Page 84 of A Country Kind Of Love

“Oh god, what have you done?” Her muscles tighten as her body temperatureskyrockets.

“I’ve got you a spot at the Bluebird Café next Friday night.” Jesse turns his phone so Peyton can see the email confirming her place.

Peytongasps, “No!”

“Yes.”

“For singer-songwriter night?” Peyton gulps.

“Yep. You’re on at 7:30 p.m.”

“How?” Peyton’s heart accelerates. She can barely concentrate on Jesse’s mouth; his lips are distorted.

“Connections.” He winks.

“I can’t believe this! I’m performing my own set at the Bluebird? This is crazy!” Her mom wouldbe so proud.

“Youdeserve it.”

Peyton leaps forward and throws her arms around his shoulders. The combination of fear and excitement is enough to cause her to hyperventilate.

“I knew forcing you into being my manager was agood idea.”

“I think I might take a 50% cut,”Jesse jests.

“Whatever you want.” She knows he’s only joking, but she doesn’t care about the money.

“Howmany songs?”

“Three.”

“How am I supposedto choose?”

“I’ll help you.” Jesse smiles.

“Have you okayed this with Shonda?”

“Of course. She’s impressed I pulled it off. Quite the compliment coming from the powerhouse herself.” Jesse clicks his phone off when Peyton tries to read further down the thread—strange.

“Should wecelebrate?”

“Absolutely. I have just the bottle.” Jesse scurries off to the kitchen, no doubt he will return with an expensive brand of tequila. Peyton circles the sofa three times. She has less than a weekto prepare.

“I am performing at the Bluebird,” Peyton whispers. “Shit... I’m performing at the Bluebird.”

?

“Shall I start with, ‘Thank You’?”Peyton says.

“Which one is that?”Jesse asks.

“The one about my mom.” Peyton humsthe melody.

“Oh sure, yes, I like that one.”

“And I’ll end on ‘The Luckiest Hand’?”

“Yes, that has to be one of the three as agreed with Shonda.” Jesse reaches for one of Peyton’s many scattered notebooks. She has no choice, but to sing the song, but she hopes in doing so she can convince Shonda that it doesn’t need Avery, that wouldbe progress.