Girl With Guitar (18 page)

“I
’m
so excited to see you, Kylie! Carmen is, too!” Lulu was practically squealing from the speaker in Kylie’s phone.

“Yeah, Lu, I’m excited too.” But her voice gave her away. She was struggling to get excited about much of anything lately. She hadn’t told her friend a whole lot about the situation with Trace. She didn’t want to relay the details only for Carmen to ask her what she was going to do next, because Kylie had no answer for that. “Have to say, kind of surprised that Carmen is excited to see me.” Kylie and Lulu’s cousin had never really been the best of friends. Not that Kylie was really in a position to turn down friends at this point. Trace was definitely right about one thing—this lifestyle could be lonely.

“Of course she is! And she’s excited to see Nashville.” Yeah, that made more sense. “Okay, our flight is boarding. See you in a few hours!”

“Great,” Kylie agreed, forcing herself to exert the proper amount of enthusiasm for her friend’s visit. “And when do you have to go back?”

“I have classes tomorrow morning so we’re taking the red eye back tonight.”

“Okay, well, I’ll grab a cab and meet you in a bit.”

K
ylie
almost didn’t recognize Lulu when she got off the plane. Her hair had been a bright shade of pink on their last Skype chat and now it was white blond with lower tips tinged with magenta. Carmen looked the same but she was smiling instead of scowling, which made her look a whole lot prettier than Kylie remembered.

She wrapped her best friend in a tight hug. “Hey, hot mama. Love the hair.”

“Oh em gee, it’s Kiii Lee Ryans!” Lulu squealed.

Several people turned to look at them. “God, shut up, Lu,” Kylie said with a laugh as she met Carmen’s eyes and they shared an eye roll. Man, she’d missed this crazy girl.

After they got some food and were back at Kylie’s apartment, she filled them in on everything from the night she met Trace at The Rum Room to their encounter this morning. She left out the intimate details about the day after his party but they got the idea.

“Damn,” Carmen said, letting out a low whistle, “that’s harsh.”

“I am so going to junk punch Trace Corbin. Where does he live?” Lulu demanded. “And I am posting his real name online. Tracey Corbin has a nicer ring to it, and now he can do a drag show.”

Kylie sighed. She didn’t have the emotional energy necessary to get angry. Thankfully Lulu had enough for both of them. “I think he just wants to put everything that happened behind him and it’s kind of hard to do that if I show up at his house and hang out with his sisters.”

“Well, what the hell ever. That’s no way to treat you. It’s not like you even actually lied to him. You just didn’t mention it. I mean, since when do people have to fill out a family tree to get a job?”

“They asked me in the initial interview if I had any skeletons in my closet, anything that might cause problems for Trace,” Kylie said quietly. “I lied because it seemed like any sign of drama might cause them to change their minds. I’m lucky it wasn’t worse than this.”

“Worse than this? Kylie, your freaking dreams are coming true and you’re just sitting here lonely and heartbroken, and don’t deny it. I can see what this has done to you.”

“So can I,” Carmen added quietly.

“Well, that can’t be helped,” she snapped without meaning to. Softer she added, “I just wish I’d told him about her, that day on the farm. But it is what it is and the media has turned it into something ugly and…” Kylie just shook her head, unable to finish.

“And he’s acting like a teenage dickhead who screws girls and tosses them aside when it’s no longer convenient. And then what the hell did he really want this morning? A quickie?”

“I don’t think so.” Kylie closed her eyes and tried to put what she believed into words. “He’s trying to rebuild his image. You know how country music is—wholesome, moral, down home values and all that. He’s made a lot of mistakes and here he was trying to start from the ground up and I come along and now all anyone can talk about is him hooking up with some girl whose own mother has labeled her a gold-digging whore.” She cringed on the last part. That was worst thing about the whole ordeal—no one seemed to care that Darla was just her
step
mother. The leaks about interviews with Darla kept calling her Kylie’s mother. Made Kylie’s stomach turn. Hard.

“Yeah, but it’s not like you planned it and seduced him or anything. He’s a consenting adult for crying out loud,” Lu argued.

“And even if you did, it’s not like you’ve done anything to really hurt him. Or sold everything you learned about him to some cheap tabloid. What’s the big damned deal?” Carmen added.

“I think it’s that, in this business, it’s hard to trust people. I mean, I’ve been really lucky, but I know Trace had some shady characters lying to him and manipulating him when he first started out.” Sadness and regret washed over her, threatening to keep her from continuing. She took a deep breath and hurried on. “He mentioned some things and his sister told me some stuff. I think it really hurt him that he trusted me and I lied…or that I didn’t tell him the truth before things went as far as they did. When I had Rae lie to get him back to the bus—that just sent him over the edge. Then he walked up on us talking about her promising not to tell him something at her party. Just,
ugh
. If our relationship or whatever it was had a theme, it would be bad timing.”

