Page 37 of High Note

Maybe if she was looking for a home she’d even think of the place, but the simple fact was that her life was too big for a town the size of Summit Springs. She wasn’t completely convinced her life wasn’t too big for a town like Las Vegas.

“You okay honey?” Brenda asked.

“I’m fine. I was just thinking.”

Andi arched one eyebrow. “Well, that’s dangerous…”

“Oh, smartass!”

The entire band answered her, in unison. “Better than being a dumbass!”

“Lord save me from y’all.” God, she loved them, and she was so thankful that she was here, with them.

She had a blessed life and she needed to remember that, and not go chasing dreams that weren’t big enough for her. Now.

Chapter Twelve

Kirsten wasn’t sure exactly what she’d done to upset Skyla, or if she’d done anything at all, but she’d been quiet since they’d gotten to the restaurant.

Kirsten didn’t get it. Had it been her playing? Or maybe that she had gotten along okay with the band?

She didn’t know what to do, what to ask.

Dear famous closeted country superstar with a banging body and more charisma in your pinkie finger than I have in my entire body, did I piss you off? Much love, Me.

So she sat there, sipping a glass of the house red, trying to figure out if she knew anybody here, and what on earth she’d do if she did and they came up.

“I’m sorry, honey,” Skyla murmured. “I guess I’m not great company tonight.”

“You’re not required by law to be, you know.” Kirsten went for comforting. “You can even be grumpy. If I did anything though…”

“What? No. No, honey. Not at all. You were rocking it today. I’m just tired.”

Kirsten wasn’t. She was buzzing. She hadn’t known how much fun it was to try and keep up with professionals, howexciting it was, how exhilarating. She’d never had so much fun, and she’d had sex with Skyla.

“I—did you want to get the food to go?” They could totally do that. Meatballs heated up just fine.

“God no. I’m just being a bitch.” Skyla opened her eyes wide, rolling them a little bit, and Kirsten realized how few people actually got to see this – Skyla without makeup, hair in a low ponytail, dressed in an oversized sweatshirt, and loose jeans. “I was feeling sorry for myself, I guess.”

“Feeling sorry for yourself? Why?” What on earth did Skyla have to regret? She was famous, beautiful, wealthy, talented, and surrounded by people who wanted to make music with her.

“Honestly, when you talk about this town—about how you love it, about how it’s home? I just want that too.”

Kirsten wasn’t following. “So, take it.”

“What?”

“Really, where do you love? What kind of place calls to you? Oceans? Mountains? Cities? Small town? Pick one.” Hell, Skyla could pick three or four.

“It’s not that easy,” Skyla argued. “I can’t just pick somewhere and settle. That’s not how life works.”

“Sure you can.” Kirsten thought maybe Skylar was just getting caught up in her own press. Life wasn’t that hard. “You find a place, you settle in, you say ‘It’s mine’.”

“And that’s what you did, right?” Skyla asked. “You just found a place, took it, and said it’s mine?”

“Well, I mean, I’m renting. So, it’s not mine, but I’ve been there for ten years. I guess I’m pretty entrenched there.” Kirsten took a deep breath, trying not to let her temper flare to life. “I mean, it’s not like this is the be-all and end-all of places. Sure, one day I’d like to have a place of my own, maybe a house somewhere that I know no one can just lease out from under me. I mean, when my landlady dies, what am I going to do? Whatif they raise the rent? What if they sell the house? What if they make it a single place instead of apartments? There are all sorts of what ifs, but that doesn’t stop me from making a home.”

Lord, her heart rate was racing, and her blood pressure had to be through the roof.

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