Brooklyn & Beale (34 page)

Dumping out the rest of her coffee, she wiped down the counters. It wouldn’t be long before they had to leave and she needed to get ready. Whatever they had planned, she would find out soon enough.

People bustled around backstage as the opening act hit the midpoint of their set. Chloe, Reid, and the rest of the band sat around in his dressing room, laughing and hanging out. Chloe looked at her phone and stood.

“Where are you going?” Reid asked, tugging on her hand.

“Josie just sent me a text. They’re here and I wanted to bring them back here with us, if that’s okay.”

Reid stood as well. “Of course. I’ll come with you.”

Hand in hand, they walked out into the hall and toward the area where Josie and the others were waiting. “Hey, guys,” Chloe smiled, releasing Reid’s hand to hug Josie.

“Look at you two being all cute,” Josie whispered with a smile.

“Shut up,” Chloe laughed, moving to hug Madison.

“I can’t believe you’re banging Reid Ryder,” Madison giggled, causing Chloe to nearly choke.

“Jesus, Maddie. It’s good to see you too.”

“And you thought I was bad,” Josie quipped.

“I should have known better.” Chloe rolled her eyes and hugged Holden. “You will have your hands full for the rest of your life.”

“Don’t I know it,” Holden laughed.

“Hi, Anders,” Chloe said with a smile, offering a small wave.

Anders put his hands over his heart and frowned. “What? No hug for me? I’m hurt.”

Chloe let out a nervous laugh and stepped forward, giving him a quick hug before stepping back. “Sorry, you still freak me the hell out. And I’ve heard all about your moodiness. I wasn’t sure what to expect with you and Maddie together.”

Everyone laughed as Chloe leaned into Reid. “They’re like you and Greer.”

Reid nodded. “So one of them is always right and the other has a hard time accepting that?”

“Exactly,” Anders and Madison answered in unison.

Chloe grinned and introduced Reid to everyone. She thought about the last time she was with the four of them, how much she’d felt like a fifth wheel. Now, the idea of hanging out with her friends felt completely different.

“That’s some rock you’ve got there,” Reid commented, tilting his head toward Josie’s hand.

Chloe’s eyes widened and her hands flew to her mouth. “Holy shit,” she squeaked. “You’re engaged?”

Josie laughed and lifted her hand, wiggling her fingers. “Yup.”

Chloe hugged Josie as tightly as she could. “I’m so happy for you! This is so awesome!”

“Apparently Maddie was right. I really have lost my mind.”

“Nonsense,” Anders scoffed, wrapping his arm around Josie’s waist. “I’m a fucking catch.”

“Oh my God, this is going to be the most entertaining wedding ever. I can’t wait,” Chloe said, her voice filled with mirth.

“Yuk it up,” Josie taunted, her gaze flicking to Reid. “We haven’t even started with you.”

Chloe leaned into Reid’s side and groaned. “Welcome to hell.”

He laughed and motioned to the others. “Come have a drink with us before the show. We can catch up there.”

After a drink and more harassment from various people, including Greer and Drew, Chloe said her good-byes to the others and started getting ready for the show. As the crew set about moving the drums, keyboards, and equipment into place, Chloe shifted nervously.

“You okay?” Reid asked, placing a soft kiss against her temple.

“Yeah, I’m okay. I’m just a little sad that this is our last show.”

Reid turned her body toward his and pulled her against his chest. “But this isn’t the end. You and me? The band and what’s to come? This is only the beginning.”

Chloe inhaled the calming scent of his cologne. “I know.”

“Then let’s go do this.”

As always, the crowd fed off the energy of the band. Through every song, the manic atmosphere grew. By the time they played the encore, Chloe was nearly coming out of her skin. She waited for the lights to come on at the end of the final song, but as the seconds ticked by, she became more and more confused. She looked at Reid, who was motioning to someone off stage. Chloe turned just as a prop guy approached her, carrying a stool.

“What’s going on?” she asked as he set it down.

“Just doing what I’m told,” he replied before turning and jogging back the way he came. The lighting suddenly changed, a soft purple glow blanketing the stage. Chloe turned her attention back to Reid when the sound of his voice flooded the speakers.

“Since this is the last show of the tour, I thought we’d end a little differently,” Reid said, causing a roar of approval.

“As most of you know,” he continued, taking a drink from his water bottle, “several years ago, before anyone knew about me, I was playing at a bar on Beale Street in my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. I didn’t think any moment of my life would ever top the day I was discovered. Then, about a year ago, right before the tour started, my violinist broke her hand. As you can imagine, I was losing my shit just a little. Every person we called was unavailable. Finally, a contact came through and told me about this girl I just had to hear. So I made the arrangements and took off to Brooklyn to meet her. As most of you can guess, she’s sitting on that stool over there.” Reid looked at Chloe and smiled.

“Say hello, Chloe.”

