2. Stacey

Chapter Two

STACEY

"Hey, Cam!" I said, putting my cell to my ear.

"Hey! How are things going? Staying busy?"

"So very busy! Writing a few hit songs for one of the top female acts in country music has increased demand of my time the past few months."

"I'm so happy for you! You deserve all of the accolades. Are you going to the CMA Awards?"

"Absolutely! I've been nominated in two categories. Can you believe that?" I settle back into the driver's seat and place my head against the headrest, a grin plastered on my face.

"That's amazing! I'll for sure be watching and rooting for you to win."

"Thanks, I appreciate it."

"I know you're busy, so I'll get to the point of my call," Cam states. "I've got a new client that we think would do well with some music therapy. Are you still taking on any clients, with everything going on with the songwriting popularity?"

"I haven't worked with any kids in the last few months, just due to my schedule, but depending on what you're thinking for a time commitment, I might be able to help you out."

"An assessment is still needed to determine how often sessions would be recommended. As you know from past clients, I prefer to have the professional working with the client be the one to perform the assessment."

"Let me pull up my calendar and see when I might have an available time," I tell her, placing the call on speakerphone as I pull up the calendar on my phone. "It looks like I have some free time either next Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning."

"Oh, awesome!" Cam exclaims. "Let me contact the patient's mother and see what day would work better for them, and then I'll get back to you. Does that work?"

"Works perfect. Will it be done at your offices or an in-home assessment?"

"Whatever you'd prefer. I can also ask the mother if she has a preference on the location."

"Sounds like a plan. Just let me know once you've got it scheduled and where it will be, and I'll make sure I'm there."

"Thank you so much, Stacey."

"Anytime! Hey, I'm meeting a few other friends tonight for a drink to celebrate the award nominations. Would you and Ethan like to come?"

"I'd love to! Ethan is working until eight-ish, so depending on what time, he can meet up with us."

"It's a laid-back, come-as-you-can kind of thing. I think we were planning to meet up around seven thirty or so, down at The Tap House."

"I'll be there. Thanks for the invite!"

"Can't wait to see you. Don't you have a ring to show off to me?"

"Yes! I can't believe that I haven't seen you since Ethan proposed. It was all so amazing. I was shocked and not expecting it at all. I'll tell you all about it tonight."

"Awesome, see you tonight!" I tell her before we hang up. I slip my phone back into my purse, then open my car door and climb out.

I'm meeting with my writing partner, Lee Davidson, and our superstar singer herself, Reese Blackwood, Miss Country Star Hotshot. The three of us penned her current hit single last year and it's been a huge success. It's been in the number one spot on the country charts for the last fifteen weeks, and it was our second big success. We had two back-to-back number one singles that have both broken records for the number of weeks they've stayed at the top of the charts. We've had a handful of weeks where the songs sat in the first and second spots on the charts, breaking yet more records and joining a very short list of other singers who have held the top two chart spots.

"Hi," Lee greets me as I walk into the room. He's sitting on one of the couches in the room, a guitar already in his hands as he strums some notes on it.

"Hey. How's it going?"

"It's going," he says, moving some papers around in front of him. "I worked on that song we left undone yesterday, and think I have the kinks all worked out."

"Let me hear the changes," I tell him, taking a seat across from him and pulling out my notebook. He plays through the song and I note where he's made changes in my notebook, marking down what I think is working and what still needs to be fine-tuned to make it perfect.

"What do you think?" Lee asks, once he finishes the song.

"I'm really liking the changes. I think, with a few more tweaks, it will be perfect. Let's wait for Reese to get here so you can play the changes for her and then we can tweak it."

"Sounds good."

"Did I hear my name?" Reese asks, shuffling into the room and plopping down in the chair next to me.

"Sure did," I say, laughing at her. "You look a little ragged. Did you have a fun night?"

"Oh, ya know, just a night with my man after they kicked Nashville's butt," she says, winking at me.

"I swear, you guys are going to be popping out babies left and right here soon, for how often you two go at it."

"That's what birth control is for, my dear," she says cheekily. "We've already discussed wanting kids and we're going to wait a few more years. We want to have a year or two after being married to just be together before we start a family."

"Y'all are so cute, it's almost sickening," I tease her.

"Thanks?!" she quips back, then turns to Lee. "Okay, let me hear what you've got."

We work through the song, making changes as we all see fit, until we've got it perfect.

"Ahhh!" Reese squeals. "I think we've got another winner!"

"I think you're right," I agree. "Do you still want to record it right away and debut it at the CMA's next month?"

