I had waited for this moment my whole life. I was finally on my own for the first time … for better or for worse. I knew that it was going to be difficult, but I was up for the adventure. I looked down at my purse that I had made from a pair of blue jeans setting on the floorboard between the bucket seats and remembered the thousand dollars I had stashed there. I had worked hard at the local pizzeria, saving what little tips I got and my measly paychecks, and had finally saved five hundred dollars. To my surprise, Dad had matched it and I now had enough to live on for a week or two.
My plan was to rent an apartment, or at least a room, for a while, then I needed to find a job. I hoped to get a job singing in the city, but I wasn’t that naïve, knowing that Nashville was crawling with singers who had come to Nashville and were still awaiting their big breaks. I vowed to try and find a singing job first, but had resolved to work as a waitress if I needed to. Yes, I had a lot of work ahead of me, but a thrill ran through me at the thought of the adventure.
I cranked on the little radio in my car and flipped the channels until Free Falling by Tom Petty came on. I started singing it at the top of my lungs with the windows open. I was into the music and lost in my thoughts of Nashville when I happened to look over. A carload of great looking guys was driving beside me, all listening to me sing. I rolled my eyes, smiling as I turned my attention back to the road.
“Hey. You sound good!” one of the guys yelled as he folded his arms in the window.
I turned back, and he gave me a wink as I laughed. I wasn’t offended or worried, even though I was alone. They looked harmless enough. They waved as they drove ahead. NASHVILLE OR BUST was written in white shoe polish across the back of their black hatchback Camaro. I guessed that I wasn’t the only one wanting to try my luck at the big time. I laughed, shaking my head as they sped on, whooping and hollering as they leaned out the windows, obviously enjoying their new freedom, too.
I shook my head, smiling as heat filled my cheeks at having been busted, but it felt good to hear. A moment later, the song ended and Garth Brooks’ If Tomorrow Never Comes came on the radio and I started singing along. It was a sad song, but had such a great message, that if he were to pass away, would the love he gave her be enough to last the rest of her life.
I belted it out at the top of my lungs, not really thinking of the meaning behind the lyrics, as the sky turned dark and shoots of pink, purple, and orange streaked across the sky. I loved the tune and, as I said, the message was wonderful. My thoughts went immediately to my parents and their love. It was nice having a love like that. I wondered if I would ever have a chance at that kind of love: a once-in-a-lifetime love.
I quickly brushed the thought aside as the song ended and a fast song came on. It was getting late and my stomach started growling, so I stopped at a McDonald’s, wanting to save my money. I was going to go through the drive through, wanting to make time, when I saw the familiar black hatchback Camaro with NASHVILLE OR BUST across the back window. So, I pulled in.
What the hell? I thought to myself, laughing. What were the chances? I almost chickened out and drove on, but pulled my car into an empty spot a few spaces down from their Camaro, locked up, and headed inside.
Inside the McDonald’s, I didn’t look around, but just walked straight up to the counter and placed my order instead.
“I’m freeeeeee falling,” a male voice sang behind me as I laughed.
“Go ahead. Laugh it up,” I said, then turned around to see the brightest crystal blue eyes I’d ever seen on a guy before. He was wearing blue jeans and a blue-jean jacket with a gray T-shirt that hinted at the tight muscles that lay beneath.
“Hey. I’m not judging,” he said, then stepped up beside me as a strand of his dark blonde hair fell across his forehead. “Free falling,” he sang under his breath as he looked up innocently, and then gave me a wink.
I pushed his arm. Although I had just met him, there was something about him that made me feel as if I’d known him for years.
“Hey. Would you like to join my friends and me?” he asked,
gesturing to his three buddies sitting at a table, kidding around.
“No. I’ll just take mine to go,” I said, feeling a bit uncomfortable sitting with a bunch of guys that I’d just met in the middle of nowhere by myself. I wasn’t stupid.
“May I join you, then?” he asked, raising his eyebrows. Then, he leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, “I’m not a serial killer. I promise.”
“Yeah. That’s what they all say,” I joked as I took my tray from the counter. “It’s nice to meet you, though.”
“Likewise,” he replied. “Hey. You like ice cream?”
“What?”
“Come on. Who doesn’t like ice cream?”
“I guess … why?”
“Let me buy you some ice cream, at least,” he said. “It’s the least I can do for taking up your time.”
I took a deep breath as I looked away, and then back into his ice-blue eyes. “You promise you’re not a serial killer?” I asked, only half serious.
“Promise,” he replied, as he crossed his chest. “Cross my heart and hope to die.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Not funny.”
He shrugged. “Well?”
I nodded for him to follow me as I carried my tray to a table. We were in a public place, after all.
“Yes!” he said, pumping the air with his fist.
“Yeah. Like that wasn’t awkward,” I teased, but he ignored my comment.
“You like hot fudge?”
“Who doesn’t?”
He grinned. “A girl after my own heart. I’ll be right back,” he replied, then bought two hot fudge sundaes and hurried across the restaurant to his friends to grab his tray. I couldn’t help but notice how cute he was and how defined the muscles in his body were.
