Page 18 of Beneath a Tennessee Sky

Normally, she tells me about the pictures she posted or a funny story about a customer. I had a feeling her quietness was about me leaving.

“I was thinking,” I start, setting my fork down. “Once I get settled in Memphis, you could come visit. Maybe spend a weekend. I’ll show you around the city. Take you to some real music spots.”

She looks up from her plate, her expression softening. “That sounds nice.”

“We could make it a thing. Every couple of weeks, you come out, or I come back here. It doesn’t have to be goodbye.”

“I know.” She smiles.

“It’s probably gonna be a bit before I get everything figured out, but as soon as I do, I want you to come and see me.”

“Of course,” she replies. “I’m sure you’re going to be very busy.”

“Yeah.” I nod. “Liz says they want me in the studio right away. They want to release a single while I’m cutting the album. She says it’ll get buzz going about me so when the album drops it will be a hit.”

She nods. “I imagine she knows what she’s doing.”

“Yeah, she’s repped a couple of Grammy winners! Can you believe it? She told me once my album is produced, she can nominate me for New Artist of the Year! I may actually be walking red carpets next year!”

“If you’re nominated, I have no doubt you’ll win,” she says softly.

“You think?” I grin before taking another bite. “I’m trying to decide what I’m going to buy first when I get my first fat check.”

“What are you leaning toward?” she asks without meeting my eyes.

“A new truck,” I say, leaning back in my chair. “Mine’s barely holding together as it is. Maybe something with leather seats. Or a house. Something with space, you know? A place where I can really spread out and write.”

Jinnie nods, her fork pushing the last bits of food around her plate. “That sounds nice,” she says, but her voice is distant, like she’s not really listening.

I watch her for a moment, trying to read her expression. She’s been off all night—smiling when I look at her but retreating into herself the second she thinks I’m not paying attention.

“Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out,” she adds after a pause, finally looking up at me.

“Not all of it,” I say quickly. “I mean, I could totally bomb. End up being the guy who gets dropped from his label before he even cuts a record.”

“I don’t believe that for a second,” she said. “Liz seems very confident you’re going to be a huge success.”

I grin. “Yeah. She told me about the last guy she found in some small town in Idaho.”

Jinnie looks interested. “Yeah? Anyone I know?”

“He never made it big,” I admit, shrugging. “But Liz says he got a taste of the industry and now he’s working as a session musician in Nashville. Not bad for a guy who was playing bars his whole life.”

Jinnie nods, but her smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “That’s something, I guess.”

“Yeah,” I say, trying to keep the conversation light. “And Liz says I’ve got more raw talent than he did. She thinks I’m going to blow up.”

“That’s great,” Jinnie murmurs, her fork clinking softly against her plate. She’s barely touched her food.

I lean forward, my elbows on the table. “Hey, what’s going on? You’ve been quiet all night.”

She hesitates, then sighs, setting her fork down. “It’s just... I don’t know. Everything’s changing so fast, Jack. You’re leaving tomorrow, and I just I feel like I’m losing you already.”

My chest tightens at her words. “You’re not losing me, Jinnie. I promise. This is just the beginning for us. Once I get settled, we’ll figure it out. You can come visit, or I’ll come back here. It’s not goodbye.”

She looks at me, her eyes searching mine for something—reassurance, maybe? “But what if it is? What if you get out there and realize you don’t need me anymore? What if you meet someone who fits better into that world?”

“I won’t,” I say with a shrug. “I know that.”