"Absolutely."

"I think you're going to be the talk of the show after you drop this single," Lee tells Reese.

"I sure hope so," Reese says, the nervousness evident in her voice.

"Girl! You have absolutely nothing to worry about. You could sing the damn phone book and you'd make it a number one single." I do my best to reassure her. "You're on fire right now and I don't see that success going anywhere but up."

"I hope you're right."

"You know I am. Look at how far you've come in just the last year and a half."

"I know, and I'm so thankful for all of it. Just as I'm thankful for the two of you. I couldn't do this without both of you."

"We're just as thankful for you," Lee replies. "My phone and email have been blowing up with writing session requests from everyone in town. So, just know that your success is our success, and we're not going anywhere, just as you're not going anywhere anytime soon."

"Thanks, guys. You really do know how to make a girl feel better."

We visit for a little while longer, and before we pack up for the day, Reese lets us know she and her fiancé, Austin, have finalized plans for their summer wedding next year.

"We picked a date and I'm going dress shopping in a few weeks!"

"That's so exciting! When's the date?" I ask.

"June twenty-fifth. That way, if the Eagles make the finals next year, we don't have any conflicts."

"I'll make sure to mark it on my calendar. Are you planning on having it in your home town?"

"Yes, I couldn't imagine getting married anywhere else."

"Keep me posted, and if you need any help with anything, I'm just a phone call or text away." I tell Reese before we part ways for the day.

Walking out to my car, I pull my phone out and check for any missed calls or texts. While I'm in the zone and writing, I tend to put my phone on silent so I'm not distracted by anyone calling or texting me.

I have a missed text from Cam confirming the date and time next week for me to complete the assessment on the child she contacted me about. I add the information to my schedule and text her that I'll be there and that I'll see her later tonight at the bar.

"To the best writers in town!" Reese toasts Lee and I at the bar, and we all toss back our drink of choice.

"Thanks, guys!" I state, after chasing the shot I took with a drink of Coke.

"Sorry I'm late!" I hear a voice from behind me. I turn to find Cam and Ethan approaching our group.

"Cam! I'm so glad you could make it."

"I told you I'd be here. I just was running a little later than I expected, so I waited for Ethan to finish up and we just walked over together."

"No problem, we've only been here for about thirty minutes as it is. Have you ever met Reese?" I ask her.

"Nope," she tells me as the bartender stops in front of us. They quickly order before she turns her attention back to me. "I haven't, but Ethan knows her fiancé."

"Ah yes, the hockey connection. I always forget that he used to play. Well, let me introduce you. Reese, this is Cam. Cam, Reese."

"It's so nice to meet you!" Cam tells her.

"Likewise," Reese replies with a smile.

"Austin still in town?" Ethan asks.

"Nope, the team flew out today. They play in Carolina tomorrow night," she tells him.

"Figured they'd already be gone."

"Yeah, it was nice to have him in town for the two nights. Our schedules don't always align, so it's nice when they do. Although, with no tour going on, I get to spend a lot of my time in Indy. I just have to be here for the next few weeks, working on my next album and gearing up for the awards show. But once that's all over, I'll be heading back to Indy."

"I don't know how you guys do the competing schedules so well. I think I'd go insane being away from this guy if he still played," Cam says, patting Ethan on the chest with her palm.

"It's crazy, that's for sure. But we make it work. We also learned to take advantage of all the time we do have together. No matter what little amount of time we get, sometimes just a few hours or a few weeks, we make the most of it."

We spend the next few minutes visiting and celebrating our success, then make our way over to a table, where we continue to share stories about our many writing sessions and all the shenanigans that happen during those times.

"Hey, man," I hear a new voice say to someone nearby. The deep timbre causes a tingle to slide down my spine. I turn to see who it is and a guy I've never seen before is greeting Ethan. He's obviously military or in law enforcement, just from his hair cut and physique.

Well, hello there.

"Hey, you made it! Good to see you, man." Ethan pulls him into a man hug. "Glad you're back. How was the deployment?"

"Long. I'm glad to be back stateside, that's for sure," he says, slapping Ethan on the back.

"I can only imagine. Let me introduce you to everyone," Ethan tells him, turning to our group. "You've met Cam, my fiancée."

Ethan pulls Cam into his side and drops a kiss to her temple. I love seeing my friend with such a good man.

"Fiancée. Damn, guys. Congratulations!"

"Thank you," Cam tells him.

"Peyton, this is Stacey, Lee, and Reese. Holly and Carson might also drop by at some point tonight. Guys, this is Peyton. He's one of my oldest friends and a badass soldier."

