CHAPTER ELEVEN
Meg awoke early the following morning, and quickly packed her suitcase. Just let me get out of the house without seeing him. This week had no bearing on reality, and I let myself get sucked into believing he really wanted me.
She tip-toed out to the living room, and placed the note she had written on the kitchen countertop next to the coffee maker. She waited until the clock on the microwave read seven o’clock. “That’s it. My last shift is over,” she said aloud. She walked towards the front door, and took one last look around. Oh my God, I can’t bear to say goodbye. I promised myself I wouldn’t get involved, wouldn’t get attached, but I did anyway. I’m such an idiot.
After loading her bag into the back of her old Jeep, she turned the key in the ignition and said a silent prayer of thanks when the engine started. After one last, long look out the window at the log cabin, she put the car in gear and started down the long driveway.
As she turned onto the road, she heard Sky’s rich, distinctive drawl come over the radio singing “When I Met You”. She began to shake, and pulled over to the side of the road as she dissolved into tears. Over her sobs and the car radio, she heard her cell phone ring, and quickly answered it when she saw it was Sky.
“Why did you leave without saying goodbye?”
Her heart skipped a beat. “I have trouble with goodbyes.”
“Who said we were saying goodbye?”
“Umm…well, the week was up, and you didn’t ask me to stay.”
“Yeah, well…,” Sky ran his hands through his hair and sighed. “I didn’t ask you to stay because it wasn’t appropriate.”
“Appropriate? What are you talking about?”
“How can I ask you to stay with me when we haven’t even been on a real date yet?”
“Yet?” Meg felt the butterflies in her stomach return. “Are you asking me out on a date?”
“How about tonight? Drinks at Whiskey Kitchen?”
“You can’t drink if you take pain medication.”
“You didn’t leave me any, other than aspirin.”
“True.”
“I’ll pick you up at 8:00. Let’s have a couple of drinks and a bite to eat. We can keep it real casual. Just give me your address again.”
After Meg hung up with Sky, she drove home to the small, two-bedroom cottage she had once shared with Craig in the Hillsboro Village section of Nashville. If it had felt cold and lonely after Craig broke up with her, it felt even more so now after the week she spent in Sky’s luxurious log cabin. She busied herself with household chores, sorting the mail and doing laundry, before she was satisfied that her house was tidy enough for company. If anyone told me two weeks ago that Sky Johnson would be picking me up for a date tonight, I’d have laughed in their face.
She called Susan and told her that she had a date with Sky. “I’m nervous,” she admitted to her best friend.
“Don’t be. You just spent a week with him. You know him. I think it’s sweet, and gentlemanly, that he wants to take you out, instead of just shacking up with you.”
On Susan’s advice, she pulled on the skinny jeans and suede cowboy booties she wore to the concert, and an off the shoulder white peasant blouse. When the doorbell rang, she checked herself one more time in the mirror before answering the door.
“Wow.” Sky’s eyes nearly popped out of his head when Meg answered the door. “I almost forgot how gorgeous you are, because you wore those loose scrubs and your hair in a pony tail all week.”
“Thanks. You look great, too,” she said, admiring him in his painted-on jeans, white t-shirt, and ostrich leather cowboy boots. “How are you feeling?”
“Great, now that I’m with you.” When he saw Meg wrinkle her nose at his answer, he added, “I’m not in much pain at all. Your magic touch this past week worked wonders for me.” He grinned at her, before gesturing to his black Tahoe. “Are you ready to go?”
Meg grabbed her small fringed clutch and locked the door to the cottage before following Sky to the idling SUV. She was puzzled when Sky opened a rear door for her.
He shrugged his shoulders and said, “I won’t drive if I’ve been drinking. Not after what happened to my mother. Paul is driving us tonight. He’s one of the Johnson Bishop bus drivers, and he earns some extra money from Jack and me by driving us when we’re home here in Nashville.”
They made small talk while Paul drove them into The Gulch neighborhood of Nashville. When they arrived at Whiskey Kitchen, Sky explained, “This is one of my favorite places to go for a drink when I’m home.”
“I’ve never been here before,” Meg said, as Sky helped her out of the back of the Tahoe. She looked around, wide-eyed, as passersby stopped and pointed at Sky, whispering and nodding when they recognized him.
He stopped to sign a couple of autographs before ushering Meg inside. They sat at the far end of the bar, where he ordered a double Jack Daniels Single Barrel for himself, and a glass of pinot grigio for Meg.
Before their drinks were served, Sky was surrounded by a horde of fans, mostly women. A few of them pushed Meg out of the way in order to get closer to him, but he didn’t notice because he was caught up in the moment with the adoring crowd.
What the hell? It’s like he doesn’t even know I’m here. After ten minutes, Meg looked at the bartender, pleading with her eyes to get control over the situation, but he just shrugged his shoulders and moved her wine down the bar, where she was standing and watching the spectacle. She tried to move closer towards Sky, but the throng grew larger. I don’t need this, she thought. “Tell him I went home,” she said to the bartender, handing him a note she scribbled on a napkin, before downing her glass of wine, calling a cab, and walking out the door.
She was seething by the time she got to the street. Just as her cab pulled over, she was grabbed on the arm by a petite blond woman.
“So, do you like hanging out with my boyfriend?”
Meg’s head spun. “What? What are you talking about?”
“Sky Johnson. I’m Mallory, Sky’s girlfriend.”
