Music City Dreamers

by Robyn Nyx

  Savana laughed. “Everyone is always performing.”

  She stepped around Louie to get to Donny, who’d just come down the stairs behind them.

  Louie tipped her head in Savana’s direction. “She’s something.”

  Heather smiled, relieved that Louie didn’t seem overly impressed with Savana. She was unable to respond with a similarly dismissive riposte and just nodded. Gabe still appeared somewhat lost, so she leaned in toward him. “You’re going to be fine. Just focus on your music and ignore everyone but Donny.” She gestured over to her boss. “He’s the one you need to impress, not Savana.” Heather pulled back, suddenly aware there were three other acts auditioning for Donny tonight, and her conversation with Gabe and Louie might be interpreted as favoritism. She reached out and touched them both briefly on their heavily tattooed arms. She longed to trace her fingers over Louie’s ink and learn the story behind each one, sure they meant something and weren’t simply off the book. “I have to go. Good luck.” She couldn’t resist one last sweeping look over Louie before she went to join Donny and Savana, already deep in conversation. She felt the pulsing of her body in response to Louie’s returned interest. There was no running away from whatever this was going to be.

  Chapter Sixteen

  As Louie watched Heather walk away, her entire body felt like it was surrounded by an electric force field, ignited from Heather’s light touch. Letting her go after having her so close again didn’t seem right. After their short connection at the café, she’d hoped their next meeting would last longer.

  Louie glanced at the others waiting for their audition and didn’t miss the various looks of jealousy and curiosity thrown their way. When they’d walked in, a few eyebrows had raised, and Louie knew she and Gabe weren’t exactly poster material for an all-American country label like Rocky Top. Now though, the looks were related to their interaction with Heather, or the talent whisperer, as Louie had learned was her nickname. Louie wondered if Heather realized the power she had. She’d calculated Heather must be in her late twenties and she’d already carved herself a respectable reputation in a town drowning in talent. She was impressive in so many ways, and Louie wanted to know more. Much more.

  Gabe tugged at her arm. “Louie, I’m a mess. Can I do this?”

  Louie turned to face him and whispered, “Of course you can.”

  He gestured behind him to where Savana Hayes, Donny, and Heather stood. “But Savana Hayes is going to be watching.”

  “That shouldn’t worry you.” She punched him lightly in the stomach. “You love performing for the ladies.” She watched the power trio enter what she assumed was the audition space and smiled when Heather glanced back and nodded to her. She hadn’t mentioned getting a drink after this was over, but maybe she knew Gabe was all but signed up, and she’d have plenty of opportunity to see Louie again. Still, Louie was eager to know when their first date might be. How were they ever supposed to get together if Heather wasn’t comfortable talking to her in a public space? She wished she had a business card she could’ve given to Heather in the guise of looking for work. At least then Heather could make the first move.

  “You’re not worried?”

  Louie shook her head and squeezed Gabe’s shoulder. It was an action she seemed to be doing a lot with him, and she realized that despite what assumptions others might make based on his appearance, Gabe lacked confidence in himself. He needed repeated assurances that he was good enough. After what he’d told her about his mother and how she’d treated him, it wasn’t surprising. Their third song, “Take It Like a Man,” had made both of them a weeping muddle of tears and tissues. He was young, and it would take a while and perhaps even therapy to cast the shadow of his mother into the dark depths where it belonged. As Louie had learned more about Gabe’s past, she had to wonder if his mother would show her face once Gabe became famous, which, one way or another, Louie was sure would happen.

  “No. You deserve to be here, and you’re an awesome performer. You were born for greatness, and you’re going to own that stage, and every stage after it.”

  “Gabe Duke?”

  A skinny guy dressed in a suit that looked like it cost more than Louie’s truck emerged from the same room Heather had disappeared into.

  Gabe raised his hand. “That’s me.”

  Louie picked up her guitar and gently pushed him forward. “Let’s go, superstar. Your destiny’s waiting for you.”