For a moment no one said anything. Carmen was on the couch. Kylie and Lulu sat on the floor propped against it. CMT was on but the volume was down too low to be audible.

Kylie stared at her hands and swallowed back tears. She had been looking forward to Lu’s visit and now she was ruining it with a pity party. They were supposed to be going shopping and then to dinner before her party at The Rum Room, not listening to her sulk in her scarcely furnished apartment. Taking a deep breath, she started to open her mouth to tell the girls, her friends, that it was just over and that they should all just drop it and enjoy tonight. But Lulu spoke first.

“Well, speak of the devil. Turn it up, Carmen.”

Kylie looked at the television she’d bought at the pawnshop near her apartment. And there he was. Wearing a grin worthy of swooning girls everywhere.

Our own Mandy Lynn Mathis caught up with Trace Corbin as he prepares for the upcoming Workin’ Hard Lovin’ Harder benefit concert.
The camera panned to a tall blonde woman holding a microphone and standing with Trace in what looked like a giant auditorium. Kylie couldn’t breathe.
A shitty life choice. That’s what you are to him.
The TV drowned out her inner monologue.

Trace Corbin, fresh off his Back to My Roots tour is gearing up to perform at a benefit concert at The Sommet Center next month to help raise money for a charity he’s just started. Trace, can you tell us a little about this program and your involvement?

Yes, ma’am. Recently I was made aware of the difficulties that single parents face. Particularly ones who have to sacrifice time with their children working multiple jobs to make ends meet. After my father passed, my own mama raised my little sister all on her own. All of the money we raise tonight will go to
A HAND UP,
which is a foundation my family and I have started to help single working parents locate safe and affordable housing and childcare. It will also help with bills, groceries, and any medical or other costs they may incur.
Even Mandy Lynn Mathis looked surprised. How long had he been working on this? Kylie wondered as she stared at the screen.

Trace, that’s really noble of you. What do you say to your critics out there who say you’re just doing this to cover all the negative publicity you received on this last tour?

Well, Ms. Mathis, frankly I don’t much care about my critics. My focus is on my family and my fans. The people who’ve stuck with me when I least deserved it.

Good for you, Trace. Any chance you care to tell us about the multiple opening acts you worked with on this tour?

Um, yeah. Sure.
Kylie watched Trace shift his weight.
We had some great artists along for the ride, some of which didn’t work out, as you know, but we had a great time on the road, and we’re all really grateful to everyone who came to see us play.

Now Trace, we’ve heard rumors about missed tour dates, and it’s been said that your manager even went on the road with you to make sure you showed up to each and every show. Any truth to that?

Nah, Pauly just loves my company.
Trace laughed but Kylie knew it wasn’t his real laugh.

Well that’s understandable
, the woman said with a wink. Ugh, the freaking CMT correspondent was flirting with him. Kylie was so never going to let that woman interview her.

Okay, one last question before we let you get back to rehearsing. Mia Montgomery and Kylie Ryans were both talented young ladies who toured with you briefly. Rumors are still circulating about the nature of your relationships with each. Care to clear the air?

Trace slid off his hat and ran a hand through his hair. Kylie recognized the gesture. He was nervous.

Country music fans have certain expectations. Mia Montgomery was a pop crossover artist who had recently come off a tour for a contest she won. She wasn’t well received by audiences who had bought a ticket to see a country concert. She left the tour early to work on her kind of music. To my knowledge there were no hard feelings.

And Ms. Ryans?
the correspondent prompted.

The little volume squares appeared as Carmen turned the flat screen clear up to sonic boom. Trace’s voice filled the apartment as the three girls watched with wide eyes.

He cleared his throat before he spoke directly into the camera.
Kylie Ryans is an extremely strong and talented young woman whose only flaw was to have the sheer misfortune of getting stuck on a bus with me.
Trace forced another chuckle that Kylie knew wasn’t genuine.
She’s a stick of dynamite. I’m expecting great things to happen for her and I wish her the best. At the rate she’s going, I’ll probably be opening for her in a year or so.
He grinned but the smile didn’t reach his eyes.

Thanks, Trace. Best of luck with your upcoming concert and A Hand Up.

Thank you.
Trace dipped his head towards the woman and then he disappeared from the frame as the camera zoomed in on Mandy Lynn Mathis.

And for those of you not in attendance, you can watch Trace perform live on CMT on Demand from—

The apartment went silent as Carmen hit mute.

The only thing Kylie could hear was the blood rushing in her ears. An echo of Trace’s words began to rise above the fluid.

“Well, maybe I won’t junk punch him, but I am going to call him Tracey. Loudly. In public,” Lulu announced.

“Why would he…just…he didn’t…” Kylie couldn’t form a coherent thought to save her life. Tears blurred her vision and she could feel herself shaking.

“Carmen, check the freezer for ice cream, and if there isn’t any, run down the street to that little store we passed on the way in and buy some. Mint chocolate chip. Get the big bucket,” Lulu ordered. Carmen snapped to attention and was out the door.

