Only This

by Hadley Quinn

  Tyse took a deep breath, silently assessing his thoughts. Up until this point, Grandpa Neil had been pretty easy to get to know. He was honest about his past and about the family history and the drama that came with it. Being a major player in Hollywood had certainly earned him the recognition he’d received over the years.

  But Tyse knew that his grandfather had also lived a lifetime defending his family while trying for that success. Every move had been under a spotlight, and the countless stories that were written about the family were still laced with discrepancies or just based on outright lies. It was something Tyse’s mother had warned him about, and he’d come prepared to avoid it as much as he could, but already the tabloids had used his arrival in town to their advantage.

  A bastard McCallan in the mix.

  “Look, I’m interested in the business,” Tyse admitted truthfully. “I really am. It’s something I’ve always wanted to get in to.”

  “Which is why I wanted to expand the McCallan name to the music industry. I did this for you, Tyse. This is yours to have if you want it. Run it how you see fit, do things how you want them done. I own it, yes, but you run it. Bottom line.”

  Tyse sighed and ran a hand over his dark hair. He knew his grandfather meant well, but he felt having something handed over to him like that had been out of guilt. Jay had warned him about it, but Tyse had gotten along with Neil from the day he met him. He had answers to questions Tyse needed to ask about his father, and they were answered honestly and bluntly, just as Neil promised they would be.

  Business talk had just come naturally to them both, and when Neil had mentioned his idea of opening a recording studio—or eventually a record label—Tyse had instantly bonded with him. He’d heard enough stories about how hard Neil McCallan was to figure out, but he seemed to be extending an olive branch when he didn’t necessarily have to.

  “I just can’t commit to managing it right now. I love my job in sports rehab,” Tyse shrugged. “I went to school for it and that’s what I left behind in Arizona. But I like where I work here even better. It’s exactly what I was trying for over there.”

  Neil studied him for a moment but nodded. “I understand. I’m pleased that you’re talented in so many ways.” He paused for a moment as his thoughts seemed to be processing. “How about this… You continue your job as it already is and just put in whatever time here that you are willing to give. We’ll start slow, and small, and after a few months, you’ll be able to see where it is you feel you belong. Does that seem fair?”

  “You can hire another manager, you know.”

  “Of course I can.”

  “If I manage things here, it’s going to take a lot more than just some ‘now-and-then’ time and you know that. I see what you’re doing here.”

  Neil chuckled and nodded his head. “I’m only giving you options, son. You can take a little bit, or leave it all behind. It’s your choice.”

  Tyse stared across the room they were standing in. He was proud of how the studio had turned out. He’d planned the layout himself within the two thousand square feet of space. With busy Sunset Boulevard and the House of Blues a half-mile away, this quieter area was the perfect location for a business that would be on a need-to-know basis only.

  “I wasn’t so sure about the color choices at first,” Neil stated, glancing around the room.

  Tyse eyed the burgundy tones in the office they were in and smiled. The entire studio was not subjected to just one color but several, depending on the use of the room. Other than the business office and reception area, the studio also contained two private lounges, a larger conference room with a table for either meetings or food, and of course the recording and sound rooms. Tyse was thrilled with the entire project, and although he had told his grandfather he wasn’t able to commit full time, he realized there was a part of him that felt a little forlorn about that.

  “Yeah, color makes a lot of difference,” he finally shrugged. “I mean…I kind of had to do some research, but I like what we decided.”

  “We?” Neil cocked an eyebrow.

  “Well, had to enlist an approval panel,” Tyse grinned. “Melanie and Camryn. They were a lot of help.”

  “Hmm, I’ve got a couple of interior designers in my family now? Well I’m very happy with it all. You’ve done an exceptional job, Tyse. I can’t wait for the logos and sign to go up and then we can get our first session in here. In the meantime,” Neil added, standing straight to turn for the exit, “finish getting familiar with the legal documents in the next couple of days before you meet the lawyers next week. I want you well acquainted with every aspect of this business.”

  Tyse offered a nod of agreement and watched his grandfather leave. He hated legalities but it was a necessary part of every successful industry.

  He finished up a few things in the building before locking up. Instead of heading out the private back entrance like his grandpa had, Tyse trekked through the lobby and out the front door. From the sidewalk he assessed the appearance of the storefront. The advertising wasn’t going to be very noticeable at all, which was the point because the McCallans preferred the privacy, but the studio name would be scrawled across the glass in small script—McC Studios. The same design would be applied to a pewter plaque to be attached to the building at the back entrance, as well.

  “This place is finally going to be something new, huh?” a voice spoke from behind him.

  Tyse hadn’t realized anyone was even on the same sidewalk as him, but sure enough, a female had stopped to glance over the building. She had long brown hair and an athletic build, and Tyse was immediately drawn to the way she seemed to study the remodeled structure in front of her.

  “The outside looks really nice,” she added while her blue eyes noted the new makeover. She smiled at him briefly, almost shyly, before returning a pair of sunglasses to her face to leave.

  “What did it used to be?” Tyse asked, finally getting his voice to work. Not only did this girl have gorgeous eyes, but a smile like that was his weakness.

