Taylor’s Legendary Heart: Sweethearts of Country Music, Book 2

by Pinder, Victoria

  In the stands, the crowd was divided between beer color and brands like there was to be a battle of the beer fans later.

  They took the stage, where Katie Lyn, dressed in her white top, jeans and white snakeskin boots, used her powerful vocals to command attention from the half-drunk crowd, as she talked up the band and teased her audience. Taylor sat at her piano, feeling like the performance would go well.

  Everything was fine except her personal life.

  Eddie deserved better than a beer festival performer. She’d hold him back too much, as she said to C.C. seated beside her at her drums, “Eddie has his own show, and his own life.”

  They started with “Silly Me” and the song went over well. People cheered. C.C. asked once the first song ended and Katie Lyn worked the crowd with talking and egging on cheers, “You never told us how it went at your parents?”

  Sometimes having friends made things worse. Everyone knew everything about her, and she, them, and she couldn’t just move on without explaining why she'd broken things off with the most wonderful man she’d ever held. Her face flamed under their perusal. “I was finishing the song.”

  Rissa tapped her microphone reminding her that Taylor was mic'ed-up to sing, but then she spoke away from hers to say, “And avoiding the question.”

  Katie Lyn had everyone screaming for the Lipstick Outlaws though one heckler was clear as day with shouts of, “Taylor is evil.”

  After the tour with Miranda ended, they’d be back playing in small bars in the middle of nowhere. If she stayed, she’d ruin the band’s future if more people ended up hating her like that guy. She’d end up alone and loveless, without Eddie and without her future.

  Eddie would be on the other side of the world being adored.

  She glanced up at her friends, who stared at her, and seemed not to have heard that guy. Her skin felt all jumpy and jittery as her hands were on the piano ready to play and basically… she was horrible as she said, “Fine. I told Eddie to never see me again.”

  C.C. twirled her drum sticks in the air and quickly said, “You’re joking. Why?”

  Taylor jumped up to sing in her white snakeskin boots and heart belt buckle, with a white shirt with pink rhinestones created for the stage. As the song ended, she moved her microphone to not be heard as she said, “Because… he’s a super star.”

  Rissa backed up into the darkness while Katie Lyn belted out a beat without any instrument and then joked with the crowd. Rissa said, “Taylor for the first time since we’ve known each other these three years… we all have money coming now. Real money. You can have anything you want.”

  “I want Eddie to be happy.” Taylor said as the stage went dark.

  The announcer was describing new brands of beer for the crowds and how to use their app to order.

  The world stopped mattering and she was just going through the motions.

  C.C. continued talking in an animated way beside her, clearly pumped for their show. “That man seemed into you. After we finish, you can explain that one.”

  Beer festival was so the opposite of Eddie’s life and the CMAs or helicopter tours over Vegas. The announcer finished his directions and phones were all lit up from ordering. Katie Lyn, Rissa, Cinnamon, and Mac all joined hands to pray as Taylor said, “Fine.”

  After the show she’d talk about Eddie.

  In a limited fashion, as she couldn’t ever tell anyone about the wedding.

  For now, Katie Lyn shouted, “Lipstick” and Taylor repeated with the others, “Outlaws” and Rissa led a quick prayer.

  The lights flickered the moment they finished, and the others retook their places around the stage.

  Taylor, with a wave to the crowd, stood and pointed to the air with her first borrowed piano in months.

  The keys didn’t stick--but it wasn't long before she lost herself in the song she'd written.

  Eddie’s half-smile that held back whatever he was going to say kept replaying in her mind as she sang backup and the crowd cheered and sang with her, “After all the city noises… The heartbreaking moments… All the curses on me…I came to Nashville to find out…If country life is there for the taking…If a good life is waiting, waiting for me.”

  This song had fifty-three million hits on YouTube.

  And half of them left messages that Eddie deserved better than her. The other half left compliments for all of them.

  At the end of the verse, she missed a key.

  Ugh. She finished the song.