  They followed the suit guy into a small room with an even smaller stage. Louie swiftly pulled her guitar from its case, plugged into the amp, and set the volume low enough not to overpower Gabe’s voice. She tried to concentrate solely on what she was there to do, but she couldn’t resist sneaky looks at Heather. Each time Heather met her glance, Louie felt more assurance that she was still interested. Gabe checked the mic, and the sound woman at the back of the studio adjusted it slightly.

  “My name’s Donny. You’ve met Heather, and I’m sure you know Savana Hayes. Tell us your name and a little bit about yourself, son.”

  Gabe smiled at Louie, and she noticed how much more confident he appeared now that he was on stage. The vulnerable young man melted away, and the performer beside her held himself like a seasoned pro.

  “My name’s Gabe Duke. I’m originally from Hinesville, Georgia, but I spent most of my teenage years on the road. I got my love of singing from a lot of Sundays in the church choir, and I’ve wanted to be a country singer since my dad introduced it to me when I was fourteen and we started traveling for his work.” Gabe gestured to Louie. “This is Louie, and we wrote these three songs together.”

  Gabe stepped back from the mic and nodded for Louie to begin. She closed her eyes and disappeared into the opening chords of “Bronzed Baby Shoes.” If she was auditioning, she would’ve worked the small audience, but she wasn’t so she didn’t need to worry. Instead, she could simply play their music and be carried away on the wings of the story. This one didn’t just tug on the heartstrings, it hung on them with fifty-pound lead weights. Louie heard Gabe as clearly as if he were inside her head, and God, he was pulling it off. His voice didn’t waver even as the lyrics told the tale of the moment he reconnected with the father he’d thought had abandoned him. She’d loved Heather’s reaction to these lyrics and hoped that the music and Gabe’s voice would blow her away.

  Gabe completed the song, and a brash whistle brought Louie back into the room. She opened her eyes to see the exuberant praise was coming from Savana Hayes. Gabe smiled widely, and Louie felt sure that would be enough to charm the country superstar. If she had any sway with Heather’s boss, Gabe was practically signed already.

  “Thank you. This next song is called ‘Take It Like a Man.’ It’s a little dark, but I promise my final song will bring you right back up.”

  This was the real test, and Louie hoped with everything she had that Gabe wouldn’t break down. On the night they met Heather, he’d shared the physical abuse he’d suffered from his mom and had revealed that some of his tattoos were covering up the visible scars she’d left him with. The giant lion on his back whose paw reached around his left shoulder was Louie’s favorite. Its brightly hued mane of blues, greens, and oranges reminded her of a striking sunset over an ocean, with the sun fighting to stay afloat. Gabe’s explanation of its significance and importance to him had inspired her to write the lyrics for this song in less than an hour. It had also resulted in an entire pocket pack of tissues loaded up with her liquid anger and sorrow.

  When they’d finished and Louie looked toward their small audience again, she could see it’d had the same effect on them. Gabe had done the hard part, but it wasn’t relief on his face; the kid was glowing. Donny and Savana looked as impressed as they damn well should, and Heather…she seemed even more beautiful with her eyes full of tears again. Louie wanted to hold her and share the moment, ecstatic that she’d been touched so deeply by Gabe’s experience through Louie’s lyrics.

  She waited for Gabe’s signal to begin his
final song, and they launched into “Music City Dreamers.” It caught hold of their audience from the pit of empathy Gabe’s song had dropped them into and yanked them up in a joyful celebration of youthful ambition and daydreams. His performance was perfect, and Louie saw Donny raise his eyebrows and look distinctly impressed when Gabe hit the high notes.

  When they completed his short set, Heather stood and gestured to the empty chair beside Donny. “Could you come on down, Gabe?”

  Gabe quickly came over to Louie on his way down from the stage. “Man, that was awesome.”

  “You were fantastic. They’d be stupid not to sign you after that. Now go and get your record deal.” They clasped their hand to each other’s forearms and buddy-hugged before Louie turned to pack her guitar up.