  She stopped and turned around again, removing her sunglasses a second time. “Well years ago it used to be a bakery. My grandma worked here. I used to spend weekends here with her when I was a little girl.” She glanced at the building again, but this time with a dreamy, reminiscent daze. With a shrug she added, “Then I think it was turned into a bar and went through a few different owners. It’s been vacant for a while. Maybe you’ll have better luck,” she smiled again, seeming sincere.

  “I hope so,” he answered. “It already seems to be looking up so far.”

  She obviously caught his implication because she looked at him with what appeared to be a major effort to avoid smiling.

  “Does it, now,” she stated as a reply.

  “Uh huh,” he nodded. “I wasn’t so sure before, and I thought, ‘God, give me a sign that this is all gonna work out.’ And then…you spoke.”

  She lightly laughed, and even though she had been trying to seem impassive, he could tell she was at least amused.

  “Glad to have been some help,” she smiled. “See you around.”

  The sunglasses were placed back on her face again and she left. He watched her walk until she disappeared into a building two blocks down. Maybe there was a gym down there since she’d been dressed in yoga pants and a tank top. Her nice shape hadn’t failed to catch his attention; he’d just been trying hard not to stare.

  Curious, he strolled the direction she’d gone. In the few months he’d lived in California, he’d met lots of women. Mainly through Teague, Kellie, or Jay—friends, or friends of friends. Usually he’d be out with Teague and Jay, and if they had Camryn and Melanie with them, Tyse was either the fifth wheel, or Kellie was mistaken as his date for the night. It didn’t stop some women from hitting on him, but being around his sister so much did weaken his odds.

  But it didn’t matter to him one way or another. He had too much to figure out these days and wasn’t looking for a relationship. If one cam
e along at the right time with the right girl, then sure, he’d try it out because he was looking forward to it. He’d almost drowned once in the wrong relationship, but he wasn’t going to fear the water because of it.

  It wasn’t possible for his heart to be ripped out a second time and crushed before his very eyes. Right?

  After walking down the street a ways, Tyse slowed when he reached the point he believed the brunette had entered a building. He glanced up and down the storefronts within that area and took note of what they were; a small café, an accounting office, a flower shop, and a clock repair business. Two of the businesses had ‘closed’ signs flipped on the door, but the other two were open.

  He stepped into the café and took a look around. There were about six customers in there and they all stared at him. The woman at the counter was older, in her sixties maybe, and while she was cashing out a customer, she hollered for him to have a seat wherever he’d like. He was about to turn around and head out—he didn’t see the face he came to find anyway—but when the customer passed him for the exit, the woman from the counter approached with a smile.

  “It’s self-seating, but I can pick you a spot if you’d like,” she tilted her head curiously, obviously wondering why he was just standing there.

  “Uh, well…actually I can’t stay, I was just…I was looking for someone that might’ve come in here a bit ago. She’s got brown hair, and she’s about this tall…” He motioned to the side of his neck, and even though he was speaking quietly, he felt like everyone in the room had stopped to listen to him.

  The woman raised both eyebrows at him. “You mean Alison?”

  Tyse had no clue and shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know her name. I just saw her about—”

  “Well you have a seat, sweetheart,” the woman smiled. “She’s in the back getting ready for her shift, but I’ll hurry her along.”

  “Well no, it’s not important, I just—”

  “Sit,” the woman commanded, but even though her smile was genuine, her voice was demanding enough to make him drop into the first booth that was available.

  He watched her disappear into the back of the café and Tyse wondered what the hell he’d gotten himself into. Looking at the exit, he realized he had nothing to lose if he made a beeline for it right now. However, there were still a few sets of eyes staring at him, watching his every move.

  It was almost six o’clock, and since he hadn’t eaten dinner, he figured it might be a good idea to have it while he was already here. He pulled a menu from the end of the table and glanced it over. It was just one page of offerings, but for a small café, that wasn’t surprising.

  As he was glancing over the choices, a voice said, “Hi!”

  Before looking up, Tyse assumed it was a kid because of the childish tone, but when it was a longhaired female staring at him with wide, eager brown eyes, he was taken by surprise.

  “Um, hello?” he answered tentatively.

  He had no idea who this girl was and why she looked so excited, but recognizing the apron she was wearing, he realized she was his waitress.

  “Oh, I’ll have the bacon cheeseburger with a Coke, please,” he stated, sliding the menu away from him.

  She was still staring at him, but the smile faded. She didn’t move, either, not even to take down his order or even acknowledge that she’d heard him.

  “You do have the bacon cheeseburger available, right?” he tried, tilting his head to wait for a response.

  “I’m Alison,” she replied, shrugging her shoulders as if to say “Duh?”

  Alison? What the hell—? Oh shit! Oh no, oh hell no this was not the girl from outside the studio! Did he really come in here and ask for the wrong girl?

  This was going to be awkward— And then she slid into the booth across from him, which was even more awkward.

  “What’s your name?” she asked, her smile returning. “Do I know you? You kinda look familiar.”

