Chapter Twenty-One
Mackenzie
At first I thought that Chance was joking. Regent Records wanted me? It sounded too good to be true. The same record company I'd sent a demo to two years ago, who had rejected me, had now come all the way out here to find me to offer me a record deal? It couldn't be true, and I said as much.
“You're messing with me, Chance Lawson. Seriously, do you think I'd believe that?”
He shook his head, and the expression on his face was serious. “I ain't messing with you, Mackenzie. Judd really is out here, and he really does own Regent Records, and they really do want to sign you. I promise you that.”
The reality of it started to sink in, and I felt my breathing and my heart rate getting faster.
“But... but... I'm just, I'm, I'm not a huge name, I'm—”
“Have you seen how many people have watched the video of you and James?” he asked me, interrupting my stammering.
“I... uh, no, I haven't checked for a while.”
“Well, we'd best check it out right now then, huh?” He pulled out his phone and loaded up YouTube. “All right, let's see... search for James Masters and Mackenzie Shea, Thunder and Rain,” he said into his phone. “There we go, got it. Aaannd... five hundred and eighty-eight thousand views. Did you hear that, Mackenzie? Five hundred and eighty-eight thousand views. Over half a million. It’s no wonder Regent Records wants you. Hell, have you even heard how good you sound on that clip? I dunno how, but God must of put that person who had that cellphone with amazing audio recording capabilities front and center of the stage. The video looks and sounds nearly professional. That's why it's got so many views.”
“I just... I just can't believe it!”
He looked away from me.
“I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, Mackenzie. I just... I was a little caught off guard, I guess. And Judd told me all about the program, all about how the artists go to stay there in Austin and record... and all I could think was that you and I had just started this amazing connection, and how we were just gettin' going on this path... and now you were gonna be taken away from me, and move to another state and I just wanted you to myself for a little bit longer. I'm sorry. It was selfish of me. This is likely to be the biggest opportunity of your life, your big break.”
I was too overwhelmed by it all to really know what to say – and while a part of me was upset about him not telling me about the record deal right away, it wasn't as if he'd waited very long to say anything. But he was right about one thing – if I took the deal, I'd have to move to Austin. And not only would I be far away from Chance, I'd be far away from my father and mother as well. It was a big decision to make, and nothing would make it easy. Chance was also right in that it was likely the biggest opportunity in my life. I mean, this was it, this was a big label, professional record deal. It was ideal. Regent was just small enough to be indie-like, but way bigger than most indie labels, so they had plenty of clout behind their name and a lot of money and connections in the industry.
It was all a lot to process. I leaned forward and hugged Chance tightly for a long time. When I eventually disengaged, I looked him in the eye. “Thank you, Chance. Thank you so much for telling me. Don't worry, I’m not mad. I understand why you didn't tell me immediately. Hell, the first thing that came to my mind when you mentioned it was that I'd have to move to Austin and be away from both you and my family. But like you said, it's a huge, huge opportunity for me. I guess... I guess I just need to talk to Judd and then have a good, long think about it.”
Chance got out his phone out. “I took his number,” he said. “Here it is. Give him a call.”
“Thank you,” I said, taking the phone.
I immediately gave Judd a call.
“Judd Wilson here,” a voice on the other end of the line said as he picked up quickly.
“Mr. Wilson, this is Mackenzie Shea,” I said.
“Ah great to hear from you, Miss Shea! I've been looking for you all over Nashville. I saw your video with James Masters and by God was I impressed. I then went and looked up more of your videos on YouTube, and found that you've got some amazing originals – originals that I'd love to record. I've got an offer for you from Regent Records if you’re interested. When can you meet me in person?”
“Soon, very soon.”
“How would now work for you?” he asked.
I looked up at Chance, who was listening in on the conversation. He nodded and smiled. “Yeah, I guess I could do that.”
“Perfect. Meet you at, uh, the coffee shop across the road from Wild Horses bar in, say, forty-five minutes?”
“Yes! I'll meet you there,” I replied.