"Hello." He greets everyone, and I let my eyes wander over his body. I take in his fit frame, the well-kept haircut and days' worth of stubble on his face, and the carefree smile on his lips. The tattoos that cover his exposed forearms enhance the sinewy lines of his muscles, and the t-shirt he's wearing clings to him like a second skin that doesn't leave much to the imagination. I can feel the tingles of attraction sliding across my body.

Everyone says their hellos and we all shift slightly so another stool can be pulled up to our round table. The open spot ends up being between Lee and me, and I'm more than happy to have him next to me.

He takes a seat and the smell of him fills my nostrils. A little bit woodsy but all man. It sends another tingle right down my spine and causes my core to clench. I've never been this reactive to a man, especially one I've just met and haven't even talked to.

I smile at him as he takes a seat next to me, accepting the beer set down in front of him by a passing waitress.

"Thank you," he says as she turns to drop off other drinks to waiting patrons. "Stacey, correct?" he asks me, after taking a drink of his beer.

"Yes, surprised you remembered my name."

"I make it a point to remember a beautiful woman's name," he muses.

"Ah, charming," I quip back. I didn't get the playboy vibe from him, but his comment has me second-guessing that.

"Fuck, that was cheesy and I'm far from that. Sorry, I'm a little bit rusty, I guess. Six-plus months in the desert will do that to a guy," he tells me and, just like that, my mind is back to thinking all good thoughts about this guy.

I laugh at his comment as I try and rid myself of the nerves that have all of a sudden taken form. "It's okay, just no more cheesy lines tonight."

"That, I can agree to," he says, lifting his beer to cheers with me. I pick up my drink and clink the glass against his before we each take a sip. "You're friends with Ethan?"

"Cam and I work together occasionally."

"Only occasionally?"

"My main job is a songwriter, but I occasionally work with kids in a music therapy setting," I explain. "Cam helps fight for kids needing additional help and services. She mostly works with the services that are provided in or by the schools, but occasionally, she'll help coordinate services outside of the schools. I don't have much time lately to work with kids, but I really enjoy it when I do."

"What kind of songs do you write?"

I laugh at his question. He obviously isn't from around here or knows who's also sitting at our table, with Reese here. Which is a little surprising, for how famous she actually is.

"Country, mostly. You might have heard of a few of the songs. They're kinda popular at the moment," I tell him.

"Who sings your songs?"

"This one," I answer him, pointing at Reese. He looks over at her, taking her in before turning back to me.

"I don't remember her name," he says under his breath, quiet enough that only I can hear him with all the noise around us in the bar.

"Reese Blackwood. Have you seriously never heard of her?"

"Sorry. I don't pay much attention to things outside of my unit and protecting this country of ours."

"She's only the hottest female in country music right now. Has been that way for the past couple of years. Lee"—I pause, pointing to the other side of Peyton— "my writing partner, and I, along with Reese, have penned her last few hits. Because of that, we're all up for some big awards in a few weeks at the Country Music Awards."

"No shit," he says, stunned.

"No shit," I echo, a smile filling my face.

"Do you write for any other artists?"

"Yep, I've had a few other songs become singles. Now, with our success with Reese, we've been extremely popular lately."

"That's amazing."

"It sure has been a fun year," I confirm. "Going from writing as a second job to being sought after sure was a one-eighty. But, it's been an amazing ride and I'm thankful for it everyday."

"So interesting."

"So, tell me about you, Peyton," I state, taking another drink from my glass.

"What would you like to know? I'm a pretty simple guy."

"Whatever you want to tell me."

"Well, the basics. I'm twenty-eight, been in the Army since I was eighteen, and plan on being a lifer. Followed my dad's footsteps into the Army. He retired after thirty-five years in the service. It's been just the two of us since I was eight. We moved around a lot when I was growing up thanks to the Army, but he's always been there for me, no matter what."

"That's awesome that you're so close to him."

"He's a great man. I came to town to spend the next ten or so days with him while I'm on leave."

"Oh, so he lives around here?"

"Yes, when he retired, he moved back to Nashville. It's where he was born and raised, and always felt like home to him. Bonus is, I'm only an hour or so away when I'm on base up at Fort Campbell."

"Have you been based there long?"

"About eighteen months or so. But I've been gone the last six months, deployed in Afghanistan. My unit just returned a couple of days ago. I went on leave as soon as we were cleared after returning and as I said before, I came down here as soon as I could to spend time with him, and see some old friends while I'm at it."