  He was trying not to stare. Really, he was. But this was a very ridiculous case of mistaken identity and he had no idea how to get out of it. This girl had to be about fifteen years old—at the most—with light brown hair in a ponytail, and the whole bouncing-on-the-seat-like-a-hyper-cheerleader thing going on.

  This girl was a damn high school student!

  “Hey look,” Tyse began.

  Already her face fell from just those two words, but there was nothing he could do about that. The one time he actually pursues a female—literally following her down the street—and something like this happens?

  Wow…

  “I think there’s been a mix up,” he added with the kindest smile he could give her. “I was actually looking for someone else and…and, well, I think the lady here, uh, she just misunderstood who I meant. I’m sorry.”

  Alison’s expression didn’t change. That is, after her face fell from giddy excitement to utter disappointment it didn’t change. She was staring at him again, right into his eyes, and had he not been a little startled by this whole situation, he might have been impressed that she was able to maintain that much eye contact with an adult. He’d been stared at before—mainly women liked his eyes and usually told him so—but these circumstances were a little different.

  “Well Alison, I need to get going,” he said, trying to break the awkward silence.

  “It’s fate,” she finally said.

  “Excuse me?”

  She smiled at him again. “You were looking for someone else, but met me instead. It’s called fate.”

  Oh shit…

  “So at least tell me your name.” She bounced on the seat a couple of times for good measure.

  “Well, I really don’t think—”

  “It was my birthday five days ago,” she grinned at him. “I made a wish.”

  He cocked an eyebrow at her. “Oh, well, happy birthday. You turned…how old?”

  “I wished that a cute guy would come into the café this week and ask me to homecoming.”

  Tyse’s brain literally went numb. Alison was still smiling at him, wiggling on the bench, batting her eyelashes at him. But when his thoughts finally caught up, he almost choked on his own spit.

  “Homecoming?” he actually blurted out. “As in…high school homecoming?”

  “It’s next weekend!” she squealed. “And because all the guys in my school are soooo lame,” she rolled her eyes, “I want someone special to take me. So you’re, like, my wish come true!”

  “Hold on, wait a minute,” Tyse shook his head, chuckling with disbelief. What the hell…? “I am not going to a high school dance. For one, I am way too old for it, and another…yeah, I’m too old. You’re not even—It would be illegal anyway. Sorry,” he finally answered, folding his arms across his chest as he sat back against the booth.

  “Way too old?” she laughed, clicking her perfect, manicured nails on the table. They seemed odd and out of place for such a young girl working in a diner. “Oh come on! So you’re a couple years older than me, big deal. I like to date older guys anyway.”

  “I’m twenty-five years old,” he emphasized, enunciating each word clearly. “And I don’t date kids.”

  She looked surprised at first, which wasn’t new to Tyse. He was always being mistaken for being younger than he was.

  “Well you don’t even look that old,” she said, almost like she was going to argue the relevance of it. “And I’m sixteen,” she replied smugly, crossing her arms across her chest to match him. “Not exactly a kid.”

  What was that Disney movie again? The one with the red-headed mermaid and her ‘I’m sixteen, I’m not a child anymore!’ sass…

  “Well whatever,” Tyse responded, trying not to laugh as he compared this girl to a cartoon mermaid. “I’m not going to a high school dance. I appreciate the, uh, thought…but I’m not available.”

  She leaned forward onto the table with a very wide, meant-to-be charming smile. “I’m captain of the dance team.”

  Tyse gave her a blank stare. And? he wa
nted to ask. Was that supposed to mean something?

  “And I’m going to UCLA after I graduate,” she added, like she was trying to sweeten the pot.

  Tyse smiled but shook his head. He really needed to get the hell out of here. “Look, I’m sure you’re an amazing girl, but I’m not going to a high school event with you. I’m also sure there is an age limit on the thing anyway. But I need to get going, okay?”

  “I don’t actually work here,” she stated, like she was trying to defend herself. “I just help out a couple times a week.”

  She motioned to the woman at the register, and when Tyse glanced at her, he noticed the lady was watching the two of them.

  With a sigh he softly shook his head. “There’s nothing wrong with working in a restaurant,” he told her. “But meeting me was not fate, it was just an accident. I was looking for someone else.”

  “Who?” she narrowed her eyes at him.

  “It doesn’t matter,” he shrugged, sliding across the bench to leave. “But I need to get go—”

  “Just a bit taller than me, darker brown hair?” Alison asked with a hint of smugness. “Big blue eyes, nice boobs, gorgeous smile, perfect butt?”

  Well that about nailed it.

  “Yeah,” Tyse replied slowly. “You know her?”

  With a sassy smile Alison nodded her head. “Sure, I know her.”

  He waited for more but she only stared at him with that I-know-a-secret-but-I’m-not-telling-you smile.

  “And you’re not going to tell me,” Tyse stated, catching on to her ploy.

  “Of course I will,” Alison feigned disbelief. “Would I really be that mean?”

  “I have no idea,” Tyse replied dryly.

  “Well I’ll tell you who she is,” she scoffed, but her smile was still a bit too flirty for him to trust her.