Page 10 of Playing With My Heart Strings

“How about we move so you can sit for your next conversations. Maybe that’ll take some of the pressure off?” he suggests, and I nod.

We walk to a shaded area where benches are already set up. Thank God, because if I had to stand out in the sun any longer, I’d start sweating through my clothes. That would not look good on television.

“All right, man, I’ll check back in with you later.” With that, he’s gone, and the next contestant, a tall, fair-skinned blonde, is walking out.

“Hi! I’m Jordan.” Instead of taking my hands like Katherine did, she pulls me in for a hug.

It takes me a moment to gather myself, but I hug her back, getting a whiff of her perfume. It smells like peaches and florals. I blink to prevent myself from sneezing.

“How are you, Jordan?” I ask as she releases me from the hug and I gesture for us to sit.

“I’m great! Super excited for this opportunity.” Her bubbly voice reminds me of sunshine. She reminds me of sunshine with her bright hair and big, expressive eyes.

“Where are you from?”

“I’m originally from Knoxville, but I made my way out to Nashville a few years ago to try to pursue music. Now I’m here.”

I know a lot of the women who came on the show are musicians, but it has me curious about how many of them are here just to move their music career forward. Not that it really matters to me, because at the end of the day, that’s all I’m trying to do, too.

“How has that gone so far?” I’m hoping she’ll give me an idea of her intentions, if not for myself, then for the show. People love speculating whether contestants are “here for the right reasons” or not. At least, that’s what I’ve heard from my cousin who watches a lot of dating shows.

“You know, it hasn’t exactly been successful, hence why I’m here and not doing my own concerts or recording albums. But I truly came here to meet you, the record deal was just an extra benefit.”

She seems sincere, but I feel like they always do. Then, once the experience gets more stressful, you learn their true motives.

“Well, it was great to meet you, Jordan, but I think our time is up.” I stand, giving her a quick hug. Our conversation was pleasant, and now that the nerves have started to dissipate, I’m finding myself eager to meet the rest of the women.

Six conversations later, and I’m exhausted. My social battery is starting to deplete, and it’s like I ran five miles instead of simply talking for a couple hours.

“Only two more. You can do this.” I take a deep breath, trying to calm the pounding in my chest. We changed locations a couple more times, and the last place they have me sitting is in a lounge chair by the pool.

“Rolling,” the director calls out as the next woman starts walking, no gliding , down the stairs.

“Hello.”

I instantly recognize her voice. How could I forget it? Aspen. I thought her voice was captivating, but it doesn’t even compare to her looks.

“H-hi.” Get yourself together, man. I can’t stop staring at her whirlpool eyes.

“How are you?” She walks over to me and pulls me in for a hug, which I welcome, wrapping myself in her scent—lavender and vanilla.

“I’m great. Do you want to sit?” I hope she doesn’t see I’m nervous, even as sticky sweat soaks through my shirt. She has this effect on me that I can’t explain.

“I’d love to sit.” She sits, crosses her legs, and gives me an amused look.

“What’s that look for?” Heat rushes to my face. I’m not normally like this. Women are usually the ones falling at my feet, not the other way around.

“You’re just…different than I expected you to be,” she admits, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“How so?”

“I don’t know. I guess I just expected you to be full of yourself.

I never expected a country superstar like you to turn beet red at the sight of a pretty woman.

” She winks, and I wish this conversation wasn’t going to be broadcasted on television for the world to see.

Maybe fans will find it endearing, but I find it slightly humiliating.

I let out a shaky laugh. “I guess I’m just full of surprises, Aspen.”

“I guess so. I can’t wait to see what else you have up your sleeve, Dusty Wilder.” She pauses then calls me out. “So, are you going to ask me any questions or what?”

This woman. She’s going to keep me on my toes this season. “Right. Where are you from, Aspen?”

“I’m originally from Oklahoma, but I moved here to Nashville when I was eighteen. I’ve been here for eight years now.”

Similar to me, then.

“That’s a lot like how I ended up here, too.

I grew up in Oklahoma, but came out here after graduating high school in pursuit of a music career.

It took me some time, but eventually Ace High Entertainment took a chance on me and signed me.

” I can admit I owe Rob Acerra for signing a twenty-year-old kid with a dream.

It’s somewhat emotional to think about what it took to get here.

And it’s slightly embarrassing to think about how much I could lose if this reality show stuff doesn’t work out.

I’ve worked hard to make a name for myself, and as much as I hate the mainstream box they’re trying to shove me in, this is how I’m able to help support my family.

I need to do this for them as much as I need to do it for myself.

But if it were up to me, I’d write the songs I want to sing, ditch the heartthrob character the label has assigned me, and sing real, authentic country music. Not this autotuned, over-produced shit.

“That’s incredible. You should be really proud of yourself. Nashville is lucky to have you. Hopefully, this will lead to prosperous music careers for both of us.”

I dip my chin in acknowledgment. “I hope you find what you’re looking for here in Nashville, Aspen. I’m excited to see more of you.”

The tone that signals our time is up goes off in my earpiece, and I stand, taking off my hat and taking her hand. “It was a pleasure.”

She stands, and I take a moment to kiss her hand in farewell.

“I’ll see you around.”

I watch her disappear into the house, and my eyes linger on the door longer than I’d like to admit. So much so that I don’t even realize the last woman walked out of the house until she’s directly in front of my face.

Her.