“He doesn’t have a girlfriend,” Meg said, wrinkling her brows.
“Yes, he does. He just likes to keep it quiet because it’s better for his sex-symbol image.”
Bile rose in Meg’s throat, and she thought she was going to vomit. “If it’s true that you’re his girlfriend, then where were you when he was hurt in the accident?”
Mallory narrowed her eyes. “I travel a lot for business. I was out of town and just got back. When he wasn’t home tonight, I knew I’d find him here because it’s his favorite place to go for a drink.” Mallory knew she was on the right track when Meg looked crestfallen at her answer. “Stay away from my boyfriend. He’s mine, got it?”
The cab driver interjected, “Hey lady, are you getting in or what?”
“Yeah,” Meg answered as she slid into the back seat and gave her address. “Take me home.”
Sky patiently signed autographs for every fan that approached him. When he finished, he turned around on his barstool, took a deep sip of his drink, and scanned the bar area. “Where’s my date?”
The bartender handed him a note written on a cocktail napkin. “If you mean the gorgeous brunette, she left. I think she thought you blew her off.”
“Shit.” He read the note Meg wrote, and finished his drink in one gulp. He felt a hand massaging his back. Hoping she returned, he asked, “Meg?”
“Nope.”
He turned, and every hair on his body stood up as a chill ran down his spine. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Just coming to claim what’s mine, Sky,” Mallory said. “You know we belong together.”
“What are you talking about?” He jumped off the barstool and backed away from her. “Get the hell away from me.”
Mallory tilted her head, and in a sing-song voice, said, “Why did you ban me from your shows? How come I no longer get meet-and-greet passes? We had something good going,” she said, as she reached for his crotch.
“Get the hell away from me,” Sky repeated, as he continued to back away from her. “Don’t force me to get a restraining order.” He threw a crisp one hundred dollar bill onto the bar, and headed for the exit.
He was faster than Mallory, and when he reached his waiting car said, “Paul, this night’s been a fucking disaster. Take me back to Meg’s. And step on it.”
Meg muttered under her breath as she removed the bottle of pinot grigio from the refrigerator and poured herself a huge glass. She gulped it down and re-filled her glass, before taking it out to the living room. She turned the television on to a mindless sitcom and replayed the evening’s events over in her mind. I can’t believe that jerk has a girlfriend. He completely led me on, and was, for all intents and purposes, cheating on her. I’m so stupid and naïve. Of course he has a girlfriend. I should have known better.
She was beginning to feel buzzed as she continued to sip her glass of wine, when she caught sight of headlights in her driveway. The vehicle came to a stop, and a moment later she heard pounding on her front door. She stood up and made her way to the door, swinging it open wide. “What the hell do you want? Aren’t you finished making a fool out of me for the night?”
“I’m sorry, Meg, baby,” Sky drawled. He looked genuinely contrite as he ran his hands through his hair. “The night got totally out of control.”
Meg crossed her arms tightly over her chest. “Where’s your girlfriend?”
Sky recoiled. “What are you talking about?”
Meg related the conversation she had with Mallory outside Whiskey Kitchen. “I can’t believe you were going to lead me on, and cheat on her.”
“Goddamn it! She’s not my girlfriend!” He punched the wall for emphasis, causing one of the framed photos to crash to the floor. “Sorry,” he said, as he picked it up and placed it back on the wall. “Please, Meg, let me explain.”
“No. I’m done with you. I never should have let you into my hotel room back in Tampa. I want to forget I ever met you.” She tried to close the door, but Sky blocked it with his foot.
“I told you the other night that I’d always be truthful with you.” He ran his hands through his hair again. “Please let me explain. If you don’t want to see me again, then I understand. But I want you to know the truth.”
Meg let out a long sigh. “Okay, I guess. Come on in.”
Sky followed her into the living room. “Nice house. It’s cute, and cozy.”
She ignored the compliment, and instead picked up the remote and turned off the television. She sat down on the sofa, and said, “If you want to explain, I’ll listen, but then I’m throwing you out of here.”
Sky took a deep breath, and said, “Mallory isn’t my girlfriend, and this isn’t the first time that she’s hunted me down. I think she has some serious mental health issues.” He related an abbreviated version of the events of the concerts in Bowling Green and Lexington, and explained that Mac had her banned from future meet-and-greet events. “I thought she got the message, but now that she tracked me down here, and figured out that we’re dating, I’m really worried.”
“We’re not dating,” Meg replied in an angry tone.
“Yes, we are,” Sky said, with a twinkle in his eyes.
“Did you sleep with her?”
“When?”
“Ever.”
Sky sighed. “Yes, I did. Twice in the same night, I’m sorry to say. She’s the last woman I spent the night with. Well, other than you. I haven’t been with another woman since we met in Tampa.” When Meg stared at him, stone-faced, he continued, “At least you know I’m telling you the truth. I promised never to lie to you, and I never will.”
“You haven’t fooled around with or hooked up with anyone since you met me?”
“No, I haven’t. You’re the only woman I’ve even thought of since the moment we met. I can’t get you out of my head.” He watched Meg’s expression soften as his words sunk in. “I apologize for letting the fans get out of hand tonight. Please, let me make it up to you. Let me take you out to dinner tomorrow night.”
“The same thing is going to happen. You’re going to get bombarded by fans, and I’ll get shoved to the side again.”
“I promise you, that’s not going to happen. Please, trust me.”