettin’ paid, they’ll play whatever I tell ’em to.
Trent seems to be a different story. His eyes widen and he sits back in his chair. “What are you talkin’ about? That’s your biggest song right now. Why on earth would you pull it?”
“No it’s not,” I sputter, annoyed he’s questioning me. “Big Lies is higher on the charts. Empty Room’s gotten some traction too.”
“It’s a beautiful song, Shelby,” Trent says in his reasonable tone, “but it’s damn depressing. It doesn’t have the potential White Knight—”
“I just don’t feel like playin’ it,” I snap, crossing my arms over my chest to indicate this isn’t a debate.
Trent’s jaw shifts from side to side. We’ve rarely argued in all the years we’ve worked together. Then again, he’s rarely ever questioned my decisions.
“So, what exactly would you like to do for those three minutes?” Trent asks.
Ignoring his snotty tone, I slap my hand over the sheet music in front of me. “Let’s play Shine Through. It’s gonna make a good single. Introducing it on the road will give it a nice boost.”
Actually, I haven’t gotten a handle on what helps a song gain traction. But a whole new crowd listening to it every night can’t hurt, right?
“Sure. Whatever,” Trent sighs.
Here I always assumed he thought White Knight was corny because he knows I wrote it about meeting Logan. Never expected him to be so pouty about taking it out of the set list. Sheesh.
There’s no chance in hell I’d explain to Trent or anyone else my reasoning for not playing the song.
Logan trusted me with something deeply personal and I’d never betray those secrets.
Rooster
Greg brushes against my arm as he squeezes into the tight space side-stage. I nod to him but don’t uncross my arms or take my eyes off Shelby.
She’s on fire tonight.
The glittering red pieces of her dress give off the appearance she’s throwing sparks as she struts across the stage.
None of that bullshit with Ashley had a negative impact on Shelby’s performances. And nothing that I revealed to her changed our relationship. If anything, it’s brought us closer.
I won’t admit it, but Jigsaw was probably right. I should’ve told Shelby sooner. It’s a relief that she knows. Especially since we’ll be near my hometown and home charter soon.
When she finishes the new song she’s added into the set, there’s a brief lull while she banters with the crowd. Can’t help the grin stretching across my face. She’s such a natural on stage. Bright eyes, big smile, glowing cheeks. Shelby was born for this and I’m so damn proud of her.
Greg taps my arm.
My face screws into a scowl.
“You two have a fight?” he shouts.
Irritated, I’m slow to turn my head his way and answer, “No, why?”
He twirls his fingers in the air, to indicate I’m not sure what. “She took White Knight out of the set list.”
I shrug. I’d noticed she didn’t play it the last couple nights but hadn’t asked her about it. Shelby’s music is her business and I figure she has reasons for making changes to her set list. My job’s making sure no one comes near her. “So?”
“It’s your song,” he says, as if that explains anything. “Thought something might’ve happened between you two during her days off.”