  Somehow the extremes jarred her mind and kept her… well uncomfortable as her skin felt like someone else’s.

  The band took their bows as the next act of two men was about to take the stage.

  The crowd cheered for the Lipstick Outlaws louder than she’d expected.

  They must like their last song, and Katie Lyn said, “Goodbye, Denver.”

  And they walked off stage, done.

  They passed the men and headed back to the dressing rooms. Rissa said, “Taylor, you lost some of your excitement out there and missed a note. You never miss a beat. Are you okay?”

  Her heart shattered. If she messed up, she’d ruin the best thing in her life right now. The only thing she had was her friends and her music. She met Rissa’s gaze and stuttered as she said, “I was… I’ll never lose that again.”

  Rissa turned to talk to Val who was talking to someone about payment, as the six of them headed back to check out of the performer’s area. More people joined the performer’s tent and C.C. stayed close; her eyes covered by her sunglasses. “We were great and so were you, Taylor. Rissa’s being your friend and asking what’s up. I need you to explain to us all how you’re unhappy when Eddie clearly loves you.”

  Friends yes. They walked out into the sun to find a table and Taylor’s eyes squinted but Rissa led them to the back bartender in the area with less of a line for free beer as Taylor’s face heated. “He shouldn’t.”

  Rissa handed her a stout, knowing it was Taylor’s preference. “So, you’re afraid of what exactly?”

  Taylor met her friend’s gaze. Rissa knew all her mistakes. Her shoulders slumped and she stared into her beer glass as she said, “That I’ll quit the band before we turn into something great, follow Eddie like I would when I give my heart away, and end up with absolutely nothing… again.”

  Rissa elbowed her gently and directed them to a bistro table now that they had their drinks. Taylor glanced up as she said, “Keith did quite a number on you.”

  The beer helped her admit the truth as she stared into the depths of the dark brown liquid. “He… I guess he did.”

  Other singers and performers were all at their own tables, minding their own business, clearly not caring about them or their conversation.

  Rissa put her glass next to Taylor’s. “Look, Val said Keith’s in a lot of legal trouble these days for stealing your work, and her lawyer, Alec O'Donnell, is negotiating a hefty settlement for you to avoid court. But from what I understand he owes you fifty percent of his assets.”

  Taylor stiffened and crossed her arms as she imagined Keith handing her a check. “I don’t want that.”

  C.C. shook her head and laughed, “You are absolutely blessed, Taylor. Look, give the money to the poor, then, when you run off and marry Eddie.”

  Eddie. She cringed. If only life were different. If only she’d… but this beer tent was as much her life as her piano and heartache were the only way to express herself now. This was the dream. Or was. She avoided their gazes. “I’m… not marrying Eddie.”

  Rissa gave her a side-eye. “So, you want to be miserable.”

  That comment stung in her gut. She sipped her beer as C.C. said, “I don’t get you, Taylor. You’re the luckiest woman I’ve ever met--you literally have what we all want.”

  Eddie? No. They’d never said so. She had nothing except a broken heart. She swallowed her beer. “What’s that?”

  C.C. said, “A chance to have a happily-ever-after.”

  That would req
uire Eddie and a life she… didn’t get to have. He’d do better without her. She shook her head and picked up her beer. “But I’m in the band.”

  C.C. took her sunglasses off and gave her a glare. Taylor was speechless as the drummer said, “Honestly, be real. How long do you think six adult women will last as stars together?”

  Maybe a few years. Maybe less. Taylor pressed her lips together. “I don’t know.”

  C.C. spoke like she hit her drums, with precision and straight from the heart. “Sure, there are a few Dixie Chicks or the Judds who sang together, but for the most part, this tour and journey of ours will last a few years tops. What happens to you then?”

  Find some loser and turn into her mother.

  No.

  Impossible.

  And her father wasn’t a loser. The good doctor was just… something she never wanted for her own life.

  Eddie’s green eyes sparkled in her mind.

  Wow. She’d thrown away the best thing in the world.