  “That was something special, Louie.”

  She looked up just as Savana shifted the hair from her eyes in that very special way that only women with long hair could achieve. It was a gesture that could easily be taken as seductive, and Louie smiled. This was a game she’d gotten particularly good at in Chicago, and it turned out that being outwardly charming while her guts were churning all sorts of anxious dread came somewhat naturally. She and Savana had something in common: they used their natural gifts to entertain. And even though Savana was a singer, Louie knew she had to use the rest of her body as part of the package. She shoved away the dark thoughts. She figured very few people lived their lives without having to do things they regretted, things for money and for people they didn’t want to. But that was her past. Louie was here now, living her dream, and she was in a studio audition talking to Savana Fucking Hayes.

  “That’s very kind of you. Gabe is an amazing talent.” Louie looked across to Gabe and wished they could swap the people they were talking to. Heather was smiling and laughing, and a thumb prick of unwarranted jealousy prodded at her.

  “Are you and Gabe together?”

  She asked the question just as Louie took a swallow of water. She spluttered some of it out but managed to cover her mouth in time not to shower Savana with her amusement. Louie wiped her hand on her jeans and shook her head, trying to control her astonishment into a tight smile instead of laughing out loud. She wasn’t one for stereotypes or labels, but she was well aware her appearance screamed all kinds of queer to even the most open-minded of people. And she welcomed that. Hell, her mom would kick her ass if she considered hiding her true self for even a moment. “No. We’re just housemates and good friends.” Their fast friendship had taken Louie by surprise. But it was a pleasant and timely one. Both of them were going to need someone they could trust and rely on whether their journey got tough or they became successful. She had a feeling that authenticity might be in short supply around here.

  “Was that a funny question?”

  Louie shrugged. “A little. It’s the same question Heather asked though, so maybe it’s just me being oversensitive.” Louie realized her words could be construed as Heather being interested in her. She scrambled to cover her tracks. “I think Gabe appeals to a wide range of people.”

  Savana tilted her head to the side and wiggled her eyebrows. “Maybe. But that wasn’t why I was asking. Who wrote the lyrics to the songs you performed tonight?”

  “I did.”

  “I thought so. And the music?”

  Louie wished once again that she could swap conversation partners with Gabe. This was beginning to feel like an inquisition, and she had no idea what answers Savana wanted to hear that would help Gabe get signed to this label. “Gabe. He’s a great musician.” Surely it didn’t matter whether or not he wrote his own songs. It was his ability to tell those stories to, and connect with, an audience that was important, and they were his stories.

  “I get the feeling you’re being overly modest. What are you in this town for, Louie? Is it a pit stop on your way to another life or is this the life you’re after?” She gestured at the walls covered with platinum-selling records.

  Louie rolled her shoulders, becoming increasingly uncomfortable with where this conversation seemed to be heading. This was the life she craved, but this was also Gabe’s audition, and she didn’t want to mess it up for him. Louie paused to consider the situation before she answered. It wasn’t as though she and Gabe were competing for the same deal, and as far as she knew, Savana was just one of their artists and made no signing decisions. “I want this.” She glanced over at Heather again. And I want her. “You’re not afraid of asking the deep questions, are you?” She didn’t know why Savana was even talking to her, and a small part of her recognized that it might make Heather a little crazy. She hadn’t seemed overly fond of her when they’d met in the lobby area, and Louie had picked up on a little jealousy, though that could have been wishful thinking.

  “Small talk doesn’t interest me, especially when I think I might have found the missing piece of my current puzzle. Tell me about your writing process. How do you write such personal songs for other people?”

  “It’s a collaborative process. I need the singer to be honest with me, to sit and tell me about their experience, their truth. Everybody has stories to tell, some people just need help making them stories other people want to hear.” The inquisition seemed to have taken a turn toward interview territory. Barely a week in town and she could be writing for the biggest name in country. This streak of luck was showing no sign of slowing down. “Are you looking for a new writer, Ms. Hayes?”