“Perfect. See you soon, Miss Shea.”
We said our goodbyes and hung up. I jumped into Chance's arms and give him the biggest hug I could.
“Thank you, Chance, thank you so much for helping me. It means so much, it really does.”
“I know it does. Listen, I can't drive, but I'll get Andy to drive you to the cafe and then drop you off at your place afterwards if Judd can't do that.”
I leaned in and placed a soft kiss on his perfect lips. Then kissed him again slowly, deeply and passionately. Immediately the fireworks of arousal started exploding, but we stopped before things got too heated.
He gave Andy a call on his cell and shortly after, he and Cassie were walking through the front door. We said our farewells, and I promised Chance I'd let him know what was happening, and that I'd see him soon. I said a fond farewell to Cassie as well, promising her the same thing. Then I got in the truck with Andy, who drove me into town. Andy and I chatted about his life on the ranch, about growing up there, and about Chance when he was younger during our drive. Andy seemed like a true cowboy; rough and tough on the outside, but a heart of gold glowing on the inside. Chance's father and grandfather sounded like they’d been amazing men as well – true sons of the soil. Chance had some big shoes to fill, but from what I could tell, he was filling them pretty well.
We got to the cafe just as Judd was arriving – he saw me getting out of the truck and recognized me from the video. We chatted briefly about my current transport situation, and he agreed to give me a ride home after our meeting, so I said goodbye to Andy and thanked him for the ride.
Judd and I sat down and ordered some coffee and donuts.
“Like I said, Miss Shea, I saw your videos, heard your songs, and I am very, very impressed. I can make a big star outta you. Bigger than you’ve probably dreamed about. You just have to work with me and trust me, and together, we'll get you to the top.”
We'd reviewed the details of what his record contract would provide, and it was a very, very generous offer. The only thing was the fact that I'd have to move to Austin.
“I really, really want to take your offer,” I said, “but it's just the Austin thing. I have some family reasons I’d prefer to stay in Nashville. Isn't there any way I could stay here and do it?”
“That would be possible in the future,” he said, and immediately hope soared inside me, “but not until the first album is written and done.”
Hope vanished as quickly as it had come.
“So... how long would that be?”
“Well, that depends on you, and how happy me and the producers are with the tracks you write and record. The fastest one of our artists has ever done it is just over three months from his first day on the ranch to the final product. Longest was two years. Since you already have a good backlog of original songs, I'd guess you'd be done fairly quickly, say six to eight months. It'd just be a matter of rearranging some, rewriting others, then jamming them out and perfecting them in the studio.”
“What about drummers? My best friend Lilly—”
“Oh, I know all about her, I saw some videos of the two of you playing, and I recognized her. But she's contracted to another label as a recording artist, and it'd be too much in legal fees and paperwork to get her to play on your record. I'm sorry, but that's how it is. I have one of the best drummers in Texas contracted to my studio, and you'll play with him. Jake Adams, you heard of him?”
“I have, yeah, and I know he's really good.”
Jake Adams was a huge name among drummers – and not just for his skill on the drums. He was famous for being a party boy and a wild character too. Not to mention a big hit with women, with his smoking-hot good looks and ripped body that he’d shown off on social media all too willingly. He was covered in tattoos, and he always played shirtless, giving his legions of female fans plenty to scream about.
“I tell ya what, the offer is on the table. You can take the paperwork home and read it over, and get your lawyer to comb through the legal-speak if you'd like. But even though I really want to sign you, I can't keep this offer open forever.”
“I'll get an answer to you by the end of next week... is that all right?”
He smiled. “Perfect. I'll be in town until then. Thought I'd use the trip up here as an excuse to catch up with my family and spend some time with them.”
“Okay. Well, thank you so much for the offer. I really, really appreciate it. Would you be able to drive me home now?”
“I sure can. C'mon, coffee and donuts are on me.”
Judd settled up the bill and then took me out to his car and drove me home.
