Page 99 of SnowBound

25

ANDERSON

Two years later

With my music degree in hand, I packed all my stuff in my pickup and hugged Joe after I gave back my apartment key. A new sensation coiled my insides. I was excited about everything coming into my life and altogether insecure about it too.

Following through on his words, later today, I had a meeting scheduled with Riley Burns in his office in Nashville.

We met a few months ago when I flew there during winter break after Tucker Philips booked me for half a dozen concerts at Wild and Country during the Holidays.

Then I drove to Memphis and spent a week home before flying back to New York for the last semester of my college career.

Things had changed a lot for me in the two years since I camped at the airport in Silverville for forty-eight hours, hoping to catch sight of Abby if she had been there too. I did good on the promise I made to myself that night. I stopped pining for her and moved on with my life. I locked down Anderson two-point-zero because I didn’t like the guy I was turning into. For almost a year, I’d been in a serious relationship with a girl who lived in our building. We parted ways when we realized six weeks ago, we weren’t meant to go the distance together. We had fun for the time it lasted, but we both reached the same conclusion that there was no future for us after college.

Riley had been impressed with the demo I’d sent in February, and we’d been in touch every other week since.

Two nights ago, I got a notice he would fly me to Nashville in the private jet of none other than my idol and one of the biggest stars in country music, Carter Hills. Who happened to be Riley’s protégé and biggest client.

“Man, I’m just a phone call away,” my best friend said. The same guy who never showed emotions because he thought it made him look weak had glossy eyes as we hugged a second time. He and I had been living together for four years, and soon we’d be apart and never share an apartment or a dorm room ever again. A piano prodigy, Joe was studying to be a jazz and classical music performer in big productions. He had snatched a gig as a short-term Broadway pianist that would keep him in New York City for the summer. Afterward, he was aiming to stay either in New York or move to Los Angeles, which meant it was unlikely that our professional careers would ever tangle together.

“Call me when you get there,” he said, clapping my back and not releasing me.

“Yes, Mom.” I leaned back and winked at him. “Oh, come on, man. It’s not like we’ll never see each other again.”

“It won’t be the same. This Evan guy who’s moving in next week is not you. And I’m sure his life will be less entertaining than yours.”

“I’ll text you every day to keep you updated. And it will be like I never left.”

He grimaced. “I’m opening my heart to you, and all you do is make fun of me.”

“You know I love you, right?” I teased.

“Yes, well, you’re moving away, so it’s debatable.”

“And, ladies and gentlemen, the guy who avoids clingy girls as if they’re STD carriers is not willing to let me move out. How ironic.”

He jerked his head back and burst out laughing. “Touché.”

“If—no, when. When my music career takes off, I’ll travel all over the globe. And you may travel too. Let’s promise each other that when we’re in the same city, we’ll find time to be together. Grab a drink or something. Deal?” I held out my hand, and he pressed his palm on it.

“Fine. Deal.” He paused and surveyed the room around us. “Do you have everything?”

I nodded.

“Quick question. Are you really gonna fly on your idol’s jet?”

I shook my head as if to make sure it wasn’t a joke. Yeah, even I had a hard time believing it. “Yep. Well, it’s his manager’s private jet, but it’s mostly being used by Hills. It’s like crazy.”

“Agreed.” Joe bent to grab the guitar case at my feet and handed it to me. “Here, get into that car waiting for you, and I’ll grab the two boxes left in your room and carry them down.”

“Thanks, man.”

“You’re already living the rich and famous lifestyle, and no one has heard of you yet. I’m proud of you.”

”You will kill it on Broadway. They’re lucky to have you.”

Joe’s face lit up. “Seems like we’ll both be taking Broadway by storm. Same street name. Different towns.”