CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
“Hashtag, ‘What would happen if’ is trending right now,” producer, Trent McDonald loudly proclaimed backstage after the show.
There were several hoots and hollers as the band high-fived each other and Clay swung Katie around in his arms. With the champagne popped ceremoniously, they were having an impromptu party in the hallway. Numerous country artists and their entourages congratulated Clay on his successful debut, many of them bummed that they wouldn’t be able to record some of the soon-to-be-hit-songs he had sung that night. Electricity crackled in the air, the excitement of the Georgia Clay team infectious.
Clay kept Katie close, holding her hand or keeping his arm around her. He knew she was taken aback by being brought up onto the stage in front of so many people. He couldn’t help it. When she had told him that she loved him, he was shocked and couldn’t muster the words without becoming a stuttering idiot. It was unexpected and out of the blue after feeling like he had already lost her. Looking out into the audience and seeing her gazing up at him with such a poignant look on her gorgeous face, he knew he was going to let the world know how he felt about her.
“You need a little more?” he asked, bringing a dark bottle up to her plastic flute.
“Sure.”
As he poured the pink bubbly he smiled, aware that his entire body was tingling and buzzing with a new sensation—love. To finally be out in the open with his true feelings was a weight off his shoulders. He loved Katie Parker and his future was everything he ever dreamed it could be with her by his side.
She brought the flute up to her lips and sipped, looking demurely at him through her lashes. He leaned in and whispered, “I wish we could lock ourselves in the bathroom.” Giggling, she shook her head, biting her lower lip.
One by one, the musicians and production team congratulated Clay before leaving for the night. Buddy escorted the happy couple back to the dressing room, shutting the door behind him.
“That was absolutely insane. I’m so proud of you, Clay.” The two men hugged, patting each other aggressively on the back. “Don’t worry about all the flowers and gifts. I’ll have your assistant get them to your place sometime tomorrow.” The big man put his hands on his hips. “This tour is gonna explode, mark my word.”
The buzzing of a cell phone on the dressing room table interrupted the moment. Clay glanced at it and realized it was his mother calling. He held up a finger. “Give me a sec, Buddy.” Swiping the phone on, he held it up to his ear. “Hey, Mama!”
Birdie Watkins went on and on about how proud and excited she was, especially thrilled that he was in love. Grinning and nodding his head, he listened and couldn’t help but notice out of the corner of his eye Katie and Buddy speaking quietly with each other. He watched Katie retrieve a key out of her purse and hand it to him. Quickly, Buddy shoved it into his pocket and waved to Clay before heading out the door. He waved back.
“Well, I love you too, Mama. Thank you for being my biggest fan. Get some sleep. You’re up way past your bedtime.” When they said their final goodbye, he clicked off the phone and set it down. He crossed his arms and leaned back on the counter, taking a good look at Katie Parker. Her business attire was perplexing and now that they were alone, he had some questions he needed answered.
“What?” she asked, looking back at him. There was the tiniest hint of guilt in her expression.
“You never answered my question earlier. Why are you dressed like that?”
Katie palmed her pencil skirt and shifted in her high heels, her disheveled hair hanging limply over one shoulder.
“And why did you just give Buddy a key?”
Shaking her head, she approached him and placed her hands on his folded arms. “Let’s enjoy tonight, Clay,” she pleaded. “We can talk about all this tomorrow, okay?”
Clay furrowed his brow. He hated she was keeping something from him. “No, Katie. Tell me now. Tell me what happened today.”
Her face fell, and her shoulders sagged.
“Baby, whatever it is, you can tell me, you know that. You just told me that you loved me. Were you telling the truth?”
Her head shot up and she nodded aggressively. “Yes, of course!”
He clasped her hands in his. “When two people love each other, they don’t keep secrets. Tell me what happened.”
Immediate tears brimmed her eyes as she pulled her hands out of his and nodded. “I almost didn’t make it tonight,” she whispered.
“I know. I was worried sick. Where is your cell phone?”
She hesitated before looking back him with big doe eyes and swallowed. “On a plane to California.”
“What?” He gripped the side of the counter not understanding.
“Clay, my boss rescinded my vacation time this week. I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t want to let you down. There’s a huge conference going on in California and he demanded that I be there. He said if I didn’t go, I’d be out of a job.” She paused, nervously fingering the silver heart clasped around her neck. “I was on the plane and it was about to take off when I realized that I love you and I’d rather have you than some stupid corporate job…”
“But your job means the world to you,” Clay interrupted, flabbergasted by what she was telling him.
“No.Youmean the world to me.” She approached him, bringing her hand up to touch his buzzed sideburn, her fingers grazing his skin, sending waves of pleasure through his body. “My coworker got me on a flight to Nashville and reserved a rental car for me. The flight was delayed and when I landed, I realized I didn’t have my phone. I was lucky to find the right rental car place and came as quickly as I could. It was so late, Clay… I thought for sure I was going to miss it. Not being able to contact you and reassure you that I was on my way was pure misery. I didn’t want you to think I had abandoned you. God, Clay! I would never abandon you!” She was openly crying by now and he drew her into his chest hugging her fiercely.
