by Leah Atwood
She’d spent four years trying to move on while simultaneously clenching a stubborn hope that one day she and Dominic would have a second chance. A hope which was swiftly deflated last week. Over the years, she’d asked herself more times than she could count if she would have made the same choice if given a chance to go back in time.
The answer was never clear, but ever since she’d run into him at Lenny’s, more doubts encroached. What she had done to Dominic was harsh, but she’d never imagined he’d be so unforgiving. She’d been so naïve, yet the situation was impossible. All she knew for certain was that she wished she’d not run into him at the store. At least then she could continue holding on to a dream, however much a fantasy it seemed.
Chapter 3
Phone to his ear, Dominic peered outside from the balcony of his fourth story apartment. In the parking lot, he saw his agent sitting in his shiny new sports car, waiting to take Dominic for his second audition as Bryce Landry’s new guitarist. “Larry’s outside. I’ve gotta run.”
“You’ll do great,” Roxy told him. “I’ll be praying for you.”
There she went again.
He blew off her last statement. “I hope so. I’ll let you know how it goes.”
After disconnecting the call, he slid his phone into his back pocket. His cased guitar leaned against the stark white wall by the door. He grabbed it on his way out and took the stairs two at a time. By the time he reached the bottom and exited outside, Larry was leaning against the car, arms crossed and a grin on his face.
“Ready?” Larry’s smile grew bigger.
“Ready as I can be.”
Larry cupped his shoulder and gave it a squeeze of support before releasing. “Let’s do this.”
A cool spring breeze blew across the nearly vacant lot. Dominic took a deep breath, and an inexplicable sense of peace came over him. Maybe it was the fact that Larry was not only accompanying him but chauffeuring him—Larry only drove clients to meetings when he was confident of the outcome.
The closer they came to downtown Nashville, the more nervousness edged out the calm he’d enjoyed. Every rundown restaurant and bar they passed was a reminder of how hard he’d worked to get here. He’d taken every gig possible that had come his way in the last four years, hoping it would lead to more. No matter how small or minor, he had to believe it could be the opening he needed. There was only a single time he’d had to turn one down, and that was only because he’d already been working his shift at the music store. Tempted to bail, he’d finally decided to do the responsible thing. The music store didn’t pay much, but it was guaranteed.
Larry drove into a parking garage, maneuvering his car into the narrow space between two cement poles painted yellow. For his first audition, Dominic had parked down the street where there was free parking and had walked the four blocks. The ten dollar parking fee could buy him several days of groceries if he worked it right.
When the car came to a stop, Dominic jumped out quickly. He sucked in a concentrated breath, something he’d been doing a lot of lately, and paused with his hand gripped on the rear door handle.
“If you’re really there, God, please let this happen.” The muttered words evaporated into space and he felt foolish for even speaking them. How did Roxy draw such comfort from her prayers? He pushed aside the thought. There wasn’t time to reflect on spiritual matters. His focus needed to be the audition and nothing more. He grabbed his guitar and followed Larry.
They reached the elevator, and Dominic pushed the button with an upward-facing arrow. He continued his regimen of deep breaths while they waited for the doors to open, and then again as they rose to the eighth floor. Fortunately for him, he rarely displayed nervous tics that plagued many people, such as finger tapping or rapid blinking. Only someone who knew him well would be able to read his edginess.
When the elevator stopped, Larry turned to him. “Relax. You know you can do this.”
Instantly, Dominic found his inner balance again. That’s what made Larry such a great agent. Not only did he work relentlessly for his clients, but he also had a tone that could soothe the most anxious grandmother. It worked to his advantage in more ways than keeping his clients calm. Often, the person on the other side of a contract mistook the gentle voice for weakness, and they weren’t prepared when they discovered Larry’s sharp business acumen. He fought for the best terms for those he represented. Dominic had witnessed it many times.
