"That's impossible. I mean, I . . . I can't. That's not-"
"Calm down, Rip. It's only if you want it. You know these things build for a while, and then they die out eventually if nothing else comes of it . . . but you need to give it some serious thought before you dismiss it. This could be huge. A chance to live that dream you've buried. For you and . . ." She trails off, but I know what she wants to say.
For me and my mama.
My response is to stay silent, because words have deserted me.
"Think about it, Rip. This might be life handing you exactly what you need, when you need it."
My grip on the phone tightens. "Thank you for telling me. I'll think about it."
I can tell she wants to say more, but instead she whispers, "Love you, girl."
"Love you too."
When we hang up, I open my browser again and search for Zane Frisco duet.
The results load in a half second.
Holy Jesus. It's on dozens of sites, and Hope's right. The YouTube hits are still steadily climbing.
Oh God. This is really happening.
Then another thought slams into me. How long until they connect it to the girl who supposedly broke up Boone's engagement?
I groan and flop back onto the futon. I need coffee. A whole boatload of coffee.
* * *
After sneaking down to the corner coffee shop the next morning in a baseball cap and sunglasses to hide the dark circles under my eyes from a restless night and the rat's nest of my hair, I see a handful of people gathered in small groups in the seating area.
No one looks at me twice, and for that I'm thankful, because I'm being nosy and see the video of the duet on at least one screen.
I get my coffee and get the hell out of there. I'm halfway up the stairs to Hope's apartment when my cell phone rings. Balancing my coffee and muffin in one hand, I pull my phone out of my pocket.
Zane Frisco.
I answer by saying, "Oh my God. What the hell did you do?"
"Me? You were part of it too, girl. And everyone's going crazy over this shit. I was trying to sleep in, but my phone wouldn't stop. My agent's already looking into what needs to happen to get us into the studio together to record the cover."
I lose my grip on the muffin and it bounces down the stairs. "What are you talking about? You told him I don't sing, didn't you?"
Frisco laughs. "It's kinda hard to tell him that when he saw the video."
"You know what I mean. I don't sing like that. It was just a one-time deal. I'm a bartender, not a wannabe country star."
"I hate to break it to you, Rip, but you're not a wannabe anything. Right now, you can actually be whatever you want. Not everyone gets that chance."
I know he's talking about his sister, and guilt is like a shiv in my gut.
"This is the opportunity of a lifetime. You sure you want to shut the door on it without even giving it a shot?"
I sit down on the stairs, not caring that the worn carpet has seen better days. "I don't know. This isn't something I expected to be worrying about this morning, okay? I have no idea how to respond."
"All I'm saying is you should give it some consideration before you shut it down. Thousands of people would kill for this kind of exposure, and if you think for a second you might want to try out this life, then you have to take it. It's not going to wait around for you. Right now, you're a mystery. A hot new sound everyone wants to get their hands on. If you wait too long, they'll move on to the next new thing."
I know what Frisco is saying is true, but didn't I just decide yesterday that every time I try to reach for something, I get smacked down? If I took this opportunity and it all went south, how humiliating would that be?
I was afraid to start something with Boone because I knew it would throw me into the spotlight, but wouldn't this do the same? And if I fail, there's no one else to blame. It's all on me.
"I get what you're saying, but I can't decide right now. I'm sitting on the stairs, wishing I had another muffin because mine plopped facedown at the bottom of the landing. You gotta give me a minute."
Frisco's quiet laugh comes over the line. "All right, Rip. Go get another muffin and think about it. You work today?"
"Yeah, at six."
"Don't be surprised if you're mobbed for more than drinks."
"I'm not too worried. Behind a bar, I blend in like furniture."
"You're totally friggin' wrong about that. I saw you clear as day, and Boone sure did too."
For a second I wonder if Frisco is still annoyed that I hooked up with Boone after I shut him down, but the tone of his voice is good natured.