by Casey Peeler
“Ah, you know you like it!”
“Eh, it’s okay.” I laugh, and we go inside.
Walking inside is like going back in time. The mechanical bull is to my right, and one drunk girl has already gotten enough liquid courage to ride it. The lights give an orange glow, and the bar in the middle is packed. As I glimpse over at the bar, I see Lyndsay. She throws her hand up, and the three of us walk that way.
Once Jake and I get a beer, Chase excuses himself to get back to work. We talk briefly before going to the dance floor. All the country line dancers we can stand greet us, and we join right in. Glancing over my shoulder, I laugh at the fact that no one has noticed us yet. When the song ends, I look to my right and see Cole.
“Cole!” I squeal as I head his direction. Jake and I talk to him a few minutes, and then Jake excuses us when he hears Brantley Gilbert’s “Bottoms Up” coming from the house band. As we turn it up on the dance floor, things definitely heat up for the world to see.
Placing my arms around Jake’s neck, my hips begin to sway to the music as we sing the lyrics together. As the chorus approaches, my hands move to his chest. After staring into his eyes, I turn around and show him everything about “Bottoms Up.”
“Belle, you better stop because I’m about to take you out back and show you what you’re doing to me.”
“I dare you,” I whisper. He takes me by the hand, and we start to make our way out when I hear Blake, the lead singer of the house band, say my name as the spotlight shines directly on me.
“Y’all put your hands together for our very own Belle Montgomery. Get your ass up here and show us what that big stage has done to ya!”
I let go of Jake, glance at Lyndsay and Chase, and make my way to the stage. Everything about this night feels right—being at Joe’s with my friends, Jake, and living life to the fullest.
As I take the stage, the crowd goes crazy. The house band greets me with open arms, and I feel at home. I tell them I wanna go back in time by taking it back to when I used to do this regularly. Without mentioning the song, they take their places, and Zack, the drummer, counts five-six-seven-eight. The sound of Miranda Lambert’s “Kerosene” begins to echo through the speakers, and I approach the microphone. Performing it like the first time I ever did on this stage, I sing with every ounce of my being. After a few other covers, I sing my new release, “Some Kinda Heartbreak.” As I lose myself in the song, I can’t help but relive the last time I stepped on this stage and who greeted me as soon as I got off it. Chase. I glance over and find him and Jake watching every move I make.
As I finish my last note, the light bulb goes off. I’ve got to get out of the past and into the future. I do the only thing that makes sense in the moment.
“How y’all doin’ tonight? I’m so glad to be back home, but I’ve got a surprise. How many of y’all love Jake Bryant?” I can see Jake shaking his head no, but I don’t care. It will be fun. “How’d you like to see us perform right here tonight for the first time together?” The crowd hoots and hollers. “Come on, Jake! For the crowd?” I say with my hands on my hips and my biggest pouty lips. He smiles and makes his way to the stage.
Jake takes a minute to talk to the band. He knows exactly what songs he wants to perform, including a duet with me that he says will make Chase smile. I know exactly what he means. Our song. It’s one of the most famous duets in country music— “It’s Your Love” by Tim and Faith. You’d think that this would make me happy, but instead, I’m the most anxious I have ever been in my life. Jake gives the crowd what they want by doing what he does best on stage. I step back out of the light and enjoy the view just like on tour. This time things are different. We are different. Different than we were a few hours ago. I feel like he’s trying to prove himself against Chase, and I’m not sure how I feel about that.
Once Jake finishes his song, we join together for a fun duet of Sugarland’s “Stuck Like Glue.” As I turn and signal the band, the house lights focus on me. I begin to sing one of my favorite songs of all time. I zero in on Chase, and his face looks like he’s seen a ghost when he peers into my eyes. I sing the verse straight to him.
People in the crowd find someone they love on the dance floor and sing as we do. Jake joins me at the chorus and sings his verse directly to me. I know I must be standing there with the goofiest grin as I join him in singing.
Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Chase at the bar, and the expression on his face hurts my heart. I’ve never wanted to hurt him in my entire life, but this is what I want. I want Jake Bryant, or at least I think I do.
