The fight went out of Shell and she collapsed on the couch. “This is really what you want?”
“It is, and I want you to be happy for me. I want you to do all the things that you’ve never been able to because we’ve been on the road. I want you and Jared to have what Garrett and I have.”
The two of them were quiet for a long time.
“It scares me, you know?” Shell admitted.
“What does?”
“Spending all that time with Jared and not having you to do things for. What if I get on his nerves? What if you decide that you don’t need me anymore? What if you never come back to this, then where is my life and what do I do about all the time I’ve put into it. The love you have for Garrett is amazing and beautiful, but it worries me that you’re going to give everything up for him. I know I’m being selfish, but I can’t help but think of it. I’ve spent most of my adult life making sure you have everything you need and that you’re okay. You don’t need me anymore.”
“That’s not true at all.” Hannah put her arms around Shell’s neck and hugged her tightly. “I’m going to always need you, but I need him too. Life changes, it evolves. If you give Jared the chance to be your Garrett, he could be.”
“I know,” she grinned. “Maybe that’s what scares me the most.”
“It’s time for us to stand on our own. We’ve depended on each other for a long time, and now, we’ve got to do it apart.”
“I know.” Shell wrinkled her nose.
“When Garrett and I find a house here, this one is yours. I know you love it here, and I would never take your home away from you. Maybe you and Jared can make some amazing memories here.”
That sounded good to Shell. At least she wouldn’t be in this alone, she did have Jared, but she worried that she wouldn’t ever be enough for him. It would only take one thing to set him back, and she worried she was a trigger for him more than a help at times. Although she would never admit that out loud.
“Thank you.” Shell hugged Hannah back. “You know, as mad as I was at you earlier, I was proud too, ’cause you stood up for yourself.”
“I’ve got to. If I don’t, people are going to walk all over me and they are going to ruin the only things that make me happy in life. There’s more to life than when the next record is coming out and which tour we’re going to do next.”
That was a very mature way to put things, and again, Shell was impressed. “What do you think Bryson’s going to say?”
“I don’t really care,” Hannah laughed. “He and I have been friends for a long time. If he’s still my friend, then he’s going to understand.”
Shell laughed along with her, but there was a small part of her that wondered if Hannah knew exactly what she was doing. This could be the end of Harmony Stewart if they didn’t play this correctly, but this was Hannah’s decision to make and Shell knew that she would have to support her, no matter what.
Chapter Six
* * *
“That’s it, Hannah,” the sound engineer in the booth told her. “We’re done.”
“With the whole thing?” she asked, holding her headphones to her ears tightly, afraid that she might have heard him wrong. She knew they were getting close, but she hadn’t realized they were that close.
“With the whole thing! Go enjoy yourself for a week or so while we mix this and get record company approval.”
“You’ll send me the finished copy of everything?” she questioned.
He nodded, giving her a thumbs-up as she took the headphones off her head and made her way out of the booth.
“I think you’ve got somethin’ special here, Hannah,” he told her. “You’re voice has gotten much more mature, and you seem more comfortable with yourself. You’re fans are growing up, just like you are. They’re going to appreciate the changes that you’ve made in your life, and they’re going to be able to tell that you’re comfortable in your own skin.”
“I am.” She smiled. “I love the changes that I’ve made in my life.”
He reached up, giving her a hug. She had worked with Brett since she’d started in the business. He’d been the sound engineer on every single one of her albums. “They look good on ya, doll.”
She hurried around the studio, grabbing up her stuff. “When should I have the final product, do you think?”
He glanced at his watch. “Today’s Wednesday. I’d say by Friday of next week. Go have yourself a mini-vacation. Go visit that husband of yours.”
That was exactly what she was thinking too. “Thanks for workin’ so hard, Brett.” She reached down, giving him a hug around the shoulders.
“I only work as hard as the artist, and you, my friend, work your ass off. You deserve this break that I’ve heard rumblings about.”
She bit her lip, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. “Do you think I’m makin’ a mistake? You’ve been doin’ this a long time.”
“If you were a flash in the pan, I would tell you to strike while the iron is hot and don’t you dare take any time off. That you need to capitalize on everything you’ve got. But you’re Harmony Stewart, and you’ve changed the way we do things here on a certain level. You write amazing songs, you’re sweet, but at the same time you’re learning not to take any shit off other people. I say if you want to take some time off, you’ll be fine. If you’re burnt out and pissed off at the world, you’re not going to do anybody any good.”
“I need this time off,” she re-iterated. “But then I look at the long line of female country singers that took time off, that never made it back. LeeAnn Rimes, Shania Twain, Faith Hill. They’re still very respected and big names in the industry, but they never made it back.”
“They were also older than you when they took a break,” he raised his eyebrows. “And their breaks were years long. Not to mention, they didn’t have hot rocker husbands, like you.”
She smiled, a blush covering her face.
“Does making it back concern you so much?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so, but it’s one of those things where I’m kind of on the fence about it. Sometimes I hate being so big that I can’t take time off, but then I think to myself, this isn’t everything that life is about. It’s a double-edged sword.”