  If she didn’t tell him… then she’d be miserable forever, except she’d have the knowledge that she’d helped create a legend. But would that keep either of them warm at night?

  Today was just a preview of the pain she would feel. She pushed aside her almost full beer as she stared at the setting sun and asked, “Good question. What time is it?”

  “Seven thirty,” C.C. said and put her phone back in her pocket.

  Eddie performed tonight in Denver.

  But then tomorrow he left for his show in Dallas and then he took off for Australia. She’d never see him again.

  Her heart fluttered and she straightened. “I have to go. Can you tell Val I had to leave? And I’ll meet y’all later?”

  C.C. waved and said, “Text so we know you’re safe… in Eddie’s arms.”

  Taylor laughed and shook her head though she knew her face was hot as she backed up, “I’m not… I have to go.”

  She pivoted on her boot heel and raced out of the performance area to the parking lot as she summoned an Uber.

  Her entire body buzzed with adrenaline as she jumped into her ride, but he didn’t ask why she was heading to the Eddie Williams concert dressed in her pink glitter top.

  A half an hour later, the ride let her out at the gate, but the tickets were sold out. She stood outside the Mile High Stadium—no ticket, no purse, and her only cash the emergency money in her phone case. She searched the parking lot, but nobody had one for sale.

  Finally, she found a seller on the street and he sold her a single ticket—it was all she needed.

  Once inside, she ran toward the stage rather than the packed seats.

  The arena was dark, and people sang along like Eddie was their pop rock god as he crooned one of his early songs.

  She finally found the door and asked security for Tam.

  Eddie finished his song and she froze.

  Hopefully this wasn’t the end of his show already--she needed time to reach him.

  She had no idea how long it had taken--but he sang again, and she breathed out in relief.

  Finally, she saw Tam and she waved for her. “Tam, it’s Taylor. Please let me in.”

  Tam passed the guard. “Eddie’s show is another thirty minutes on stage. He can’t be interrupted.”

  "I have to see him."

  Tam gestured her inside.

  Taylor placed her hand on her heart to stop the jittering in her chest as Tam said, “Wait in his dressing room.”

  “Thank you,” Taylor said as the door opened.

  “His being married isn’t good for his publicity.”

  “I am not here to hurt his career. I need to see him because I love him, very much.”

  “You both care about each other. Just don’t hurt my boss.”

  “I won’t,” Taylor swore as she went into the dressing room as ordered.

  Tam nodded at her and checked her clipboard.

  His shoes were near the door and his phone was charging.

  Soon he’d be back here, and she could apologize.

  Tam gently took her wrist and said, “Don’t hurt that man again. He’s been walking around like a sick puppy.”

  She loved him and absolutely didn’t want to ever, ever hurt him. She shook her head and raised her right hand like a scout as she said, “I won’t. I swear it.”

  “Well, wait here.” Tam headed out the door.

  Taylor heard Eddie’s voice in the air as she said, “I won’t move a muscle.”

  She was so close. She’d not go anywhere. She needed to tell him she wanted a life with him and that nothing else mattered.

  If he meant that he’d wait for her, then she’d wait for him too. Not seeing him ever again crushed her soul and she’d never hurt him again.

  If he forgave her.

  18

  Eddie’s shirt stuck to his body, drenched in sweat from the hot lights of the stage.

  Tonight, he’d forgotten his heartache while performing for his fans, funneling everything he felt into his songs. Taylor leaving him had left a gaping open wound and his audience allowed him to express himself.

  However, as he stepped out of the lights into the dark behind the stage his skin pulsed like Taylor was here, somewhere.

  He had to be wrong. He took his time and congratulated the stage band for a performance well-done, and then Tam tapped him on his shoulder. He saw her pensive face as she said, “Eddie, you have someone waiting for you in your dressing room.”

  The concern on her face had him worried that his mother had flown halfway across the country because he'd told her about Taylor. His stomach tightened. “Who is it?”

