Page 11 of Protecting Her

The link took me to a new Twitter page, one for the Thompson Hotel’s Nashville Nights Bar and Grill. It was a country-themed bar, with the requisite cactus and cowboy boot neon signs, and the interior of the bar was all wood and metal, with a theme that brought to mind the frontier town watering holes with the swinging doors and can-can dancers who also served the male patrons. Cute, and within my genre, I guessed.

I was a little bit on the edge of both rock and country; maybe too much of both for some, but it was my style. I was usually a denim and hoodie kind of girl, who wore whatever shoes I could afford. I wasn’t high maintenance, but I wasn’t frumpy either. I was always in the middle, whatever the topic was.

I could fit in to a place like that.

Could it be possible? I bit the inside of my lip as I looked over the bar’s Twitter site. How would I get there? My phone buzzed in my hand as another notification came through from someone I didn’t know. It was the schedule for auditions at the bar. Then came a text message on my phone.

Travel arrangements had been made for me to fly to Nashville tonight and to audition tomorrow. “Holy shit…”

I couldn’t believe it.

I hadn’t heard from Kevin since I got back to America. I’d kind of thought he’d meet me at the airport, and we’d have some romantic reunion with flowers and clapping spectators, but there’d only been a driver there with my name on a sign. I’d sighed away my disappointment, and told myself he’d meet me at the hotel then. But my room had been empty.

There’d been no sign of him for two days now. I’d been left in limbo and hadn’t known what to do. There’d been nobody to tell me how long I could stay at the hotel, no offer of a job, although, at this point, I’d take a job in housekeeping if it was offered to me. I didn’t have a direction to go in. I had no idea what I should do, so I’d waited.

What else could I do? Freeze to death out to the streets I didn’t know, or in an abandoned warehouse. I’d spent enough time on the streets in London. I huffed a sigh out as tears stung in my eyes.

He’d brought me home, at least. I’d told myself it was just a one-night stand after all, and had decided to move on. I’d used my phone to find out about welfare programs in North Carolina, but there was little to be offered. I wasn’t pregnant, and I didn’t have a child, so I was expected to go out and find a job. Fair enough, but I couldn’t even drive! I didn’t know anybody here. I’d never even been to a job interview.

I’d survived this long because I’d never been alone, until now. But not really. This message told me that. He hadn’t forgotten about me.

I sent a return text to the number, but I didn’t get a reply. Was it Kevin or a secretary who had sent the text?

I blew air out of my mouth and put my guitar and the phone down. Excitement started to build within me, and nervousness. I’d never performed for a job, or been interviewed for one as I’d said, but this was something I’d always wanted. I hadn’t learned how to win interviewers over while I was in school, but I had learned to play a guitar, how to sing, and write music that stirred the soul. My direction had always been headed toward music. It just so happened that for years now I’d spun in place.

Fate had given me a guardian angel, even if he was one who had disappeared completely. Okay, he’d had sex with me and bailed, but look at what he’d done for me since then. I wasn’t just some whore; he’d really thought I could sing, and he’d proven that to me with this. I knew he was behind it, because who else could it have been but him?

My thoughts were all over the place, and when I stood, I tripped over the strap of my backpack. It had become my purse, and I’d dropped it beside the couch when I first came in. My knee banged into the edge of the table and tears came to my eyes. Dang, another bruise!

I didn’t get along with that table very well. You’d think by now I’d know to avoid the damned thing, but I’d managed six bruises between my two knees. I smiled, despite the pain, and headed to the kitchen for ice. At least there was a table for me to bang my knees into. And tonight, I was going to Nashville.

I had barely moved from my room here in Charlotte. I’d been too afraid I’d miss Kevin if he came by, and I barely knew anything about the town. I didn’t have any money either so there was no reason to go out. My food and drink were provided by room service, they even had a laundry service, though I hadn’t used it yet. Nashville though. Even if I didn’t have any money, I’d still want to see the place.

I checked the time, ran into the bathroom to take a shower, and then dried my hair. I stared into the mirror as I dried the curly locks carefully, otherwise they’d just frizz. I wasn’t a goddess among women, but I wasn’t ugly either. I was still young, and my face had a certain appeal. A slim nose that fit my features, wide, almond-shaped eyes, and a full smile combined in a way that was pleasing. I was no Kardashian, but I didn’t want to be. I was certain those women spent hours plastering on their faces just to chisel it off again at night.

With a little work I might be prettier, but I was me and I’d accepted that long ago. I sighed, put on a pair of jeans I hadn’t worn yet, then put on the red sweater that Kevin had sent to me. The color did amazing things for my eyes and the tan glow on my skin. Not bad, I thought with a smile and put my hands in the back pockets of my jeans. Not bad at all.

I started to gather all of my things from the room. I didn’t plan on coming back, so I wanted to be sure I’d picked up everything. I made a sandwich and put a couple bottles of water in my bag. I looked around and knew I had everything packed. The bag was heavy, but I could manage it.

A driver came for me soon enough, and before I knew it, I was walking into the Thompson Hotel in Nashville. The sun had sunk while I was in the sky, and the hotel was lit up to fight off the night. It was a tasteful place, modern and expensive looking with wood accents, dark brown carpeting, and gold accents here and there. I walked in, told the receptionist my name, and was given a room key.

“Thanks,” I said to her and went up to my room. As I suspected, exactly the same as the one in Charlotte. I gave a soft chuckle and put my bag down.

A knock came at the door, and I went to answer it.

“This is for you, miss.” The same receptionist was at the door, a small envelope in hand.

“Thanks,” I said again and felt stupid, but she just nodded and left.

I took the envelope into the room and almost fell in the floor. There was $500 in the plain white paper! What was I supposed to do with this? I looked but there was no note, and the phone hadn’t gone off. I’d been given a new SIM card for a nationwide phone service provider when I checked into the hotel in Charlotte, so I knew it wasn’t a reception problem.

I stared at the money and decided to leave it alone for now. But… I took a single note out of the envelope and left my room. I wanted to see that bar. I didn’t want to get drunk or anything like that; I just wanted to see where I’d be when I auditioned tomorrow. I followed signs on the wall that pointed to different parts of the hotel until I found the bar.

It was much bigger than I’d thought it would be. A stage was on the right side of the first floor. I wondered if they’d soundproofed the bar at all. I knew they must have, otherwise the noise would disturb hotel residents. I walked into the place, and a waitress with black hair, a black t-shirt with the name of the bar across her chest, and black jeans asked if I wanted a table or to sit at the bar.

“The bar, please,” I told her and followed her to a seat.

The place was empty, and music played softly from the jukebox in one corner.