He turned to face her. “With your social media presence, no one is going to wonder where you are or what you’re doing. At this point, they’re just as interested in what you and Garrett are doing together personally as they are what you’re doing professionally. This is a whole new world, a whole new ballgame. Ain’t nobody gonna forget Harmony Stewart.”
Hannah laughed, throwing her head back. “That’s right; ’cause we ain’t gonna let ’em.”
They hugged again before she made her way out of the studio. On this particular night, Shell had decided not to accompany her, so she quickly texted her to let her know they were done and she was getting a flight out of Nashville to Los Angeles. Her phone rang almost instantly.
“You’re not even waiting until morning?” Shell asked, “It’s almost nine at night.”
“Which means it’s seven there, and by the time I get there, it’ll be around midnight their time. I can sleep on the plane; it’s not that big of a deal.”
“What about clothes?”
Hannah was getting good and fed up with Shell trying to talk her out of anything that had to do with Garrett. “I packed a bag this morning, and I’d like for you to stop this.”
“Stop what?”
The airport was less than twenty minutes from the studio, and Hannah was already halfway to the airport with her lead foot. “Being the way you’re being.”
“I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.”
“You do,” she insisted. “The thing with you is that you’re fine as long as I check my schedule and get the okay from you on everything. I don’t have to do that in my personal life. I’m going to see Garrett. The sound guys told me I have at least a week before they’re done.”
�
��There’s a lot you could be doing around here. Photography and press.”
“I can just as easily do that in California. Stop being a bitch.” Hannah’s voice was getting louder, and she pulled out a word she hardly ever used.
“What?”
“You are. I get that you’re used to our relationship being the most important one in our lives, but it’s not anymore. It’s still important to me, but if you keep pushing me, I’m going to shut down, and then where will we be? Stop being so damn jealous.”
Shell swallowed roughly. Like always, Hannah had called it right. She was jealous. Jealous of the fact that Hannah knew exactly what she wanted and that she had a man who knew what he wanted. They weren’t scared to jump in blind and with both feet. She envied it and wanted it for herself.
“I’m sorry.”
“While I’m gone, you need to figure out what it is you want. Do you still want to be my friend or just my assistant and partial manager? I can’t keep doing this and I refuse to. I’ll see ya in a few days.” Hannah hung up as she pulled into Nashville International Airport.
She was done letting other people run her life. She’d told people that same thing a million times. At some point, they were going to believe her.
* * *
I’m here! Be aware, even at almost midnight, there’s a bunch of paparazzi still here.
Hannah looked down at the text as she de-boarded the plane and made her way in the throng of people to the baggage claim. She’d texted Stacey once they were in the air to let her know that she was on her way, and to ask for a ride. While she recorded during the day, Black Friday recorded day and night. She knew that this was one night they were booked until the wee hours of the morning.
“Ugh, at least I had a little bit of sleep on the plane,” she whispered to herself as she broached the concourse, seeing Stacey, but also seeing the paparazzi she had been talking about.
“Hey!” Stacey yelled, waving.
“Hey, yourself. I don’t have any luggage, just this.” She indicated the shoulder bag that she’d carried on.
“Then let’s get the fuck outta here, these guys make me claustrophobic.”
“Is there a huge star coming in today?” Hannah asked, the two of them keeping their head down and moving swiftly.
“Yeah, girl, you.”
As Stacey said that, the paparazzi noticed her and Hannah moving quickly away from the throng, and she heard someone yell “Harmony” loudly. “Crap,” she laughed, wondering if they should run.
They looked at each other, “I can’t run as fast as Garrett,” Stacey laughed.
“Me neither.”
They locked hands as about twenty photographers crowded around them. Neither wanted to get separated from the other. Questions and comments were shouted from everywhere as the bright flash of cameras shined in their faces.
Harmony!! How is Reaper? Are you here to visit him? Trouble in paradise? Here to check on your hubby?
She kept her head down, moving forward, inch by inch. “Here to visit,” she called out.
Is he pissed about the pictures of you and Bryson Grant taken outside the studio the other day? He couldn’t have been happy! Was Bryson taking your wedding ring off?
That was a new one on her; she didn’t know anything had been printed. Garrett hadn’t mentioned it, so possibly he hadn’t seen them. That would be a relief to her, especially since she hadn’t seen them either.
“Can you guys give us a little bit of room, please?” she asked, finally lifting her head up.
The flashbulbs went off even faster.
C’mon, Harmony, smile for us! You and Stacey pose together. Give us something.
She did her best to smile, but when there were this many people around her and she couldn’t see an escape, it made her feel uneasy. They were trying desperately to make their way to the end of the terminal so they could get out of the doors, but it was taking forever. Just as she was about to lose it, she felt a strong arm come around her shoulders and give her some breathing room. Looking up, she smiled at her father-in-law.
“Stacey brought me, just in case you two needed me. I figured when you didn’t make it back to the car by a certain time, you needed me.”
