Page 40 of Playing With My Heart Strings

I give him a thumbs-up as Aspen nods.

“Great. Let’s start with some warm-up exercises.” He leads us through a few standard vocal warm-ups, and I hate to admit how well Aspen’s voice fits with mine.

I’m trying my best to keep an open mind about her, but it’s proving to be difficult. My mind keeps wandering back to the idea that Aspen was intimidating Baylor, probably trying to get her to break down or slip up or something. Anything that would cause her to go home.

I won’t have it. She deserves a conversation about it, but depending on how it goes will determine whether or not Aspen makes it to next week.

My thoughts are interrupted by the sound engineer. “You guys sound great together! Wow.”

Aspen blushes in front of me from the compliment.

“Should we record a song? Do y’all have anything in mind that you might want to try? This is just for fun and to see how your musical chemistry is, so we can do pretty much anything.”

We brainstorm for a few minutes but eventually decide on a cover of “I’m Gonna Love You,” a duet performed by Cody Johnson and Carrie Underwood.

It’s a passionate love song, and if an outsider didn’t know any better, they would probably assume Aspen and I are in a relationship. I have to give her credit—she has talent and she’s determined. She possesses a fire reminiscent of myself when I first came to Nashville.

When the song ends and we step back into the control room, the engineer pulls me aside.

“I’m going to send this up to Rob,” he whispers. “That wasfantastic, Dusty. Even if you don’t choose her at the end—though personally, I don’t think you can go wrong—she would be a great candidate for Ace High Entertainment as a new artist. I know at the end of the day I don’t have much of a say,” he rambles on, “but I know talent when I see it. And that girl right there has it tenfold.”

I cough slightly, the words I want to say catching in my throat, unable to surface. I simply nod then follow Aspen out of the recording studio. We need to have a conversation before I make a decision I might regret.

“Being in the recording studio was so much fun.” She beams as we walk down the hallways of Ace High Entertainment. “I’ve always wanted to do that.”

I remember that she’s been in Nashville for eight years now, and curiosity about why she hasn’t been picked up by a label piques my interest. “I can’t believe you haven’t before.” My statement is leading. I’m hoping she’ll take the hint, or maybe bait, and give me some insights on her own music journey.

“I’ve tried, believe me. I’ve had my eyes set on several record labels in Nashville, but I just haven’t had much luck.” She pouts as she looks down at the ground. “I’ve been trying to catch the eye of Six-String Entertainment for a while now and Ace High Entertainment, too. I guess they just don’t want me.”

I find that hard to believe, but the music industry is cutthroat. Part of me wants to tell her about the engineer’s intentions to send what we recorded to Rob, but I don’t want to get her hopes too high or add fuel to the metaphorical fire that’s apparently burning between her and Baylor.

“I’m sure it’ll all work out.” I rub the back of my neck then clear my throat. “Um, I wanted to talk to you about something.”

She perks up at that, stopping in her tracks. “What’s up?” Her voice has an air of uncertainty to it.

“I’ve spoken to a few of the girls”—I lie, so as to not expose Sage—“and I’ve heard there’s some animosity between you and Baylor.”

Aspen sucks in a breath as her demeanor immediately shifts. “I—” she starts.

“I just want to hear your side,” I add.

She stares at me through thick lashes like she’s trying to figure me out. Suddenly, her face falls, like she’s been hit with a wave of sadness. “I didn’t want to cause any rifts, or plant any seeds of doubt in your mind, that’s why I haven’t said anything. I’m not sure what you heard, but?—”

I cut her off, wanting to get straight to the point. “Did you accuse her of only being here because of favoritism from the producers?”

Her face blanches, confirming what Sage said was true. “Dusty, I-I…” I’ve never seen her so at a loss for words during the several interactions I’ve had with her the past few weeks. “I’m not saying it’s true but, yes, I have my suspicions. She?—”

“Baylor is here because I want her to be here. I want to make it clear that this last week she stayed becauseIwanted her to stay, not the producers.” I don’t mean to be as harsh as I’m probably coming across, but I want to set the record straight that I’m the one making the decisions here. “My advice to you would be to worry aboutourrelationship and less about Baylor.”

She blinks like she’s surprised I jumped so quickly to defend Baylor. Then she narrows her eyes, looking like she’s about to say something, but instead of firing back a retort, she purses her lips and nods.

“What are you here for, Aspen?” I ask.

“What do you mean?” Her question is slow, wary.

“Exactly what I asked. What are you here for? The record deal with Ace High? Recognition?” I throw out some ideas of why I think she might be on the show.

An emotion that looks a lot like betrayal clouds her expression. “I-I mean those are a plus, but that’s obviously not why I’m here. I’m here for you. Other people might be here to go viral or to jumpstart their career, but I’m here because of you.”

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