Concentrating usually wasn’t an issue for Bree, particularly at band practice, one of her favorite places in the world to be, but the next day, after she’d given Trent her good news, found out his, and realized life isn’t perfect, she was having issues keeping tuned in. While she hadn’t let it actually affect her performance while she was singing, in between songs, her mind wandered back to the conversation she’d had with Trent, and she wasn’t hearing a damn word her bandmates had to say.
“Let’s take a coffee break.” That, she heard, as Zach said it loudly, right next to her. Bree watched as the rest of the band scattered, in
Picking out an outfit to wear for her big show was harder than Bree would’ve thought. Even after hiring a personal stylist to take her shopping a week or so before the show, she still wasn’t sure what to wear. It made sense to her now why so many famous people had a team of people that dressed them, did their makeup, and always had them looking on point. Standing in front of her full-length mirror in the bedroom, Bree wasn’t sure if she looked edgy in the new outfit she’d put on or just out-of-sorts.“That’s a different outfit,” Trent remarked, coming into the room and looking her over before he headed to the closet to start getting read
The limo slowed for a traffic light, and Trent wished he could see out the tinted window better. He thought they were almost to the location of the awards ceremony, a theater in the main part of downtown Nashville, but it was hard to tell with his limited vantage point.Next to him, Celia was chattering nervously. She hadn’t stopped talking since she’d gotten in the car, almost a half hour ago. She looked stunning in a long red and silver gown with her hair pulled up in a clip on the back of her head. He hadn’t thought her short hair was long enough for an updo, but clearly it was, and she looked even more elegant than usual. But the fact that she wouldn’
The butterflies in her stomach were the kind Bree relished, the kind that gave her fuel. The roadies were done switching out their equipment, and now, all she had to do was wait for her band to be introduced, and she’d finally be taking the stage again. “Are you ready?” Shawna whispered in her ear, a huge smile on her face. “So ready,” Bree replied, smiling and squeezing her keyboardist’s hand. She’d gotte
“The winner of the New Entrepreneur of the Year award is… Trent Walker of Walker Accounting Services!”Applause rang out across the room at the MCs words. Trent stood and buttoned his jacket, making his way the few steps to the podium, imagining the clapping was as much for the fact that his award was the last one of the evening and everyone would be able to get the hell out of there as soon as he finished speaking. He didn’t plan to talk for long. A beautiful woman in
“Be honest!” Christy demanded, tossing back her sixth or seventh shot of tequila. They’d only been at the bar for an hour or so, which meant Christy was making good time on hitting her quota, not that she ever hesitated to hit the drinks. “Is living with Trent everything you thought it would be?” “Uh… yeah,” Bree replied, her hands nestled around her first bottle of beer. It was about gone, but she wasn’t anywhere near as intoxicated as Christy was. Hank also was taking his time, though he’d finished at least two beers and was on his third. “I love living with Trent.”
Trent was asleep when Bree snuck into the bedroom. She could tell he had been exhausted when he’d gotten home because his suit was haphazardly tossed on the end of the bed and not hung on a hanger and placed in the “to be dry cleaned” section of his closet. She smiled and picked up his jacket, holding it up in hopes of catching a whiff of his cologne. It was there, but so was a faint scent of floral perfume. Assuming that had to be because Celia had been next to him all night long, Bree put the jacket down and tried not to be upset. Who knows whose cologne might be on her? She’d hugged every male member of her band that night--and some stage hands--and Hank. Deciding she was being silly, she headed into the bathroom to take a shower. Regardless of whose cologne may have collected on her, she definitely smelled of cigarette smoke and
It was a little past 2:00 when Bree and Trent walked into the restaurant Christy had suggested. When Christy said she’d be there at 2:00, that meant no earlier than 2:15, so Bree wasn’t surprised at all that they still weren’t there now, and she wasn’t expecting them for a few more minutes. The waiter showed them to a booth large enough to seat all four of them, and Bree and Trent sat together, leaving the other side for their friends--if that could even be used to describe Hank at the moment. He was still Bree’s friend, but apparently not Trent’s. Not that she blamed him.He’d agreed to come, though. That was something. She knew he was
They made it home. The trip had been excruciating, neither of them saying anything at all to one another, not a single word. It was as if they each understood the other’s position; I know there’s going to be shouting, and that doesn’t mix well with driving. As soon as she walked in the door, Bree slipped her heels off of her tired feet and sat down on the couch. Trent hung his keys by the door and slumped into the chair next to her, his fingernails biting into the armrests. As Bree tried to decide how to phrase her first question, he said quietly, “I didn’t want to upset you.”