Garrett got his height and muscular build from his dad, and obviously a bit of his temper too as Kevin started yelling for the crush of photographers to give them some room. This time, they listened.
Finally they made it to the end of the terminal and out of the glass doors. Once they were there, she inhaled a deep breath of fresh air. “Thanks for coming to save us,” she said as she hooked hands with Kevin. The three of them made a united front, finally running for the car.
They could hear the photographers giving chase behind them, but Stacey and Kevin had been smart and parked in a regulated area, so that the paparazzi couldn’t follow.
“That’s insane,” Kevin shook his head.
“It is,” Hannah agreed. “And honestly scary, when I don’t have Garrett with me. He’s big enough that he can give me some breathing room, but when it’s only me or me and another friend like Stacey, they swarm everywhere. Nobody wants to get on Garrett’s bad side, so when he’s with me, it’s not so bad. Thank you again.”
“Not a problem,” he told her as he backed the car out of the lot and then pulled into the main lane to get out of the airport.
She laughed, but it was humorless as they saw another group of photographers, racing to get pictures of her in the front seat of the car. They were too slow though as Kevin pulled the car onto the freeway.
“You want me to take you to the house or studio?”
Stacey, from where she sat in the back, spoke. “They still have a few hours at the studio.”
“Then that’s where I want to go. I still feel weird going into the house by myself. I know that’s stupid, but I hate going in there without Garrett with me.”
“I’ll drop you off,” Kevin told her as he continued driving. “This time of night, it shouldn’t take us long to get to Huntington Beach.”
She knew it was about an hour drive from the airport to the studio, but she’d never been to the studio before and she’d never seen Garrett in the studio. This would be a new experience and it was one that she couldn’t wait to have.
Chapter Seven
* * *
“They’re in the second room on the right,” Stacey told Hannah as they pulled to a stop in front of the recording studio that Black Friday used.
“You aren’t coming in?”
Stacey grinned. “Already been there tonight and got kicked out by big brother.”
Hannah laughed loudly. That meant Stacey and Brad had been a little too close for Garrett’s comfort. He was doing better with the two of them being together, as long as it wasn’t thrown in his face. Every once in a while, he had to put a stop to it.
“Nobody should be at the front desk, but if they are, show them this,” Stacey shoved a laminated card in her hand that at first looked like a backstage pass.
Hannah turned it over in her hand, examining it. It had her picture on it, her name, and at the bottom “Garrett’s wife”.
“Everybody who comes to the studio out here has one. They have to keep it on lockdown, because fans like to sneak in and their favorite line is that they’re family. The band had these made last time they were in the studio. I snuck and had you one made today,” she explained.
There was something about seeing her name. The card said Hannah Thompson—not Harmony Stewart, not Hannah Stewart. It said Hannah Thompson. She knew she was wearing a stupid grin on her face, but the fact of the matter was, she hadn’t had time to change her last name and, in all honesty, hadn’t really thought about it. Seeing it in print like that solidified what her plans were. She had to find a happy medium between Harmony, the singer, and Hannah, the wife. If that meant being less Harmony, then so be it. “Thank you so much, for everything, you two!”
“Not a problem.” Kevin yawned from behind the wheel. “Garrett
’s been a big grouch lately, and I know it’s because of the way the two of you have been seeing each other. Go enjoy your week with him. Maybe he can take a day or two off himself.”
She hugged both of them as best she could before grabbing her purse and carry-on bag. When she got to the front door, she noticed there was a scanner and no other way to get in. Taking the badge that Stacey had given her, she swiped it, almost squealing when it let her in. She was so close to seeing Garrett she could taste it. Entering the building was eerie at this time of night—she glanced at her watch—or early morning, as the case may be. She walked down the hall to the room that Stacey had told her they would be in and noticed that it said Black Friday on the outside of the door. The dilemma was if she should knock or not, but that was settled for her when the door opened and she came face to face with Jared.
“Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in.” He grinned at her, scooping her up in a hug.
Over the past few months, the two of them had developed a friendship that bordered on brother and sister. She was equally excited to see him, squealing when he swung her around her in a circle.
“Who are you molesting? Is that Shell?”
Hannah bit back the laugh. If Garrett only knew. But she and Jared were hidden by the partially open door.
“Should we mess with him a bit?” he asked, an evil twinkle in his eye.
“No, I can’t wait to see him!” She moved back to allow Jared to come out of the room. He had obviously been on a mission to go somewhere when she had appeared.
“I think you should come see,” Jared called over his shoulder before walking across the hall to the restroom.
“Who the fuck…” Garrett’s words were cut off when he saw who stood in front of him.
They stared at each other for what seemed like a year, until the side of his mouth kicked up, giving her that half-grin that made every part of her body stand at attention. He didn’t take his green eyes off her as he turned his head slightly. “I’ll be right back.”
He quickly slammed the door and then grabbed her hand, leading her down another hallway, this one darker than the one they had stood in before. No words were spoken between them as he stopped and pushed her up against the wall. One hand boxed her in, along with his body, while the other cupped the back of her neck.
The Price of Love (Rockin' Country Book 2) Page 4
