Chapter 19

Skyla sipped her coffee and watched silly TikTok videos on her phone while she waited for Peach. She was meeting her manager at the coffee shop because it was so much easier to find than Kirsten's place and that way she could take Peach to the B and B. But man, she had a bad case of the nerves.

Kirsten was teaching the guitar classes she'd missed last week, and she'd gotten a quick kiss as KK'd walked out the door.

The little everyday things were such a revelation to her, and she didn't want to give it up. And she wasn't going to, but she was a little scared of whatever Peach had to say.

Peach wandered in, wrapped in what had to be a football field's yardage worth of bright red wool. She looked somehow stylish yet utterly Mrs. Claus.

"Hey, lady." She stood, waving. "Come sit and warm up and I'll get your coffee." The shop was mostly empty, the early crowd gone, lunch not yet in swing.

"Hey, gorgeous. You look happy. I approve. It's good on you." Peach came over and took a hug. "Something decadent, eh?"

"You got it." She knew what Peach liked, so she kissed that cold cheek, then headed to the counter to get a peppermint mocha and some cookies. Peach looked a little tired, so it was time for a pick-me-up.

By the time she got back over there, Peach was out of her winter wear, looking like a breath of fresh air in her turtleneck and her plaid leggings.

"This place is gorgeous," Peach said. "I mean a real gem."

"I know. It's like a Hallmark movie in the best way."

Peach chuckled. "So, sit and tell me what all you've been up to."

She clicked her tongue. "Well, you know part of it."

"You think?" Peach rolled her eyes. "Personally, I'm loving the publicity, and I'm not taking it as bad publicity, sweetpea."

"No?" She put her elbows on the table. "It's not going to kill my career?"

"Nope. I think it will open a whole new market for you. And I loved that demo you sent me."

"Kirsten co-wrote it. She's stunning. Seriously, Peach, she's amazing."

"Sounds like it. She played the guitar on the demo, right?"

"She did. She can pick so damn pretty." She was waxing poetic.

"You are in love. Is it—I mean, I've been with you a long time, seriously, and I know that you and your ex were a political arrangement…"

"Political?"

"Not exactly a love match?" Peach shot back.

"Well, no. I wanted to love him, but the road to hell and all." She sighed. "I think it's time for me."

"I do too. So, we'll spin it. I don't think you should sell that song. I think you should do an EP."

"Yeah?" She hadn't considered that. "You think?"

"Absolutely. You have your band here, right. You write a couple more, do a remix of—Loving Her? We'll sell the fuck out of it."

"I can see that." She chewed her lower lip. "Things are tense with the band, lady. Not all of them, but—" She shook her head. "We might have to bring in a few studio folks."

"So, we do. I'll talk to Mich and Andi, let them know that you're solid. You know Brenda's never going anywhere."

"I do." She had to laugh. "Brenda told me to go for it."

"Doesn't surprise me at all. So, tell me about her. Is she pretty?"

"She's hot." She wasn't sure anyone would say Kirsten was pretty. That was way too insipid a word. "Fierce."

"Yeah? That's one hell of a description. So she's a little butchy?"

"Yeah. Tattoos and piercings and overalls, oh my." Skyla winked at Peach. "I'm in love, honey. For real."

"I'm tickled. I want to meet her. She has to get along with me and think I'm amazing."

"Well, you are." Her jitters were totally gone. Peach had come in pretty soft, and that meant the world to her. "We can have supper with her if you want. She had a bunch of classes to teach today."

"Oh? What does she teach?"

"She's teaching guitar lessons right now." She knew Peach would get the waiting tables, but that wasn't the first thing she wanted Peach to know.

"Oh, good for her. That's got to be easier than slinging suds and pizza. Music teacher, songwriter, and picker all fit together much more nicely."

"Yeah. I want her on the road with me, but we're still navigating all that."

Peach nodded. "That's always a thing, isn't it? I can't tell you how many couples have to figure all this out."

"Yeah?" She blew out a breath. "I mean, my last relationship was BS, and you know it. So, it was never a thing."

"No, and you were both on the road. The nice thing is, when she wants to be on the bus, she can. Otherwise, you can fly for the most part. This doesn't have to be hard."

"What about the label? Does that have to be hard?"

Peach shrugged, one shoulder lifting. "You might lose some rodeo concerts. You might gain others. Same with fans. You don't have a huge older fan base. The real question is what about your folks?"

"I need to talk to them, don't I?" She'd been avoiding it, knowing her momma and daddy didn't do social media or TMZ…

"Oh, honey. Your granny already called me."

Fuck a doodle doo.

"Oops. What did you tell her, Peach?"

"That I had it under control. She wasn't worried about your personal life, just your career."

"Oh." Oh, wow. Relief flooded her.

"Hey, have some faith. Now, your dad…who knows?"

"He'll be okay." She hoped. "Kirsten's people weren't so great."

"No? About you?"

"God no. When she came out, like in college. She's been…" Well, Skyla couldn't say that she was without family, because she wasn't, but—"Building her own family all this time."

"Ah. Well, good on her for making it work. It's hard when your people turn out to be assholes. When I married Justo, my momma said she didn't hold with me marrying some foreigner. She never talked to me again when I told her to shove it."

"Oh, god. Peach! That's awful!"

"It was, but I have you, I have Justo, I have my girls, and I have all the musicians I rep. I made my family, just like you said."

"Yes." That made her sniffle. "Oh, Peach, I'm so glad you're here."

"Me too."

"Here you go, ladies." Their coffees and pastries came. Which was good. She needed a refill, and a sweet. She was getting maudlin.

"Oh my god. That smells like heaven. Tell me there are no calories at this altitude."

"None. In fact, you'll burn more calories. I've been eating like a fiend and not gained an ounce." She snorted. "Now, I have been exercising…"

"La la la! Can't hear you!"

She giggled madly. "I adore you, you old bat."

"Of course you do. Now, take me to my room, wherever it is, and then I want to meet your girl."

"Oh, let's sit and have this pastry here. Trust me. It's worth it. Cheyenne makes them."

"Cheyenne?"

"Yeah, she's one of my new friends. We played cards with her and her wife, Evie."

God, had she just said that? Like she was just a person, having friends, playing cards?

"Nice. Look at you." Peach whacked her, those long nails scratching at her sweater. "Having friends."

"I know!" She sipped her new coffee, humming at the flavor. "Life feels real hopeful."

"Good. That's the important part because when the harder parts come, you'll need to keep it together."

"I will." And she sure hoped she was brave enough to do it justice. Somehow she already knew Kirsten was.