Someone to Watch Over Me (11 page)

“
More like
he’s milking the cow,” Carter voiced.
“While you’re on stage, he sets up a tip jar at the bar
with your name on it. I can guarantee that what he’s paying you is
only half what he collects.”

Well damn, I
didn’t know that. No one
ever said a word
to me about a tip jar. Not even Marshall.

“Do you have a contract, anything in
writing?” Richard asked. “I can take a look at it if you want.”

“
No, it was
just a verbal agreement.”

“
If you’re
interested I could draw something up.”

“
No, but
thanks. If I went in there with a contract now, I might just lose
my job. Billy’s not one for negotiating. He’s more of a
there’s-the-door kind of guy. I know from experience.”

“
You have a
day job,” Carter pointed out.
“Tell
‘Billy’ to go fuck himself.”

“
Carter,”
Jess intervened. At least someone had the sense to halt the
interrogation. I could feel the muscles in my jaw relax. I wasn’t
looking to pursue a career in music. It just wasn’t in the cards. I
had a child now. “Watch the language. This is a children’s
party.”

Language?
So much for the
intervention.

“
He’s right,
honey.
If you want to make money in
music, you can’t be a pushover. Don’t be modest about your talent.
Stand firm. Don’t settle until you’re happy with the
terms.”

“
Thanks.
I appreciate the advice.
Really. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“
We’re
trying to help you here,” Carter pressed. “Why’re you blowing us
off?”

Dropping my
head,
I pinched the bridge of my nose,
said a silent prayer for either a savior or a whole lot of
patience. While I didn’t mind sharing my past with Tate or others
when it was necessary, I didn’t blather about it needlessly. Nor
did I feel like explaining my finances to a bunch of strangers that
had no idea of what it was like to walk a day in my
shoes.

Answering
my appeal, Tate slid
his hand along the nape of my neck. I could do little to hide the
relief that flitted across my face when I looked up at
him.

“What’s going on?”

“
We were
just talking. Where’s Levy?” I asked, panning the immediate area,
secretly thankful for his absence. It allowed for a temporary
distraction and a change of subject. While I was thankful for his
immaculate timing, I could see the concern in his eyes, and the
last thing I wanted was to come between him and his friends because
he felt the need to defend me.

“
Gabi and
her friends are in the ball pit cooing over him.”

“
I should go
keep an eye on him.”

“
He’s fine,”
he assured, turning his attention to Jess. “Did Coop tell you she
rides? She lives above a stable.”

My mouth
popped open but Carter was the first to speak, beating me to the
draw. “Are you going to deny that too? You’re probably a grand prix
equestrian, but it’s no big deal, right?”

Having heard
enough
, Jess rose from her chair. “Why
don’t I take you to see the barn and show you the horses, Coop? I
have to get the pony saddled for the kids anyhow.”

“Levy—”

“
Gabi will
keep him busy, and Richard will be right here.” Confident that I
would follow, she turned and started across the lawn. “Besides, I
could really use the help catching Freckles from the pasture. He’s
a sweetheart, but he’s a real escape artist. And I’m afraid he’s
long since seen through bribes of apples and carrots.”

I knew what
they were doing, and I didn’t like it
one
bit, but I didn’t want to make a scene so I went along quietly.
Nevertheless, walking away left a bitter taste in my mouth. I was
about to become public knowledge. And for what reason? None.
Because nothing would come of it except looks of pity and awkward
conversation, which was why it was a need to know basis.

“
So how long
have you been riding?”

Looking up
from the grass, I found Jess slowing her pace until I walked at her
side. I unfolded my arms from my chest, dropping the unintentional
gesture of hostility.

“
I could
count the number of times on one hand, and I wouldn’t call it
riding. It’s more like sitting on the horse while he goes where he
wants.”

“Where do you ride?”

“
Usually
into trees with low
branches and bushes with thorns, or the occasional stream. The
horse I ride, his name is Barrel. I used to think it was because of
his shape, but now I think it’s his Modus Operandi for unseating
his rider, mainly me.”

Laughing,
J
ess looped her arm around mine and
patted my shoulder. “We’ll have to see if we can remedy that. Make
Tate bring you back. I’ll give you a lesson or two.”

I
smiled
and nodded, despite thinking Tate
and I wouldn’t be seeing each other much longer. I had expected a
quick fling and he would go on his merry old way, but things were
getting complicated. Really complicated. Family functions weren’t
part of the plan.

“Don’t be angry with him. He means
well.”

“
Carter?”
What was I supposed to say? He was her brother. It wasn’t as if I
could tell her what I really though
t
about him. “I’m sure he does, but he’s wrong. I wasn’t blowing
anyone off. I just don’t have the option to follow your advice. My
life’s a little complicated right now.”

“
I meant
Tate, actually. I just do
n’t want you to
be angry with him for wanting to speak with the guys alone. I’m
sure he was sparing you the discomfort of watching them
argue.”

“
Oh.”
Didn’t I feel transparent. I might as well have
flat out admitted that I thought Carter, her brother, was an
ass.

“I know you don’t know me, Coop, but if you
need to talk to anyone…”

“
Oh…I…uh…”

“It was an offer, Coop. You don’t have
to.”

Because I
really didn’t want to recite the story again, I accepted her
reprieve. Richard would divulge what Tate told him in any case. By
then I would be long gone
, so I left it
at that.

Freckles, I
found, was all white with a speckling of brown freckles across his
coat. He was short and round with a fluff of white mane and tail
that bounced animatedly with his
gait.

