Page 81 of Banter & Blushes

I clear my throat and strum the chord to the newest song I’ve written. The one that started in my mind while filming the music video. Once I saw Tiffany, the words came to me and evolved over the week.

I’ve played it about twenty times since finishing it and way more times than that in my head. This is the first time anyone else has heard it unless you count the first few lines I sang during filming. I close my eyes and picture our kiss on the beach as I sing the bridge of the song.

“You’re more than a stand-in, and I want to stand up for you.”

The entire vibe of the song is how a woman he’s always known isn’t just someone to fill the time. She’s the one he really wants, and he wants to spend forever with her.

I didn’t realize it would be so deep until I put all the words together. But the more I sing it, the more I’m reminded of my time with Tiffany, and the more I realize that I’m falling in love with her.

When the song ends, I open my eyes to Jim and the band staring at me.

“What?”

“That was beautiful, man.” The drummer wipes a tear from his eye.

He’s about six-foot-four with tattoos across his bald head. He’s the last person I expected to make cry—by any means.

“It really was,” Jim adds.

“So y’all liked it?”

They all agree in unison. The keyboard player steps closer to me and hands me his phone. “Text me your number. You can send me the music and we can learn it if you want a full instrument version.”

“We can definitely use this one as a bonus no matter what,” Jim says.

We talk a few more minutes until my time in the studio is up. I thank Jim and the house band, then get out of the way for the next artist.

When I walk outside, I feel lighter than I ever have after leaving a recording session. I should, since these were all my own songs, written and sung solely by me. But I don’t think that’s the only reason.

I have clarity now. Music was always therapeutic for me, and it came to my rescue yet again. And if I’ve learned anything from years of writing lyrics and traveling, it’s that your gut instinct is usually right.

I drive to my hotel room, rehashing all I’ve been through in the past week. The odds of Tiffany and me both being on the same set is insane. The odds of us both being single is even more insane. We’ve taken totally different paths since high school.

And after hearing her story and how well she’s rooted in Gulf Shores, I can’t possibly expect her to move to Nashville. It was selfish of me to even ask. Especially when I haven’t told her how much I really care about her.

Soon as I’m in the room, I pull out my phone to call JD. He answers on the second ring.

“Hey, man. You got an answer for me?” he says.

“Yeah, I do. But first I’ve got a question for you.”

CHAPTER 14

TIFFANY

Colt’s been gone for a week, and things are back to normal. Sad, but normal. We text and talk on the phone at least once a day, but that only makes me miss him more.

The good news is he decided not to tour with the band. That means he’s giving his own music full attention, and it will be easier for us to visit. We’re already making plans to hang out over Labor Day weekend.

Genesis shuffles behind me and turns up the radio. I scowl at her. “Don’t get distracted singing.”

“I won’t.” She smiles deviously like she’s up to something.

The DJ announces that next is a new song by up-and-comer Colt Stallion. My ears perk up, and Genesis grins. Lucky for her, that’s what was needed for me to not turn down the music.

I continue sautéing vegetables in a pan and crane my neck to make sure there aren’t a lot of people in line. The lunch rush ended an hour earlier, but most people at the beach are on vacation time. That means to them, time of day means nothing.

I listen closer, expecting to hear the song from the music video. Instead, a slow guitar tune comes across the speaker. Colt’s voice soothes against the acoustic melody.

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