“Why would he say those things? After…” After she’d shoved him out of her life to protect herself from what she knew they were capable of doing to each other.

“Oh, honey.” Lulu wrapped Kylie in a hug and held her while she cried out all of the tears she had left for Trace Corbin.

“C
ome
on, Kylie! We’re going to be late! Hurry the hell up!” Lulu banged on the bathroom door.

Kylie stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in her towel. She knew she was going to run a little late to her own birthday party, but it had taken a while to figure out what to do.

She was going to hope and pray that Trace came to her party tonight, that they could talk. And if he didn’t show, she was going to call him and ask him to meet her for coffee or something. She was ready. Ready to apologize for not telling him about Darla when he’d been so honest about his family situation. Ready to do whatever it took to convince him that she cared about him too and that even if he thought he couldn’t do relationships, she wanted him to try. With her. Her heartbeat sped up each time she thought about him, about what it would feel to kiss him again, and to be in his arms where she belonged.

“So I’ve got good news and bad news,” Lulu announced as she passed Kylie to get into the bathroom and plug up the hair straightener. “Good news is I forgot to tell you that there’s a giant billboard up at home that says Pride is Proud of Kylie Ryans.” The kindness of the town that Kylie had deserted made her eyes moist. Maybe she did have some semblance of a family after all.

“And the bad news?”

Lulu stepped back towards the bed and picked up her cell phone. “E!Online has started a poll: Kylie Ryans, Starlet or Harlot? People are voting and commenting like crazy.”

“Well, what’s the verdict?”

Lulu checked her phone. “It’s tied dead even at fifty percent for each.”

“Fabulous.”

“This is the kind of dress that changes your life, Ky. You have to wear it tonight,” Lulu told her, changing the subject by holding up the tiny black strapless dress she’d talked Kylie into purchasing earlier that afternoon when they’d been out shopping.

“Not sure I can handle too many more life changing experiences,” Kylie told her as she eyed it warily.

“Sure you can, and these shoes are perfect.” She gestured to the black stilettos Kylie would never be able to walk in.

“Yeah, perfect for busting my ass.”

“Nah, you’ll be fine. Practice walking in them till it’s time to go.”

“Hey, Kylie. There’s, um, a delivery for you,” Carmen called from the front of the apartment.

“Okay,” Kylie called back, looking down at her towel and stilettos. “Lu, you wanna get that for me?”

Lulu just rolled her eyes and darted towards the door to see what had arrived.

“Um, Ky, I think you’re going to want to see this,” she called a few seconds later. Kylie wobbled on her heels as she made her way out of the bedroom. And her breath caught in her throat.

In her living room stood Rae and Claire Ann Corbin.

Kylie wondered briefly if the entire Corbin family met privately to discuss these sneak attacks they were so damned good at.

“What are you guys doing here?” she asked, trying to sound happy to see them. Wasn’t too hard because she was.

“Surprise!” Rae shouted.

“Crashing your birthday,” Claire Ann answered quietly. Kylie laughed. And then she introduced everyone.

“It’s Olivia, actually,” Lulu corrected after Kylie introduced her. Apparently she was going with her more adult name, not that Kylie would ever be able to call her by it.

“Whatever,” Kylie said with an eye roll. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m beyond happy to see y’all but, um, Trace—”

“Trace is kind of an ass sometimes, Kylie. Surely you’ve noticed?” Claire Ann asked.

“Amen, sister,” Lulu chimed in.

“Hey, is that what you’re wearing tonight because, um…” Rae trailed off, taking in Kylie’s robe and heels.

“Yes, Rae. This step one of my five-point plan to get your brother to fall in love with me,” Kylie deadpanned.

“Oh, nice.” Rae nodded as if she thought it was a step in the right direction. “Well, what’s step two?”

“Yeah, I haven’t really gotten that far yet,” Kylie told her.

“Looking hot should pretty much do it,” Lulu chimed in. “Which she totally is. Wait till y’all see the dress she’s wearing tonight.”

And with that, everyone began comparing outfits, critiquing and clamoring over each other to make suggestions about how she should wear her hair.

This is what it must be like to have sisters,
Kylie thought to herself. And at that moment, with Carmen turning up the radio, Lulu helping her put her dress on without getting deodorant on it, Claire Ann heating up the hair straightener, and Rae digging through her makeup, Kylie thought that other than being with Trace, this was probably about as good as it ever got.

“Good God, Kylie. The rest of us might as well wear paper sacks,” Carmen blurted out once they were all dressed. She blushed at the unexpected compliment.

“No shit,” Lulu added. “Trace Corbin must be a blind idi—” She covered her mouth and glanced at Rae and Claire Ann. “Crap, sorry.”

Rae burst out in laughter and Claire Ann shook her head. “Agreed,” Rae said with a grin at Kylie.