“I’m sorry, little man.” Sinking into my leather armchair, I vow to do everything in my power to give this kid everything he could ever need and more. He will want for nothing. I don’t know how the hell we’re going to make this work, but I’m willing to do what it takes to be the father Connor and I never had.
Chapter 1
No is a Complete Sentence
? Sparks Fly - Taylor Swift
Present Day
Ruby
The stage lights dim, and the last notes of my biggest hit fade into the background. The reverb from the speakers is drowned out by synchronized chants for an encore.
Somehow, on a stage in front of thousands of fans, I am still utterly alone.
I jog backstage, out of breath and sweating from a combination of the exertion and the fever I’ve been battling for days. One more song and I’m done. I can do this.
I do a quick change and return to my mark. With my acoustic guitar in hand, I take a seat on the black stool center stage. The spotlight illuminates me one last time. The crowd stills, and thousands of wristbands light up the arena as I prepare to sing an unreleased ballad.
“Thank you, Nashville.” I pull the guitar strap over myhead and fix my hair that’s caught beneath it. “I wrote this next song a long time ago with someone who means a lot to me. I’m from a tiny town, not terribly far from here, just across the border in Kentucky. Nashville will always be the town where my dream came true, but I left a part of my heart on a tailgate back in Oak Ridge.”
My heartbeat thrums against my ribcage. I take one deep, steadying breath and close my eyes. Each strum is like muscle memory, the intro playing out like an old friend. This song has always been a comfort to me when the world felt much bigger than I was. Now, I’m giving it back to the fans who made me who I am.
This is Ruby stripped down. One stage light, a pair of bell-bottom jeans, a ratty T-shirt that may belong to an ex, and my acoustic guitar. I’ve never felt more at peace.
We were sitting side by side on your open tailgate,
Nothing between us but the night.
Everything about it should’ve felt so wrong,
But nothing ever felt so right.
You whispered words he’d never say,
Laid bare all my fears and doubts.
Found a way to bring me peace, as the last chords faded out.
And when the song was over,
And dusk turned into dawn,
You were Heaven-sent and hellbound,
And I was already gone.
Your fingers brushed mine on that old guitar,
And I swear I felt forever in your touch.
Until reality stepped in and I looked into those eyes,
And saw the truth we’d both been trying to hide.
Your promises were empty,
And I’d always have my doubts.