  Her gaze narrowed. “I won’t spoil the surprise but if you want security… just call.”

  He scratched his head and walked toward his dressing room though he called out from behind him to Tam, “My mother would never come.”

  He opened the door and his heart pounded fiercely in his chest and his skin grew goosebumps. Taylor would show up for him. He'd known it.

  Taylor looked at him and said, “I’m not your mom.”

  What had changed? He walked closer but kept his hands in his pockets to stop himself from reaching out and holding her. “Taylor.”

  She touched his arm, sliding her fingers down to his wrist. “Eddie, I’m so sorry.”

  Every cell in his body was now alive and it wasn’t the adrenaline from the stage. This was how it was supposed to be--the two of them, together.

  He had a home and future. He took his hands out of his pockets and shrugged, “It’s quite all right, Taylor.”

  He took a step back, but Taylor held his hand firm. “No. Eddie don’t… go silent on me.”

  There was so much inside of him happening that he needed to splash water on his face to get a grip and feel. She'd hurt him. He held his head higher and pulled his hand free. “I’m not. I’m… happy to see you, but I’m hoping you can give me a few minutes so I can freshen up. Wait here.”

  He didn’t close the door, but he stripped and headed into the shower mostly to douse himself with water to get the sweat off his body.

  He didn’t want to leave Taylor alone.

  Once he rinsed, he turned off the shower and dressed in his normal clothes. As he towel-dried his hair, he stepped out to find Taylor in tears as she said, “I came to say I’m stupid and to beg you to forgive me.”

  Her being here was all that mattered. He walked over and took her hand, wanting to hold her waist and never let her go. “Taylor, you’ve always been the one that’s been there for me, for every major event in my life since I was fourteen.”

  She clung to his shoulder as she said through sniffling, “What I said last night… I was stupid and throwing away the most important person in my life because I’m a stupid idiot.”

  He gently massaged her lower back, happy she was here and where he always wanted her. “My wife is not an idiot.”

  Her eyes widened and she let out soft sigh. “Your wife?”

  Right now,
he had hope that the life he'd always wanted was here to stay.

  She continued, “Eddie, if you can wait a year or so I can see out my commitment to the band, then… then… we can make a decision for the rest of our lives together.”

  Nothing he hadn’t expected already. He nodded and said fast, “I was willing to do that last night. What changed?”

  She took a deep breath like she both scolded herself and needed a break. Then she said, “I came to my senses. I realized that I didn’t need to let you go if we both really love each other. And I’ll keep our marriage a secret as I’ve already done so I don’t ruin your career.”

  “Taylor, I’ll start singing love songs now. Hopefully, my fans are ready for that too.”

  “Your voice is exactly what a new bride will want to hear as she steps out onto the dancefloor with her new husband.”

  But the world didn’t matter right now. Her skin was jumpy as she said, “I’ve been miserable since we've been apart. And one year or so on my part isn’t a reason to throw out a lifetime of happiness.”

  Good. Perfect really. He pressed his forehead to hers as he asked, “You believe me now that I’ll never leave you?”

  She hugged him so tight it seemed like she never wanted to let him go. “Yes, but I’m hoping you’re open to a long-distance relationship and understand I am committed to making us work. You’re my life, long before and after any career I have. I want to give the Lipstick Outlaws a year and have you to come home to because you’re the only home I’ve ever had too.”

  His own tour neared its end in a year and a half. His lips were a fraction of an inch from hers as he said, “I’m happy to hear it. What changed your mind that you’re not hurting my career anymore?”

  “Because you have the talent to do anything you want, your fans know that. I’ll buy your next album even if you kick me out.”

  His entire body tingled with desire, and he claimed her lips.

  She eagerly kissed him back.

  And right now, he had everything.

  As the kiss ended, Taylor asked, “How are you so accepting about me, Eddie?”

  The memory of earlier when he’d called his mother left him cold so he let her go as he said, “Because now I get a chance to have the life I always wanted, if you can wait for my tour to end.”