  She smiled. “Do you believe in fate, Louie? In some higher power conspiring to bring the right people across your path at the right time?”

  Louie laughed. A week ago, she didn’t believe in much at all. “If you’d asked me that question while I was in Chicago, my answer would’ve been a definite ‘no.’ But with everything that’s happened over the past few days, I’m beginning to believe in something.”

  “Well, I have enough faith for the both of us.” She put her arm around Louie’s shoulders. “And I think God wanted me to listen in on this audition so I could meet you. I’ve been at Rocky Top for four days trying to find the right person to write my truth. Almost everything else has fallen into place apart from finding that elusive writer. Then you show up.”

  Louie wasn’t sure she could attribute their meeting to God, but if this was leading to a songwriting gig with the great Savana Hayes, she’d happily get on her knees and thank the Lord. “And you think I’m the writer you’ve been looking for?”

  “I think it’s a strong possibility. How about you show up here tomorrow at eleven a.m. and we’ll take a shot at finding out?”

  Louie nodded. “I’d be honored.” She glanced back at Heather and saw Gabe was no longer with her. Heather motioned to the door, and Louie figured they needed to get the next act in to audition. “It looks like I better get going.” Louie offered her hand. “Thank you for this opportunity, Ms. Hayes. I’m looking forward to seeing if we can work together.”

  Savana shook Louie’s hand. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Louie picked up her guitar, nodded toward Heather, and headed out. Now she’d definitely get to see Heather again and she only had to wait until the morning.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Heather smiled at Louie as she left, disappointed that she didn’t come over to say good-bye. She’d hoped to further the plot and perhaps even invite Louie to dinner if she could’ve grabbed her alone and away from prying ears. Unless she wasn’t the one who was supposed to do the inviting. Louie’s mix of gender on the outside made it difficult for Heather to know whether it would be welcome if she took the lead. Heather was far from well versed in labels and roles. She’d virtually stumbled into both of her previous relationships and she’d never learned to be a lesbian on the scene. Was there protocol? Were gender stereotypes in play? She cursed herself for being so naïve. Emma would know. She glanced at the time on her tablet. They had three more acts to audition, and Donny liked to analyze each one with her immediately after their performance. It was likely they’d be here until ten so it would
be too late to go out for drinks, but she could at least call Emma to get advice.

  “I believe I’ve found the writer for my new album,” Savana said as she retook her seat, sandwiching Donny between them.

  “What?” Heather realized her tone was way too harsh, but the words were out before she’d had time to run them past her thought police.

  Savana raised her eyebrow and looked at Heather like she’d just demanded the blood of her firstborn.

  “Excuse me?”

  Savana seemed confused at Heather’s outburst. “That’s such great news. A writer was the only thing holding you back.” Heather placed the emphasis on Savana’s control to deflect the attention from her reaction to the thought of Savana working with Louie, which would mean Louie working with Heather. She could never date a co-worker, no matter how sexy they were. Heather was simultaneously glad and distressed she and Louie hadn’t done anything about their attraction yet. It would’ve complicated everything, but now she might never find out if Louie could have been someone special to her. But at least they’d get to be friends this way without anyone being suspicious.

  She nodded. “That’s right, and it could be that Louie Francis is the answer.”

  Donny coughed loudly. “I have to ask, because although I tried to figure it out for myself, I couldn’t. Is Louie a feminine-looking guy or a dyke?”

  Heather stretched out her toes in the slightly uncomfortable heels she’d worn to impress Louie, though she felt sure she hadn’t given them a second glance. Donny’s incendiary insult struck deep, and as much as she wanted to, she couldn’t respond defensively. Being discreet about her sexuality gave assholes like Donny carte blanche to speak their tiny little minds without fear of her ripping their tongues out. Not for the first time in the past five years, Heather hated the fact that she wasn’t being true to herself for the sake of her career.