He ignored the jabs of his friends as he hurried over to my table and plopped his tray down across from mine.I laughed, shaking my head as I popped a French fry into my mouth. McDonald’s has the best. “So, are you guys headed to Nashville?” I asked, suppressing a smile.He leaned in and his beautiful eyes looked directly into mine, then whispered conspiratorially, “Is it that obvious?”I giggled as I nodded toward the restaurant’s huge plate glass window to his car. “Nashville or bust?” I laughed, enjoying the exchange.“Yeah. I guess it is that obvious,” he replied, then took a huge bite of his Big Mac, devouring half of it in one bite.“Really?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.“Yeah, well, I guess that wasn’t the most romantic thing to do.” His lips curled into a sexy half smile.I shrugged. “I’ve seen worse.”“Well
I spent the night at a local hotel on the other side of Atlanta since I couldn’t see past the headlights. One thing was certain: the highways in Georgia were dark. Since I was night blind and couldn’t see at all in the dark, stopping was a necessity.The next morning, rays of bright, golden sunshine streamed in through the window, illuminating the room. After a quick bite of a complimentary hotel Cheese Danish and a cup of coffee, I was on my way to Nashville once again in my loaded VW Bug. A few hours later, my heart leapt in my chest as the tall buildings of Nashville came into view. Immediately, I steered my car down Music Row, unable to believe that I was really there. I had waited for this moment my whole life, and now, it was really happening. I was in Music City, USA, the country music capital of the world.Okay. I have to find an apartment, I thought to myself, looking around. I wanted to live close to Music Row in order to save some money until I f
I hurried down Broadway toward my car, and pulled up in front of the Double Shot Saloon a half hour later. I looked down at how I was dressed before going in—I was still in my jeans and a T-shirt, so I unzipped my suitcase and grabbed my sky blue blouse and black strappy heels. The shirt looked great on me and the heels would look good with my jeans. I hurried across the street to a nearby café and changed, then looked in the mirror. My long, sun-streaked blonde hair was disheveled and my makeup had rubbed off. I quickly grabbed a vent brush from my purse and ran it through my hair, and then applied a bit of eyeliner, mascara, eye shadow, and some lipstick. When I looked in the mirror one last time, the eyeliner and mascara accented my bright green eyes. At least I looked a bit more presentable. Satisfied, I hurried across the street to the Double Shot Saloon.As I entered the nightclub, the sound of clanking glasses and people talking loudly filled the dark room
“Thanks, Logan,” I said. “It’s good to see you here. What were the odds?”“I know, right?” he replied as he ran a hand through his dark blonde hair.“What are you doing here?” I asked, happy to see him.“Well, my friends dragged me out tonight. And to think that I almost didn’t come! Now, I’m glad I did.” He thought for a moment, then asked, “Are you going to be playing here?”I shook my head. “No. Believe it or not, I just met Tasha and she invited me here tonight.”“You’ve got to be kidding,” he said, taking a sip of his drink.“Nope,” I said as a broad smile spread across my face. “Well, I have to get back. It was good to see you…”“May I see you again?” he asked as his ice-blue eyes actually sparkled, reflecting the light.“I have your number,” I said,
“Come out when you’re ready,” he said discreetly as he suppressed a smile.“Oh, okay.” I quickly grabbed my guitar case, then slung my purse over my shoulder and walked out.I looked around the bar, and there were a few customers still there. I looked down to check my guitar and almost ran into a wall. I looked up, and Logan was looking down at me.“You’re still here…” I said, more of a statement than a question.“Yes. We’re still here,” he said, pointing to the same group of friends that he was with at McDonald’s. “Would you like to join us?” His eyes were so hopeful that it was difficult to say no.“Well, I really should be going…”“Just for one drink?” he asked, hopeful as he raised his eyebrows.“Alright. Just one drink,” I agreed.I followed him over to the table where his friends were sitti
“Do you mind if I ride with you?” Logan asked just above my ear as we stepped outside.“Sure. Of course,” I said, already digging my keys out of my purse.“Hey, guys,” Logan said to his friends. “I’m riding with Alyssa. I’ll meet you there.”“Just don’t be too long,” Mason said with a sly smile.“Shut the hell up,” Logan said as Mason laughed. “We’ll be there in a minute.”“It wouldn’t take longer than a minute, anyway,” Mason joked, laughing as he headed toward their car.Lathe punched him on the shoulder and muttered something about treating women with respect.“This isn’t such a good idea,” I said, fumbling with my keys. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Just let me know where to meet you.”Logan immediately placed his hands on my shoulders, forcing me to look into his eyes.
They laughed, and Logan nodded to Mason. “Count it off!”“One, two, three, four!” Mason yelled as he hit his drumsticks together.I recognized the tune and immediately picked it up. These guys weren’t just good … they were great. I hadn’t had this much fun in my life. As the song came to a close, we ended it in an elaborate rift as Logan and I leaned our backs against one another, and then we all jumped into the air together and landed on the last cord as we all cheered.“Man! You guys are great!” I yelled, laughing. “Let’s do another“Sweet Home Alabama!” Lathe yelled, and Mason counted it off.Lathe and I alternated doing the beginning rifts, and then we launched into our own rendition. Logan took the lead on the verses. He had a great voice: rocking, sweet, and sensual. I immediately felt my heart stir, and I wondered what it was. A few minutes later, the song came to
I closed the door and turned around. There was a huge, king-sized bed taking center stage in the middle of the room. To the left was a set of drawers, and to the right on the same wall as the door was a set of mirrored sliding glass doors, enclosing a closet. I slid it open and took out one of his rock concert T-shirts. Then, I stripped down to my panties and slid it on. I was just about to slide under the comforter when I heard a knock on the door.I opened it just a crack, and it was Logan. “Lock the door,” he said, breathing heavily, then walked away. It seemed as if he wanted me to lock the door to keep him out just as much as the other guys in the house. He didn’t realize that a part of me wanted him to come in, but I was glad that he walked away.I turned out the light and slid into bed. It smelled like him: a mixture of leather, lavender, musk, and rain. I snuggled down under the covers and wrapped the thick comforter around my nose, then fell