The Ex Factor - Erin McCarthy Page 0,35
you know. Not with you. With my career, sure, of course I did. But with you I was just star struck and totally taken with you.”
“The feeling was mutual, darlin.’ And my only agenda now is making sure you enjoy the creative process.” He spread her legs and moved in between them, kissing up her arm, to the dip on the inside of her elbow. “Relax, baby. Let’s tell a story.”
That was what he loved about country music. It told a story, not couched in metaphors and symbolism, but a straight up, honest to goodness, you’ve all felt it kind of emotional journey.
“What’s our story? When the tour bus is rocking, don’t come knocking?” She shot him a grin, looking unaffected by the fact that he was between her thighs.
“That’s true, yes. But don’t act like our relationship was all about sex.”
“No, it wasn’t then. But it is now.”
That pissed him off. It shouldn’t. That’s what they had agreed to. But it was annoying to hear her be so dismissive. Hell, she even shrugged. But he took a deep breath and let it go. They were better than that now. No more picking at each other.
“We’re writing a break-up album. So tell me how you felt that night when we had our big fight.”
She eyed him. “Can you get off the floor? I can’t take you seriously on your knees.”
“I’m trying to be non-threatening.”
Jolene laughed. “The one thing I have never felt with you is threatened. But okay, you just stay down there, and I’ll pet your head.”
She did. Just reached out and stroked his hair. Weirdly, he kind of liked it. “You still didn’t answer the question.”
“How did I feel? I remember thinking that it wasn’t fair you always get to be pissed and I have to be rational.”
Was she fucking serious? That’s how she’d felt? He looked at her. Yep, she was. That got him up off his knees.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m just getting my guitar.” He needed to refocus, redirect his energy. There was no reason to get upset with Jolene or start a fight. They were wading through their history. It was bound to be awkward and even a little hurtful. There was a reason they’d broken up after all.
So he sat in the rocker next to her and he picked at his strings. “Got any thoughts about men who drive you crazy?”
“I have a whole hell of a lot.” She gave him a look. “Is this a good idea, Chance? Especially since I’m kind of relaxed post-sex.”
“You are not even remotely relaxed. That’s changing tomorrow. I think we should start over. Pretend we don’t know each other. Like we just met.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “That is not possible. You can’t put sand back into an upside down bottle. You can’t unknow things, or unsee them, or unfeel them.”
“Those are not real words.”
“See? Would you say that to someone you don’t know? My assumption is you’d be more polite.” She shook her head, smiling.
“I said we’d start tomorrow. Tonight I want to share that big old bed and enjoy some conjugal rights.”
“You’re not in prison.”
How could he explain to her that he did feel like he was in prison? Like his life was a box he’d been shoved in at five years old. He could still hear his father’s slurred voice. Play the guitar for my buddies, Chance. Show them the old man only produces hits.
He’d been another title in his father’s library, nothing more. A party favor.
The only time he didn’t feel the weight of that was when he wrote music.
“I’m here against my will, aren’t I?” He was kidding. Yes, Ginny had pressured him, and he hadn’t trusted himself alone with Jolene, but he was here. No one could make him do anything he didn’t agree to on some level. He owed the label an album and he would deliver it because he believed in keeping his word.
But Jolene sighed. She took a sip of her wine and shook her head. “Then just leave, Chance. Go home. It’s not worth it if you don’t want this duo. I don’t want to spend a career dragging you kicking and screaming behind me. I’m twenty-five and I’m already tired. I can just do a solo album and hope for the best.”
He wasn’t expecting that. He didn’t like it. “Is that what you want?” he asked, shocked.
She stared him down. “No. But yes. I want a partner. If you really don’t want this, I think you should