Page 99 of The Ghost of You

“That’s a huge move for her. From the little I know about her past.”

I nod. “She scared as shit. But she has to do this.”

Mason looks off in the distance. “Did she tell you about Nashville?”

I look over at him curiously. “What about it? I mean, I know that is her goal eventually.”

“There is a songwriting camp in the spring. I told her she should apply for it.”

This is the first I am hearing about this, but I agree with Mason. “She didn’t tell me.”

“I figured as much. That girl is so fucking talented. I swear she could write a number one single in her sleep. But she is so hesitant about putting herself out there.”

I know her past holds her back. She doesn’t want to be on stage like before but even letting people hear her music takes a few arm twists. I know that bastard ex-fiancé of hers had a lot to do with it. The fight they had before he died put a thorn in her side. And she is too scared to pull it out.

“I’ll talk to her.”

“I can’t see her not being accepted, Noah. They only take twenty people. Even if ten thousand apply, I know she would be one of them. Dee agrees too.”

I rub the back of my neck. She is too stubborn sometimes to see her talent. And over the last few months she has let me in, let me hear her magic. The first time she sang a song to me, I had chills down my spine. Her voice is haunting, raw, unlike anything I’ve ever heard before. She deserves to be on a stage. But I know that isn’t her future. “You know how she is, Mase.”

He stands up and grabs the basketball next to us. “You are changing her, man. Making her see who she could be. Don’t stop. I like this wild side of her. And let me tell you, whatever it is you are doing to her to boost that creative spark she has. It’s gold, man.”

I let Mason pull me up before we join my brothers to finish the game. “I know, I know. She’s magic.”

* * *

“If you gripthat bottle any harder, it’s going to explode,” I tell Anna as we drive the two and a half-hour drive to her hometown. She has an unopened water bottle in her lap and she has been white-knuckling it for the last hour.

“I’m so nervous.”

I look over at her and she looks pale. Not her usual bright and cheery self. Not the woman I can make blush with a few choice words. She is scared and nervous and everything in between.

I pull off the road at the next exit and pull into the back of a gas station.

“What are you doing?” she asks nervously.

I don’t say anything as I get out of the car and walk over to the passenger side. I open her door, unbuckle her seat belt, and pull her to face me, stepping between her legs so I can get as close to her as possible.

I take her face in my hands and kiss her slowly. My hands fall into her hair, pulling her mouth to mine. Her body slowly relaxes with each swipe of my tongue. Her hands let go of the water bottle in her lap and wrap around my waist. Her ankles wrap around my thighs, pulling me even closer to her.

Eventually she pulls back and whispers against my lips. “I’m scared, Noah.”

I rest my forehead against hers. “I know, baby. But this is your family. They want to see you more than anything. Remember the surprise in your mom’s voice when you told her you were coming.” I push a wild curl behind her ear as I pull back and look into her hazel eyes. “They love you. They want to see you more than anything. They’ve been waiting seven years for this moment. It’s okay if you’re scared. Because I am sure they are too. But that fear will dissipate the second they have their baby girl back in their arms.”

She holds back her tears while I comfort her. “I can do this,” she whispers to herself.

I press my lips back to hers, needing to show her I am here for her. She smiles at me and I know I’ve helped alleviate some of her fear for the time being.

I shut her door and get back behind the wheel of my SUV. I look over at her and she has more color to her face, more life in her eyes.

“Noah,” she says putting her hand over mine on the gear shift before I can put the car in drive. “Thank you.”

“Anytime, Mayberry.” I shift the car into drive and pull out of the gas station.

The rest of the drive has less tension as we ease into the easy conversation we always have between us. She tells me all about Becca and how she can’t wait to see her after seven years. I’m surprised with how much they talk that Becca hasn’t made the effort to go and see Anna. Becca has always had Anna’s back, supporting her in her decision to not come back to Hartswell but I find it odd Becca wouldn’t go out of her way to see her best friend.

As we approach her hometown we decide to stop at the hotel before heading to her parents. I check us in and carry both of our overnight bags to our room. I let her know I am going to shower and she nods as she tosses her phone in her hands.

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