Chapter 37
Darren
It was 12:33 in the middle of the night. Bailey and I were panting; out of breath from the consistent, continuous bouts of singing and playing we’d done for thirteen hours straight. We beamed, both coated in sweat, both excited. We were both aware that we had just finished recording our debut duet album.
“We did it,” Bailey said joyfully.
“And, we finished in a month,” I said. “Right on schedule.”
We put our instruments down and began vigorously making out. We’d been turning each other on throughout the entire recording process, but we swore to never lose control and forget about the music in the heat of a moment. Since our final track was recorded, and all we had to do was edit it, we each felt accomplished.
We weren’t able to kiss and touch each other for long. We had a chaperone.
“Hey now!” said Leah over the studio’s intercom. “Knock it off, kids! Get a room! Don’t make me get the hose.”
We separated, chuckling at Leah’s interference. We both sat down on the floor, exhausted and spent from the nonstop, daily work we’d been putting into quickly and efficiently recording our first musical series together. I felt like if I’d laid down, I could have fallen asleep.
Leah came dancing her way into the recording booth.
“You guys sounded out of this fucking world!” Leah cheered. “You both are so good together. It isn’t even chemistry—it’s perfection!”
“Wow.” I laughed.
“Yeah, no need to kiss our butts,” Bailey quipped. “You’re our manager, not our fan club.”
“Whatever, you both sounded incredible,” she reiterated. “Darren, the girls are going to hate that you’re with Bailey.”
“I’ll live with it,” I said, smiling at my blushing Bailey, my muse.
“So, we’re celebrating tonight, right?” Leah asked. “Champagne, drinks and dancing downtown?”
“I would love to party with you ladies tonight,” I interjected. “But, I have some stuff I need to take care of back in Rome, so I gotta bounce.”
“What things do you need to do?” Bailey asked perplexed.
I decided to keep fibbing a little longer. “Not much, just some usual kind of things. I’ve been here in Memphis for two weeks.”
“What, you need to cut the grass or something?” Leah asked.
“Baby, if you’re homesick, you can tell me,” Bailey said to me. “I’ll understand if you want to go back for a while. We’ll see each other again soon.”
“That’s not it at all,” I assured. “I won’t even be gone for long, cross my heart.”
“You’re not driving back this late, am I right?” said Leah. “Come on, places are still open for another, like, two hours! Let’s get some drinks! I’ve got champagne sitting on ice. Let’s sip some bubbly in an Uber downtown, and then let’s get fucked up and stoked about you guys finishing your first album!”
The girls kept whooping and hollering, to my amusement. I checked my phone, seeing no missed calls or text messages.
“I heard back from Bellringer earlier,” Leah told Bailey. “He’s agreed to sub-let the studio for the remainder of your contract here for the rate you’re paying monthly.”
“Hell, yeah,” cheered Bailey.
Bailey was on the lease for her Memphis studio space for another several months, but she and I were planning on moving to Nashville as soon as possible. So, the girls had been seeking out interested people and parties that could potentially rent the space for them, and the sublessees would pay for the rest of Bailey’s contract and spare her some money.
Bailey’s only loose end keeping her tied to Memphis was her apartment, and she was in the process of getting out of that lease, as well. She was fast, and I was encouraging her not to stress out or hurry. Although we had missed six years’ worth of time to build and grow together, I didn’t think we needed to be hasty now that we were finally one.
While the girls chatted about studio details, I stepped out into the front lobby of the building, where Bo was spread out on the couch, watching the TV mounted on the wall. He was just as drained and worn out as I was. I pet him, and he rested his head in my lap.
Bailey eventually joined us, smiling at the sight of seeing Bo’s head on my lap.
“He hasn’t moved that much today,” said Bailey, petting Bo’s ears.
“Yeah, he’s been pretty lethargic these days,” I remarked.
“I keep hoping one night he’ll come in the room and sleep in bed with us,” she said. “Are you sure he’s feeling well?”
“Honestly, you know what I think it is,” I told her. “I think he misses the house. If you think about it, he’s lived most of his life at that house and knows that whole area better than any other place on Earth. I think he’s homesick. I’m not making that up as an excuse for me. I mean, I do miss it, but—”
“I can tell Bo misses Rome,” said Bailey.
“I just need some time back at the house,” I said vaguely. “You’re more than welcome to come with us if you’d like.”
“We need to have the album finished and mastered!” she said urgently.
“Yes, we do,” I agreed. “But, we can do that from our laptops. We can edit from anywhere. Trust me, missy, I’m not going to be gone for long.”
“I want to go with you,” said Bailey. “I’d like to see my father’s house one more time before someone else lives in it.”
I looked around for Bo’s leash, but it was fine with both of us that it was missing. We were quite comfortable snuggling.
“So, have you come up with a name yet?” she asked me.
I shrugged guiltily. “No. You?”
“I have some ideas,” she replied.
We were trying to come up with a title for our debut album, and nothing felt right. We wanted it to stand out, and not be named after any of the tracks we’d composed. We always went with our guts, but nothing was leaping out at us instinctively. With the wide array of songs we’d made, across a spectrum of genres, it was difficult to put any sort of label on it.
“I know we’ll think of something,” I said. “So, would you be okay with going to Rome with me tomorrow? Could we leave first thing in the morning?”
“If you’re okay with me sleeping some on the way there,” said Bailey. “I’m beat.”
“Of course,” I said.
She scooted closer to me, taking my hand that was resting on Bo’s back.
“I hope you’re not stressing yourself out,” she said to me. “I don’t want you to rush to sell your house. It’s your house, and you don’t want to sell it to just anyone. I understand that, and I get that you miss it. Even when we move into our place in Nashville, you don’t have to have everything resolved back in Georgia. Or, maybe you want to keep it for a while, in case you change your mind about Tennessee or me.”
“I want to be with you forever, Bailey,” I said, not caring if I sounded like a sap. “I’m not going to change my mind. And, you’re not stressing me out at all. I’m the opposite of stressed because I’m about to start my life with you.”
“It’s just things are moving fast, and I don’t want you to get freaked out,” said Bailey. “I’m beyond grateful that you’ve done all that you have for me. You’re willing to leave your home, be with me, work for hours in a cramped little studio with me. You’re an amazing boyfriend.”
“I’m doing this for us,” I corrected her. “Bailey, this past month has been the most fulfilling, unbelievable, fun time I’ve had in a long time.”
“I know,” she agreed. “Part of me wanted to just keep recording, even though we’ve put down more than enough for a release.”
“Two-disc, if we put out everything we recorded,” I said. “It’s crazy how all we’ve been doing for the last few weeks is music, eating and sleeping.”
“And, passionate lovemaking,” she added with hungry eyes.
“It’s been too long since we’ve had each other,” I said, growing excited at the thought.
“Then, let’s get to bed, my love,” she said, kissing my cheek and Bo’s head.
She walked back to the booth, and I continued my scan of the room, searching for Bo’s leash.
As I searched, I received a text message from Garrett. We’d been texting back and forth.
Yeah, a trailer would be cheaper. A van would probably be easier to drive.
I texted back.
Yes, but I think a trailer is the way to go. Do you think you have enough spare boxes for me to steal from you, or should I go get some tubs?
Garrett texted back.
I’ve got like twenty boxes on my porch. I think I still have some tubs you used when you moved the first time.
That was great news! I texted him.
Perfect, bring them all if you don’t mind me, please!
Bailey didn’t know it, but I was closer to going to Nashville and moving in with her than she knew.