Chelsea was still at work when Cole arrived home the next day a little past four. He felt grimy from the long drive and had barely slept the night before. He’d been too keyed up, his mind racing as he thought about having to shift to his Plan B. Even though he’d known it was a long shot, he’d hoped hard that he’d win. It had seemed possible, for a while.

But he’d had a lot of time to think during the drive home and knew he had to be realistic. He’d given it his best shot. Aside from moving to Nashville, which wasn’t an option, Cole knew he wasn’t likely to get on anyone’s radar in Charleston. As much as he hated the thought of it, he knew it was time to suck it up and at least start studying for the bar.

He knew he could start right away at his father’s firm, but that was a last resort. Once he passed the bar, he’d have more options, but in the meantime, he could start sending out his resume. There was a good chance someone would hire him as an associate, and he could work and study at the same time. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. He could still do side gigs with the guys now and then. Plus, he knew that Chelsea was eager for him to get to work soon. She’d made that very clear.

Cole was just toweling his hair after coming out of the shower when he heard her car pull into the driveway. She looked surprised to see him when she walked in.

“I didn’t expect you back until tomorrow!” As she smiled and kissed him hello, there was a familiar tenseness about her, and he sensed that she was in one of her moods. She got like that sometimes when everything he said seemed to irritate her, and he could never figure out where it came from or what he’d done. This time, it seemed that she just didn’t like the interruption to her schedule.

“I didn’t have any reason to stick around. I thought you might be glad to see me. Missing me, even?” he asked in a teasing tone.

She rewarded him with a tight smile. “Of course I am. I just wasn’t expecting you back so I made plans to go out with some of the people from work tonight.” She checked her cellphone. “We’re meeting in an hour. I wanted to jump in the shower and freshen up. You’re welcome to join us, of course.” Her tone wasn’t overly welcoming, though. Cole guessed that she’d probably rather that he didn’t join them. He barely knew her co-workers. His first instinct was to tell her to go ahead without him, and to have fun. But he started to feel a bit irritated himself. He’d barely seen her in recent weeks. If it were the other way around, he would have happily canceled his plans with his friends.

“Sure, I’d love to join you all.”

Chelsea did a double-take. “Oh, okay. Great. I’ll be ready in about twenty minutes.”

* * *

An hour later, Cole ordered a second beer at a crowded, loud bar downtown and wished he’d stayed home. After an initial round of congratulations from Chelsea’s co-workers for coming in second on the show, the conversation turned back to their jobs and Cole didn’t have much to contribute. Chelsea had introduced him to the half-dozen or so colleagues that were already at a table when they arrived. All of their names went in one ear and out the other, except for one, Austin Radley.

He looked just like his name. Tall and arrogant. Cole disliked him immediately and was annoyed that he and Chelsea were practically finishing each other's sentences.

“You’re like an old married couple,” Marsha said with a laugh and then looked Cole’s way and apologized. “I didn’t mean anything by that.”

“Oh, Cole understands. I told him Austin, and I have been spending a lot of time together on this project. Austin is my work husband. I’ve seen more of him than Cole lately!”

“Are you back for good now,” Austin asked.

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Cole is going to work for his father,” Chelsea said, smiling at Cole in a way that dared him to deny it.

“I need to pass the bar first,” he said as he reached for his beer.

“Your father would probably let you start working sooner, though,” she insisted. “It might be a great idea to get in there and get started.”

Cole sighed. “Maybe. We’ll see.”

Two hours later, everyone headed home. Cole was exhausted from the long day of driving. Chelsea was still chattering non-stop about some project they were working on and how Austin was such a great mentor. Cole yawned and fell into bed as soon as they got home. 

* * *

He spent the next week cracking the books to study for the bar and hating every minute of it. He didn’t hate the law, exactly, but it was a reminder that he’d failed in Nashville and he kept remembering his time there. Everyone lived and breathed music and the past few weeks were the happiest he’d been in a long time. He’d heard Laura on the radio a few times since and each time he heard her voice, he thought about her and wondered how she was doing. He hoped that if she did decide to come to Charleston that she’d call. He’d love to show her around and, selfishly, he wanted her to get her memories back to remember how it had been with them. He wondered if she was happy with Dylan. He hoped so, but there was something that he hadn’t liked about the guy. A possessiveness or jealousy that he wouldn’t want for Laura. Even if they weren’t together, he still wanted her to be happy.

He wished that Chelsea would consider moving to Nashville, or at least closer to it. But she’d made it clear that wasn’t an option and now that he was home and the show was done that chapter of his life was over, as far as she was concerned. She’d mentioned working for his father several times this week, pushing for an answer each time. Finally, she managed to get him to agree to dinner at the club after church on Sunday. When his father brought it up over dessert, Chelsea glared at him, and it was just easier to agree to start going into the office the following week.

Cole was quiet on the ride home from the club, dreading the start of his new career. But he had agreed long ago that if the music thing didn’t work out, he’d start focusing on law. It seemed like it was time to do that. Chelsea, however, was in a great mood. She reached over and took his hand as he drove and gave it a squeeze.

“It’s going to be great working for your father. I just know it.”

* * *

Monday morning came quickly, and as Cole was walking to the car to drive to his father’s office, his cell phone rang. He didn’t recognize the number, but the area code was from Nashville. He quickly took the call and said hello.

“Cole Dawson? This is Harry Evans from Black Duck studios. Do you have a minute?”

Cole leaned against his truck. “Yes, of course.”

“I didn’t follow much of that show you were on, but I did catch your performance of Young Love. I was curious after Laura told me you wanted to sing it. You did a fine job with it.”

“Thank you.”

“More than fine, actually. Your iTunes single of Young Love is still selling pretty good, and Laura’s sales went up too, by having you sing it on national television. It was good for both of you. Which brings me to why I’m calling. Your coach, Gary, and I are working on a new label that he’s going to manage. He’s picking the artists and will guide the development of their first album. He’d like you to be one of his first artists, if you’re interested.”

Cole felt lightheaded for a moment, wondering if he’d heard right.

“Of course I’m interested. I’m honored.”

“Excellent. Can you make it in sometime this week to sit down with Gary and me and the team? Get your contract signed and get things rolling for you?”

They agreed to meet the next day, late afternoon. Cole grinned stupidly as he ended the call and immediately dialed his father’s line.

“Dad, I’m afraid I won’t be coming in today, or anytime soon, actually. I’m heading back to Nashville.”