They stepped into the hall, into a sea of glass walls and ceilings. Their first stop was Caroline Donovan’s office. The band manager happened to be married to the group’s percussion man, Jay. Ever since Larry had sent in the first demo months ago, Dominic had done his homework on the band and each of the members. He could recite more about them than any teenage girl would be able to about the latest boy band.
How else would he know that Bryce met his wife Sophie when he chased a duck from her, or that they were expecting a baby who was due next month? Or that Rob got married last month to Bryce’s cousin Danica, or Dani for short. For crying out loud, he even knew that Adam’s wife, Elle, and Caroline were good friends who often tried fad diets together. Goodness knew he wouldn’t have known, let alone cared, otherwise.
Always confident, Larry opened the door to Caroline’s office. In the front reception area, Madison—Caroline’s red-haired twenty-something assistant—sat behind a crescent-shaped desk. Abstract art prints hung on the walls, images that made no sense to Dominic. The entire space was too modern for his tastes, but then, it wasn’t his office to decorate.
Madison set down the phone she’d been holding to her ear. Considering the modern nature of everything else, he was surprised she didn’t have one of those fancy headphones to use. “Can I help you?”
“Larry Morgan and Dominic Sellers, to see Ms. Donovan.”
“Ah, yes. She’s expecting you, but she had to step out for a minute.” Madison waved toward another set of glass doors. “You can wait in her office.”
Larry led the way and sat in a leather chair. Dominic followed and remained standing. He surveyed the office, pausing his gaze at the window to appreciate the panoramic view of the city. When he’d come for the first audition, he hadn’t made it past the reception area, and he’d yet to meet Caroline. The first round was strictly a meeting with the guys where they played several songs together.
Ten minutes later, Caroline still hadn’t shown, and Dominic sat down. Larry checked his watch, then his phone. His jaw twitched. Dominic smirked at his agent’s irritation. Few things annoyed Larry more than unexplained lateness, but he had an uncanny ability to completely erase all signs of annoyance upon the offender’s arrival. The process had always amused Dominic though he couldn’t pinpoint why.
Another five minutes had passed when Bryce walked through the door. Dominic jumped to his feet. Larry also stood but in a slower fashion.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.” Bryce offered an apologetic smile. “Caroline is unexpectedly held up and called me to come greet you.”
“Not a problem.” Larry held out a hand. There were no visible signs of his agitation from moments ago.
Once all pleasantries were exchanged, Bryce addressed Dominic. “The rest of the guys are in the studio waiting.”
“Let’s go, then.” The confidence in his own voice surprised Dominic.
“Caroline shouldn’t be more than another ten minutes.” Bryce pointed toward the reception area. “If you need anything in the meantime, Madison will be glad to assist you.”
Dominic snuck a peek at Larry. He’d thought his agent would be with him for the audition. No biggie. He gave a mental shrug. Over the course of his career, if one could call it that, he’d been on his own many times, but he liked having Larry along. Failed auditions and even successful ones didn’t typically elicit specific feedback, but when Larry or a friend came along, they were always willing to give constructive criticism, which Dominic found to be a valuable tool.
However, in this instance it d
idn’t matter. Roxy and he hadn’t talked any more about it, but Dominic knew this was it. All or nothing. If he didn’t make it, he was going home to Dillonton. But if it came to that, he’d go back with his head held high, not like the proverbial dog with his tail between his legs. He’d given it a good run, tried his best. There was no shame in owning up to familial responsibilities.
On the way to the studio, two floors up and down a hallway, Bryce made small talk and Dominic dutifully answered all his questions. They came to the studio and entered.
Rob approached, an easy grin on his face. “I hear you’re the man trying to replace me.”
Dominic laughed. He hadn’t met Rob on the first audition, but his friendly attitude gave the illusion of two old friends joking. “Whether that happens is up to all of you.”
Bryce stepped forward. “Rob’s picked out the songs for today, all of which have strong chords in them. Are you familiar with ‘Don’t go to her’?”