“You know,” he said as I got out the car, “I just had a thought. How about I fly you out to Austin for a show and you stay at the ranch over the weekend and try out the studio? Then you'll have a better idea of what to expect from the record contract. What do you say?”
“Wow, that would be perfect. When would you like to do that?”
“One of Regent's bands is playing at one of the main music bars in Austin on Friday. I'd like you to open for them. How does that sound?”
“This coming Friday? As in a few days away?” I asked.
“That's the one.”
“Well... uh... yes! Yes, I'd love to do that!”
“Great! I'll make all the arrangements and let you know what's going on tomorrow. Have a good day, Miss Shea.”
“You too, Judd!”
***
Austin was great, I had to admit. I hadn't been there before, but once I arrived, I wished I hadn't waited so long to come see it.
I was excited, yes, but also, I was sad – I was already missing everyone back in Nashville, especially Chance. He and I had spent the previous night together, and it had been amazing. I'd almost felt like calling Judd up and telling him I wasn't gonna come to Austin for the weekend – but that would have been a crazy thing to do.
So, there I was, outside the bar I was scheduled to play at in a couple of hours. The sun had just set over the city and all the lights were coming on. This was a music street all right, and people were lining up outside of music bars to check out the acts of the night.
I was just standing outside the bar with my suitcase and guitar case, looking kinda lost, when a voice spoke my name.
“Mackenzie Shea?”
I turned, a little dazed. “That's me,” I replied, having to look up at the owner of the voice who was standing in the doorway. He smiled and extended a hand, which I shook.
“Michael Haggard,” he said, “pleased to meet you. I'm the manager here at the Buzz Bar. C'mon in. I'll take your suitcase we'll stash that safely backstage. Judd's arranged a limo to take you back to the ranch whenever you feel like leaving the bar. You can go right after your set, or you can stick around for the other acts. It's totally up to you. Just let me know so I can tell the limo driver when to be here.”
I nodded and followed him into the bar – though, it was more like a club. The place was huge and looked as if it could fit a thousand people. I followed him to the spacious, elevated stage.
“We'll just do a quick sound check now, if that's okay? When you’re done, you can leave your guitar on stage and head on down the street to get yourself dinner and check the place out a little, and come back before your set starts. You just need to be here an hour before going on stage.”
“Sure.”
I got my guitar out, tuned it up, and then plugged it in to the cable provided. A stage hand came and set up a chair and mic for me. I got myself comfy, and then looked at the sound engineer, behind the mixing desk at the end of the bar.
“Play a tune,” he shouted. “Something that you'll play tonight.”
I started strumming the chords of Thunder and Rain, and then started singing. The guy obviously knew what he was doing; I didn't even have time to get to the chorus before he stopped me.
“That's perfect!” he shouted. “Levels are all mixed, you sound amazing! You're gonna kill it tonight.”
“Thanks!” I called out.
I set my guitar down on a stand on the side of the stage, but then I heard an unfamiliar voice behind me.
“So, you're Mackenzie Shea, huh?”
I turned around and found myself face to face with a guy so attractive that he almost made me have to catch my breath. Tall, lean muscled with broad shoulders, wearing a tight T-shirt that showed off his sculpted arms and tattoos. Shoulder-length, sandy-blond hair, piercing, blue eyes, and a shit-eating grin.
Jake Adams.
“I am. And you're Jake Adams.”
“That's me. You're way hotter in person than you are in the videos, Mackenzie. And since you're smokin' hot in the videos. You can only imagine how hot I think you are now.”
I couldn't help but blush.
“Thank you,” I said. “And you're an incredible drummer, from what I've seen.”
“Drumming isn't the only thing I'm a pro at,” he said with a wicked grin. “And if you have a few drinks with me later, I guarantee you'll find out about my other talents. And you'll like 'em, Mackenzie Shea. You'll like 'em a lot.”
I could see where this was going, and as hot as Jake was, he was no Chance Lawson.
“I don't think that's gonna happen,” I replied.
“But you are saying there's a chance,” he retorted with a wicked grin. “And on a night like this, anything could happen. Anything...”