Jess was
right. He wasn’t fooled with carrots or apples, and proved
difficult to lure from the pasture. Speaking
candidly, when faced with the chore of entertaining over a dozen
raucous preteens by toting them around on my back, I would’ve run
away too. No joke. Eventually we cornered him in the pasture, where
Jess effectively snared him with a lead line and walked him back to
the stable. We worked quietly together, grooming him for the big
event.

“
Carter
does like you,” Jess said
offhandedly as she rested a saddle on Freckles back. It was the
tiniest thing I’d ever seen, made of black engraved leather with a
red stitched seat. It was trimmed in silver along the pommel and
stirrups. “Don’t be misled by his temerity. He’s not that
bad.”

“I’ll take your word for it.”

“
Really.
He thinks you have true
talent. That’s something coming from Carter. He’s not easily
impressed.”

Coming from
Carter Strickland, the musician, I
felt
honored to receive such a compliment. It’s a shame he wasn’t more
personable.

“
He might
come across as rude,” she pressed, as i
f
reading my thoughts. “But he was right when he said you were being
modest. You’ve got a great voice.”

“
You’ve seen
me sing?
”

“
Not in
person, but I’ve seen the video.”

“What video?"

“
Carter
recorded a clip from your performance last night and uploaded it to
Facebook. It got about eighty thousand likes already, and it’s
probably rising as we speak.”

“
Excuse me,”
I
croaked hoarsely. Dropping the brush on
the way out the door, my legs felt wobbly beneath me. I trooped
numbly across the lawn to find my son.

I was pretty
sure that the temperature spiked, because a sweat suddenly broke
out across my forehead. Things just kept getting worse. I should’ve
called him a cab this morning, sent him on his way. Actually, I
shouldn’t have brought him home in the first
place. This whole thing was an egregious mistake. I broke
so many rules in the past twenty-four hours it wasn’t funny. Worst
yet, taking the stage when I knew Hautboy was in the
audience.

What the fuck was I thinking?

Tate,
Jake, Shane, and Richard stood around Carter,
looking fixedly at the phone in his hand. I stole it from under
their noses without a doubt of what they were watching. I stared at
the screen in a mixture of mute fascination and horror. It was most
definitely me.

No mistaking it.

Below, the
caption was equally formidable.

Tate’s latest Strawberry Girl,
Cooper Hale. If you haven’t seen her yet, better do it
now, because it won’t be much longer till you’re paying the full
ticket price. You can find her at The Loft every Friday and
Saturday night. Seriously, people, some amazing talent
here.

My palms
were sweating. I handed Carter his phone back
, dragged my hands down the hips of my pants. He stared up
at me, his expression devoid of all condescension.

“
Coop, I had
no idea, man
.”

“
It’s ok,” I
said. “It was my fault. I never should’ve gotten on
that stage last night. I knew you guys were in
the audience.”

It was one
thing to si
ng at The Loft. While it was
an upscale place, it wasn’t exactly the scene for breakout artists.
It was a trendy bar off the beaten path, far enough from the urban
population that I would never accidentally bump into Grant, or
worry about being discovered by some random talent scout. I sang on
stage for a handful of locals looking for a night out.

It was
another thing to sing in front of Hautboy.
They had thirty million followers for Christ’s sake. There
was quite a difference in the size of their virtual reach and some
Joe Schmo from Podunk. With the rate shit spread on the internet, I
might as well have placed a target on my forehead. It wouldn’t be
long before Grant saw it. Yes, I’d fucked up, royally.

Rooting
through my bag, I checked my phone. The ringer
shrilled in my hand, sending me into cardiac arrest. I
fumbled. My phone slipped from my fingers and fell back into my
bag, vibrating manically. Pressing a hand to my chest, I tried to
keep my heart from pounding through my ribcage and picked my phone
back up. My mother’s face popped up on the screen.

Exhaling
, I swiped my finger
across the screen and texted her back. I couldn’t talk to her right
now. I’d have to call her later when I got back to my place. My
thoughts were racing in a million different directions, and my only
focus was getting Levy somewhere safe. Only, I wasn’t sure where
that was anymore. The anonymity I had worked so hard for was
compromised.

“
Coop.” Tate
started to crouch beside me, but straightened as I rose and swung
my bag over my shoulder.

“
I
have to go.”

“
Hey.” His
hand came down on my shoulder
,
encompassing it with his long fingers as I tried to step around
him. “Look around. He’s not going to hurt you here.”

“
Yeah, well,
I can’t stay here forever.” For a long ten seconds we played a
contest of dodge and evade. Tate was winning.

“Give me five minutes to grab a change of
clothes.”

“No.”

“
No, I can’t
get my clothes, or no you don’t want me to come with
you?”

“
No, I’m not
taking you.” Whether I
wanted
him to come was
irrelevant. I had a psycho ex boyfriend to evade. I didn’t have
time to play tiddly winks.

“
I’m not
letting you run off alone like this.”

“
I’m
fine.”

“
You’re
not fine. You’re white as
a sheet.”

“
I’m not
your responsibility, Tate. Now get out of my way.”

“You want to leave, fine, but I’m coming
with you.”

“
No—
”

“Coop.”

“I have—”

“Coop.”

“—stuff I nee—”

“Cooper.”

“
Fine!” I
snapped, and ranted a sting of angry oaths under my breath.
Dropping my head, I went through the motions. I pinched the bridge
of my nose, dragged a hand through my hair, swore some more, all
the things that we do to relieve stress, but never really
worked.

“
Give me
five minutes to get my things.” I
skewered him with a hostile glare that told him I would be
long gone in five minutes. Undaunted, Tate turned to Carter and his
friends. “Don’t let her leave without me. I mean it.”