“Yes, sir.” A gut feeling had told him they’d want to hear that one. Or keen insight because of its strong guitar solo. Either way, he’d perfected the song.
Bryce shook his head, his eyebrows arched. “None of that ‘sir’ stuff here. If we bring you on, we’re all equals, no matter who’s the newest.”
Yeah, easy to say when you all came into this together. Honestly, he didn’t care if he was the outcast, as long as he got the gig. He’d been one long enough it seemed like second nature at this point, but that wasn’t to say he wouldn’t welcome their friendship.
He took his spot, easily gliding through the chosen set of songs.
“There’s one last song I want to hear,” Bryce announced.
Dominic didn’t miss the confused looks on everyone’s faces. Obviously, they hadn’t planned for another. Great. What was Bryce up to?
“Which one?” He kept his voice smooth, refusing to trip over an unexpected request. Confidence was key.
“‘Maybe Then’. Are you familiar with it?” Bryce’s eyes narrowed, not in an unfriendly manner, yet there was no doubt this was a test of sorts.
“Yes.” He breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness Roxy had heard the new single on the radio last week and told him. No sheet music was available for it, but he’d downloaded the song and repeatedly listened until he could play it in his sleep.
Bryce walked to a small table, more like a footstool, and reached down to grab the papers on top. “Here’s the music.”
“I don’t need it.” He waved the papers away. “I’ve listened to it quite a few times,” he added as an afterthought, so he didn’t cross the line into sounding arrogant.
“All right.” A glint in Bryce’s eyes revealed he was impressed, at least Dominic hoped that was what it meant. “You guys ready?” Bryce scanned the room, making contact with Adam and Jay.
“Yep,” Jay answered first, then Adam followed with the same answer.
“Let’s do it.” Bryce cracked his knuckles and returned to his spot.
Eyes closed, Dominic pushed everything from his mind, concentrated solely on the music.
He was up for the task. If there was one thing he was confident about in his life, it was his musical ability. Rob was good, but Dominic was just as talented.
Jay began a slow intro on percussion, then Adam joined in. Dominic listened for his beat, waiting for the exact moment he was to join. The bar came and he strummed his heart out, his gut telling him this song would be the deciding factor. Bryce began singing. They finished the song, not one of them missing a beat.
Dominic held his breath. He’d thrown all of his heart and energy into the performance, gave it everything he had. From the corner of his eye, he saw Rob standing with a wide smile, his head bobbing in a slow, approving nod. That had to be a good sign, right?
“I think we’ve heard all we need.” Bryce looked to his three current bandmates and they all nodded.
Heart pounding, Dominic set down his guitar. Good vibes surrounded him, but he refused to raise his hopes. He wanted this too much to believe it until it happened. The studio door opened and a well-dressed, slim woman walked in. She exchanged a smile with Jay before going to Bryce and having a hushed conversation. Dominic guessed the woman was Caroline though she looked even more stunning in person than her pictures.
The woman walked to him and extended a hand. “Hi, you must be Dominic. I’m Caroline Donovan. It’s good to finally meet you.”
Grasping her hand and shaking it, he nodded. “It’s a pleasure to meet you as well.”
“The boys want to speak with you some more, and then Larry and I will join you.” She turned to Bryce. “The conference room is free until two. I’ve already sent Madison in with food and beverages.”
“Thanks, Caroline.”
“I’ll see you in a few.” She left the studio.
“The conference room is next to Caroline’s office, although we rarely use it.” Jay came out from behind the drums. “When it’s just us, we’ll usually meet in her office.”
Why would Jay have added that tidbit? Was it for future reference? Or was he reading too much into a simple comment?
Man, he wanted this. A permanent gig for the biggest star in country music. No more filling in here and there for mediocre acts, playing late nights in seedy bars just to get his name out. His heart thumped in anticipation. And here he’d thought the audition would be the tough part—he hadn’t stopped to consider what might come after. Like most auditions, he thought he’d leave right after playing his set.
