Chapter 21

"Have you seen the social media shitstorm, Sky?" Lucie held up her phone with her good hand. "It's kind of nuts."

Skyla had met up with the band at the rental, because Peach had ordered in brunch for all of them, and they were sitting down together for the first time since the big kerfuffle.

"I've seen it, yes." She wasn't going to bat an eye at all the bullshit online. She was going to Taylor Swift that shit and let it work for her instead of against her.

"We're all going to get blacklisted," Greggo sighed. "I mean…it's a career killer."

"Why? Because she's queer? The three of us are openly gay, guys." Mich sounded as if she could chew nails. Just munch-munch-munch.

Lucie looked at the floor. "I know. But this is something that takes an artist from arenas to casinos and you know it."

"Age does that too. Time. It's inevitable, for fuck's sake." She stared at them both.

"I'm not the only person that isn't straight in Nashville."

"No, but you might be the only one who loses her career because she was dumb enough to go public." Greggo shook his head. "Just keep your mouth shut. Just keep your girl here in this little town and come visit her."

"Greggo!" Brenda's tone was sharp.

"No, he has a right to speak his mind." Skyla tapped her foot, a sure giveaway of her mood and she knew it, but there it was. "I think what he means is I might not be getting any younger, but he and Lucie are still hungry to be playing arenas and partying, not settling down with old ladies."

"Damn straight." Greggo stared them all down.

"Well," Andi drawled. "You know what they call people who hang around with real musicians."

"Drummers," Michelle sneered.

"Now, y'all." Peach stepped in then. "Greg, I understand. I do. And y'all have to do what you have to do. Sky can fill in with some folks we know."

Skyla nodded, lips tight. "And y'all know I'll give you a good rec. To anyone you want to work with. You've been good to me."

Lucie looked miserable, her cheeks red. "You've been great to us, too, Skyla. We just want—we're not ready to change career paths so violently."

"I'm not a fucking pop diva. I want to write and sing traditional Red Dirt music. I hated the last album, and y'all all know it. There's a place for me in the world, and if there's not, I'll carve that bitch right out."

"I believe you." Lucie gave her a tiny smile. "But I'm not that brave."

"Okay. Then I'll give you a month's severance and a recommendation. Fair?" It was more than she wanted to do, but she got it. This was a shocker.

"Are you sure you want to do that?" Peach's eyebrow lifted. "That's very generous."

She lifted her chin. She would explain it to Peach later, but she wasn't giving these two any chance to bitch that she was tight-fisted and cruel. She wanted to be able to call them on it if any shit started with them. "We'll put it in writing."

"I—" Lucie's eyes filled with tears. "I'm so sorry. Please don't hate me."

"I don't." She also didn't care anymore. They wanted out; they could go. "Come on, Lucie. We'll go stay at the hotel. The one here in town, Peach. Call when there's papers to sign." Greggo grabbed Lucie's good hand to tug her out of the room. Their suitcases and Lucie's guitar case were there by the front door, and they headed outside.

She guessed they were walking or calling an Uber.

"What was with that severance?" Peach asked her.

"No way are they going to say I stiffed them."

"They're babies. I can get Angel here to play. She's one hell of a drummer, and God knows your girl can pick. You'll be fine." Brenda's eyes were flashing with pure fury.

"Yeah. We'll be fine. Call Angel, will you?" She wasn't as mad as she was tired. Greggo and Lucie were just young, and suddenly she sure didn't feel that way anymore. "And I'll talk to Kirsten. See what she says." She was glad her girl hadn't come with her today, though.

"Hey." Andi came over and sat down hard next to her. "I owe you an apology, and Mich and I talked. You've got us if we're playing in dive bars and driving in the pickup, you hear? We're your band."

"It's not going down like that, I don't think. But that means a lot to me."

"Bah. You bunch have no faith in me." Peach waved a hand, her bangles chiming. "I got this."

"I believe in her, all the way." Brenda shrugged. "Life's not the same as it used to be. Lying is bullshit, so is hiding. You know how many girls are going to be over the damn moon, ladybug?"

"I hope so." She really did. "I could have used a role model like me when I was a teenager. Before I went and got married." And god knew she would never ask Kirsten to be less than she was. No, she was going to have to brazen it out and live like she wanted to.

"So we make it happen. Easy peasy." That was Mich. "No huge announcement. Just living your life. You moving your home base here, then? Because we could see coming out this way, if you were."

Skyla's cheeks heated. "Yeah. I am. I want to be here with Kirsten when we're not on the road. It already feels like home. I want to buy the house Kirsten is in."

"That's too cool. There are some nice places around here that we could look into."

"There's a solid community. We've loved it here." Andi shrugged and grinned.

"We'll find a condo."

"Good deal. I know you'd love a ski-out kind of place."

"Mmm." Mich shook her head behind Andi's back. Yeah, she'd always wanted a little old house with cottage core charm.

"What else do we need to do?" she asked. She needed to go to Kirsten's, curl up in their bed, and let Kirsten love on her.

"I'll get the papers drawn up for the kids and call in Angel. I'll let Hiram know we want to work on an EP." Peach ticked things off on her fingers.

"Andi and I will house hunt. Even if it's for a rental. You should go find Kirsten and fill her in."

"I should."

"We'll get together tonight for supper. I'm craving tacos." Peach winked over. "And we'll make a plan. You busy, Brenda? Want to come to the coffee shop with me?"

"I would love to, you old broad." Brenda hugged Skyla. "Get some rest. You look tired."

"I guess I was dreading this." But if this was the worst of it, so be it. Skyla could deal with this, dammit.

"Change is hard." Like that was that.

"It is." She nodded at Peach. "Well, I'm gonna head out."

"Be careful, honey. Love you."

"Love you all. And thank you." She knew having that support was crucial, and she loved them for it.

"Go on. Kirsten will want to be with you, hmm?"

"Yeah."

In fact, she'd just gotten a text that was all hearts.

She texted back. You back at the house?> It was really nice day a chinook having blown in overnight. She could walk it.

I am. Want to go get a coffee? I'll bring Reba.>

Sure. Brenda and Peach will be there.>

No problem. We can sit outside if they want privacy>

God, she was in love. I'll meet u there.>

Love you. CUsoon.>

She couldn't stop smiling. Even after the day she was having, she couldn't fight the happiness inside her. Kirsten was a bright light in an otherwise murky time.

Skyla knew it would be okay, but that didn't mean it wasn't going to be weird.

She guessed she was going to have to get used to it. The weird. She needed to find a way to make the weird work.

Laughing, she typed that into her notes app. That would make a cute song. She could hear the chugga-chugga Johnny Cash guitar behind it.

Now she'd just get Kirsten to write it with her.