Chloe laughed, her heart pounding. “Hi,” she said, her voice soft and shaky. The crowd cheered, wolf whistles piercing the air.

Reid nodded. “I hear y’all whistling. Believe me, I know exactly how you feel.” His comment only made the crowd cheer louder. Chloe swallowed around the lump in her throat and fought to keep her emotions under control. She still wasn’t one hundred percent sure what Reid was up to, but she knew it was going to make her cry.

“Anyway, like I said, I never thought anything would top the day I was discovered on Beale Street. Then I met Chloe, this talented, beautiful, and amazing violinist from Brooklyn, and while I didn’t realize it at first, I can admit it now. That day in Brooklyn topped the day on Beale Street. And so, I wrote a song about it. I wrote a song about her. This is a new one. It’s called ‘Brooklyn and Beale.’ I hope y’all like it.” He turned to Chloe and smiled. “This is for you.”

A boy from Memphis, playing on Beale, bluegrass roots with a classic rock feel,

I lost my way, stumbled and fell, let my life crumble to hell.

Looking in the past, I thought I could find the life that I had left behind.

A girl from Brooklyn, struggling to thrive, fighting to keep her dream alive,

Needing a break, just a chance, she played each time like it was her last.

Then one day, I heard her play, and I would never be the same.

Beale Street’s where my story starts,

Brooklyn’s where I found my heart.

Backroads and boulevards, we’re from different streets,

Fields of wheat and miles of concrete.

But she has a way, a way about her,

that somehow makes none of that matter

She’s steel and silk

Soft strands in the wind, a canvas of color covers her skin.

She wraps me in her embrace, bathes me in her grace.

She wrecks my world, this perfect girl

Beale Street’s where my story starts,

Brooklyn’s where I found my heart.

To the bottom I sink with my arms open wide

I don’t swim, don’t fight the tide,

All I want to do is to stay lost in her Liz Taylor eyes

That girl from Brooklyn stole my heart,

I should have seen it from the start.

Oh, the way she makes me feel,

I won’t be singing the blues on Beale.

She became my muse, I paid my dues,

She painted my world in a million different hues.

A Jedi Master, I’m so glad I asked her,

Girl, be mine ’til the end of time.

I love the way she makes me feel,

Her violet fields replaced the blues on Beale

She’s my perfect girl and I love how she’s wrecked my world

A hush fell over the crowd as the final note faded into silence. Tears streamed down Chloe’s cheeks as Reid pulled his guitar over his shoulder and set it on the floor before walking over to Chloe and wrapping her in his arms.

“Don’t cry,” he whispered, pressing his lips to her neck.

Chloe sniffled and hugged him tight. “I love you, Reid.”

“I love you too, Chloe,” he breathed while every person in the building screamed at the top of their lungs until there was nothing but an indistinguishable roar of applause as the lights faded for the final time.

I couldn’t do any of this without the support of my family. Mark, thank you for indulging every facet of my craziness on a daily basis.

Julie, thank you for putting up with my random calls and freak-out texts in the middle of the night. Your unwavering friendship has kept me from jumping off many proverbial ledges.

Sara, thank you for planting the seed for this book. I’m so glad Jack White and Lillie Mae Rische exist.

Jess, Heather, Christina, I can’t put into words how much your feedback and honesty throughout this journey has meant to me. You ladies are the best.

Kelly, thank you for always being there when I needed a sounding board. I don’t know how you put up with my manic behavior, but I will forever be grateful.

Jill, thank you for your enthusiasm about this project. I know that doesn’t come easy with you. Also, thank you for stepping up to the plate when I needed your help. You always go above and beyond.

Christine, thank you for sticking with me and working tirelessly to promote my words. Your friendship has been a godsend.

Heather, thank you for your guidance while I continue to navigate this terrifying and exciting journey.

Jada, thank you for putting up with my indecisiveness. I would never make a book cover for me. Thank God I have you for that.

Kimberly, thank you for always making time for me, even when you didn’t have it. Your honesty and support have been a wonderful addition to my writing journey.

Lisa, my wonderful editor, thank you for sacrificing your sleep and your sanity to edit this book. You were always there—Food Truck Tuesdays, daily Target runs, and time zones be damned. I don’t know what I would have done without you.

To everyone who takes the time to read my words, thank you. There are millions of books out there—thank you for choosing mine. Without you, none of this would be possible.

Olivia Evans is a dreamer by day, writer by night. She’s obsessed with music and loves discovering new bands. Traveling the world and watching the sun set in every time zone sounds like heaven to her. A true Gemini, she follows her heart blindly and lives life to the fullest with her husband, son, and friends. Her other loves are: Chuck Taylors, Doc Martens, concert tees, gangster movies, sports, wine, craft beer, and her shih tzu babies.

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Editor:
Lisa A. Hollett
Silently Correcting Your Grammar, LLC

Cover Design:
Jada D'Lee
Jada D'Lee Designs

Interior Design and Formatting:
Jill
Evil Kitty Books