This had to be good. How many times had the thought recurred today?
“Great job on ‘Maybe Then’.” Rob gave him an encouraging smile. “You’ll learn soon enough that Bryce likes surprises.”
Hmm. That was a blatant implication he’d be around. Although, it still could have been simple small talk. His nerves were wrecked, but thankfully, as far as he knew, it didn’t show.
Adam leaned toward him, speaking in a stage whisper, “The secret is to give him a taste of his own medicine.”
“I heard that,” Bryce called over his shoulder from the doorway.
The guys laughed, and for a second Dominic forgot his future was hanging in the balance. A pressure on his ribs caught his attention.
Smirking, Jay nudged him again. “A word of advice, never leave your belongings out of sight when Bryce is around.”
“Don’t listen to them.” Bryce paused at the stairwell. “If anyone’s the prankster, it’s Jay.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” The safe answer given, he climbed down the stairs.
His mind reeled, like the viewfinder toy he played with as a child. Each thought was a different image of his future. Success, failure, love, hate. Funny, Maisy showed up under hate while love was a blur. Why’d he think of her now, just when it seemed life would turn his way for once? She didn’t deserve a place in his thoughts, even if negative, and he’d allowed her space for far too long.
Glass walls greeted him again at the top of the stairs. He lagged in the rear, standing by Adam, who was in the middle of a story about his toddler daughter, a story that lasted until they reached the conference room. The area was sparsely finished, as though the designer was afraid to cause any distraction with the décor. In the middle of the black oval table sat two glass pitchers—one with water and one with tea. A stainless steel carafe was also there, with a small dish of plastic creamer cups and another of sweeteners. A tray was placed on each side of the drinks, one had sandwiches and the other, fruit.
Bryce pulled out a chair, then sat on the one next to it. He motioned to the empty spot. “Have a seat, get comfy.” He grabbed a mug near the carafe and filled it with coffee. Added sugar and stirred. “Help yourself.”
Clear plastic cups were stacked by the water carafe. Dominic claimed one, poured water into it and took a sip. It didn’t much help his dry throat. Nothing would until the meeting was over. Everyone else grabbed a sandwich. A few grabbed a banana or a handful of berries. Dominic didn’t touch th
e food. Anticipation lodged itself at the base of his mouth, and he wouldn’t be able to swallow a bite if he tried.
After a few minutes the mood in the room changed, causing a tightening of Dominic’s insides. All jocularity was set aside and the meeting returned to business.
Bryce led the discussion. “Thanks for playing again today. We appreciate your time.”
“I was happy to.” His hands remained still, one gripping his cup while his blood jumped in his veins.
“You have real talent and passion for the music.” Bryce drank a swig of coffee. “Adam, Jay and I were confident of our decision after we heard you live the first time, but we felt Rob should have a say also.”
He dragged in a breath. “I appreciate your compliments.”
“We don’t give them with empty meaning.” Rob stared at him. “I can say with confidence, that I’d be honored for you to be my replacement.”
Chills ran through him. This was it. Everything he’d ever wanted was about to be in his reach.
Not everything.
Yes, everything, he corrected his conscience.
Thoughts of Maisy persisted. He absolutely would not let her memory ruin this moment for him.
Bryce reached over, gripped his shoulder. “Larry and Caroline have been pounding out the details for the last few days. They’ll be in shortly with the final contracts. If they meet your approval, let me be the first to welcome you to our team.”
Unadulterated joy burned his eyelids and he blinked the moisture away. He’d not shed a tear when his dad left, not when his mom abandoned them many times over the years, not even when Maisy left. Men don’t cry. His mom had shouted it to him repeatedly when he’d been a hurt five-year-old boy crying for his dad.
But this feeling—it was a far cry from that night eighteen years ago that turned his world upside down. This was happiness, ecstasy and everything in between.
