Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
“That’s okay, I am, too.”
He laughed again. “Poor kid doesn’t stand a chance.”
“Not even a little bit.”
“Good. And I want you to know that I have no plans on missing out on seeing this little one grow up for as long as I have left on this earth. No matter what Gavin chooses to do, I plan to enjoy being a great-granddaddy.”
“Thank you, Aaron. I needed to hear that.”
“Well, all right, then,” he said and stepped away from the emotional, teary-eyed pregnant woman. “I needed to say it. Now, I have to go, it’s bingo night and I’m trying to get me a goodnight smooch.”
“From anyone in particular?”
“Just a pretty girl.” He dropped a peck on my cheek and shuffled off, busy living it up in this small slice of heaven.
Gavin
“Where do you think you’re going?”
I turned with a frown at the sound of Alex’s angry voice. “Packing. What does it look like?”
I had been working for weeks and weeks with no break, because I didn’t want one. Didn’t need one. Not until now.
“Not now, Gavin. Now is not the best time.”
I balled up another T-shirt and shoved it into my leather duffel before I gave my agent my full attention.
“You always say that, Alex. If I left it up to you—and I have for too damn long—you would have me work until I collapsed from exhaustion. The album is done, and the next album is close to done. I’ve sold several songs and made you a shit ton of money, but still, it’s not enough.”
I shook my head in disgust as I listened to my own words.
Would it ever be enough? Yes, because this was my life, and I was in control of it.
“I want some downtime. No, I need some downtime before album promo kicks into high gear.”
Alex sighed and folded his arms. “This is not the best time to take your foot off the gas, Gavin.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “No? When exactly would that time be? Maybe after I’ve overused my voice so I need surgery again? Because that’s where we’re headed if I don’t take some time off.” I turned back to my closet, grabbed a few more pairs of jeans and T-shirts before I shoved them into the bag. “I’m not asking, Alex.”
His brows dipped in concern. “Is something wrong with your voice?”
“Not yet, but it feels overworked, and since I’m the one who had to have the damn surgery, I get to choose when to rest my vocal cords.”
It was my own fault for giving Alex so much power over my life. He was excellent at arranging everything and making deals that kept the cash flowing, but the man had never taken a vacation—not once in more than fifteen years.
“Fine,” he growled with disapproval. “Just please, Gavin, don’t tell me you’re going back to that Podunk town.”
I barked out a laugh and shrugged. “Okay. I won’t tell you, but I am going to Jackson’s Ridge for a while.”
He shuddered visibly. “At least tell me I won’t have to come up there to bring you home.”
I shook my head. “As much as I would pay to see you in Jackson’s Ridge again, I want you there about as much as you want to be there.”
I couldn’t wait to get back and spend some more time with Granddaddy who had decided to stay in town a little longer. I hadn’t spent any time with Zola since before she started medical school, either.
And Suzie.
I was most eager to see Suzie, to hear her laugh and see her full lips pulled into a smile. Not that my presence was likely to put a smile on her face, since she hadn’t reached out to me at all since I left town, and I was too much of a coward to risk blatant rejection.
“All right. Take a week and see if your batteries feel recharged. And answer your damn phone, man,” he growled.
Alex wasn’t happy about this little vacation and he was making it abundantly clear. I didn’t care. But he was my agent and a friend, of sorts.
“I’ll tell you what I’ll do for you, Alex.”
“I’m listening.”
“I’ll do a few—no more than three—radio or web interviews while I’m gone.”
He perked up at that news. “Yeah?” Before I could respond, Alex already had his phone in his hand, fingers flying across the keyboard on screen. “I can work with that.”
“I figured.” My Bel Air was still in Jackson’s Ridge, probably being used and abused by Granddaddy, so I needed a lift. “Think I can use that helicopter again?”
Alex smirked. “As happy as the label is with you, I’m sure they’d let you use the jet.”
“Perfect.” The sooner I got to Jackson’s Ridge, the sooner I could make things right with Suzie. “Thanks, Alex.”
He shrugged off the praise. “It’s what I do.”