Once the song ends, he pulls me in close and kisses my forehead. Forehead, really? I just knew he was going to tell the world about us tonight when he picked that song. Then, he asks me, “You think he liked it?” I feel a piece of my heart break when I see Chase slam his water and exit to the side porch. I wonder if this was Jake’s way of making a point to Chase, and if so, we are done before things even get started.
As soon as the lights dim, I whisper to Jake, “You did that shit on purpose.” Without thinking, I exit the stage and hurry to Chase.
When I walk outside, the cool air touches my sweaty skin and chill bumps instantly rise. Looking to my left and right, I start panicking to find him. I should have told him; that’s what friends do. Now, there’s nothing to tell. I don’t want to be with someone that takes his power out on others, even if the world sees him as the best thing since sliced bread. I see him at the edge of the porch staring out into the grass.
I take a deep breath as I reach him. Placing my hand on his back, I don’t say anything.
“Belle, you need to go. I can’t do this here.”
“Can’t do what, Chase?”
Chase turns toward me with pain written all over his face. “Let you go. I can’t let you go. You’re everything to me and seeing you up there with him… singing our song together. I can’t watch that.”
“Chase, we have always been just friends.”
“‘Just friends’? I do believe there was one night that we were anything but ‘just friends.’”
“Don’t, Chase! Don’t go there.” Tears begin to form in my eyes.
“Bella Blu, that was our song, not y’alls. Tell me that it didn’t feel the same. I saw the way you looked at me when you sang that first verse. You were singing to me. Then when you looked at him… I don’t even want to talk about it. Please tell me it didn’t feel like this.” Chase takes me in his arms and pulls me into his perfectly chiseled body as his lips meet mine. They’re soft at first and then harder with every moment. I try to resist him, but I can’t. I’ve denied us as long as I can remember, and even though Jake has given me so much over the past few days, he’s just a memory when Chase touches me. That spark I extinguished the night on the trestle is alive and burning tonight, and I won’t put it out.
When we finally pull ourselves apart, I know I have to talk to Jake, but before I can do that, I have something that I must tell Chase.
“Chase, you know things will never be the same.”
“Bella Blu, I don’t want things to ever be the same. “
“I need to talk to him, even though I’m pretty sure he just won the Asshole of the Year award up there. I’d never do anything to hurt you and that hurt us both.”
As I turn to make my way back inside, I’m met by Jake.
“Well, it appears like I was right all along, but the truth is this. Chase, I’ve known since the first time I met ya that she’d always choose you. I just wish I didn’t have to do that for both of you to realize it.”
“You did that on purpose? You weren’t trying to rub it in Chase’s face?” I ask.
“Damn right I did it on purpose. I’ve had the most fun in Lattimore, but the moment we stepped on that trestle, I knew I’d never win ya. Just thought I’d help y’all out. Now, if y’all don’t mind, I’m gonna go talk to Lyndsay at the bar,” he says with a wink.
“Jake Bryant, I just might have to drop that four-letter
word again!”
“You wouldn’t dare!” he says as he walks away.
Turning to face Chase, I fall into his arms. “So, maybe he doesn’t take the Asshole of the Year award.”
“No, he does, but you know that I’m never letting you go.”
“I don’t plan on ever being out of your sight.”
Chase looks at me quizzically. “What do you mean? You have to leave tomorrow. What are you up to, Bella Blu?”
“I think I might need a bodyguard. You wanna go on the road with me?”
“As long as I get to stay on your bus and not Bryant’s.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way, Chase.”
Placing my head on his chest, we sway to the sound of a country love song inside. Never in my wildest dreams did I plan on falling for my best friend, and I sure as hell didn’t plan on Jake Bryant playing matchmaker.
Casey Peeler grew up and still lives in North Carolina with her husband and daughter. Her first passion is teaching students with special needs. Over the years, she found her way to relax was in a good book.
After reading Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston her senior year of high school, she found a hidden love and appreciation for reading. Her perfect day consists of water, sand between her toes, a cold beverage, and a great book!
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