Page 60 of Playing With My Heart Strings

dusty

You and I, Together

“You need to choose Valerie. The musical connection you have with her is undeniable, Dusty. This is the best decision for you and for the label,” Rob barks at me backstage in the dressing room as I pace the floor.

It seems like that’s what everyone wants me to do. Even the producers are telling me that Valerie is the one.

“I trust you’ll make the right decision here, Dusty. That other girl completely froze on stage. What happens if she does that on tour? It’s unacceptable,” he chides, shaking his head while cracking his knuckles.

Mistakes happen. We all know that in this industry. There was a lot of pressure riding on tonight.

But I don’t say any of that.

“Don’t worry, Rob. I’ve got it all under control. I know the decision that I have to make,” I reply with finality in hopes that he’ll let it go and let me do what I need.

From the corner, Craig just dips his chin, a look in his eyes that says, Remember what we talked about .

We file out of the dressing room, down the hallway to the stage where my future awaits.

I close my eyes, taking a deep breath, before stepping out into the spotlights.

Baylor and Valerie wait on the left side of the stage, and Jarrod stands on the right.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome back to the stage, your lead this season of Heart Strings , Dusty Wilder!”

Cheers echo off the walls, and fans hold various signs ranging from We Love Dusty to photos of my face.

“Well, my friend, this has been a wild ride of a season, hasn’t it?” Jarrod pats my shoulder.

I nod, clamping my lips together thinking about the drama that unfolded in the past ten weeks. “Sure has, Jarrod.”

“We’ve reached the end of the journey. You have two incredible women, two outstanding performers in front of you tonight. One of them will get to record an album and go on tour with you as a new country music duo. Not to mention, you’ll also perform on the legendary Grand Ole Opry stage.”

He pauses for dramatic effect, the audience clinging to every word. I look over to Valerie and Baylor. Valerie looks confident, as she should. Her performance tonight was electric and well deserving of a spot at Ace High Entertainment. I can tell Baylor is trying to hold in her emotions.

“The time has come, Dusty. Take a moment, because this is about to be the biggest decision of your career.”

Images of the last ten weeks flicker through my mind like a film reel.

The first time I heard Valerie’s voice during the auditions.

Our date at the farmers market and cooking together.

Performing with her and realizing our musical capabilities complement each other perfectly. Introducing her to the label.

But then Baylor walking down the steps and matching my attitude during our first conversation flashes in my brain.

The record store. Kissing her, exploring every inch of her body, learning how to make her fall apart under my fingertips.

Aspen revealing her identity to the world, and Baylor making it up to me by writing a song with my band.

I know what I have to do.

“I’ve made my decision, Jarrod.” I take a deep breath, knowing what the label expects of me. What the production company expects of me. Hell, even what America expects of me.

“Who do you want to make music with, Dusty? Which of these ladies are you going to take on tour with you? Who did you form a connection with over the past couple months?” Jarrod asks, no doubt to raise tension and anticipation in the audience and anyone who is watching on TV, but what he doesn’t realize, is at the end of the day, it is about me.

Everyone expects me to do the right thing. To choose the girl that production has set up as a winner the past few weeks. The expectation has been made crystal clear.

The thing is, what Craig said is right. And I’ve hardly ever been one to follow other peoples’ expectations.

“I’m choosing…” I trail off to look at Valerie and Baylor.

Baylor is looking at the ground as if she knows it’s not her. Valerie’s looking at me. She’s classy. Kind. Confident.

A powerhouse of a performer. The perfect choice.

“Baylor.”

Gasps spread across the auditorium. I turn my head to the right wing of the stage, where Rob Acerra throws down his clipboard before stomping on it and snapping it in two.

But the world around me freezes when Baylor opens her mouth.

“What are you doing?” She rushes over to me as the producers lead Valerie off the stage. “Valerie, she was right there . You need?—”

I lift a finger up to her lips. “As much as I tried last week, I can’t stop thinking about you.

I haven’t stopped thinking about you since that first day of interviews when I couldn’t get my shit together and you were watching the whole thing.

You’ve completely captured my attention, and there’s no one else, Baylor. You’re it for me.”

“But…why? Why would you choose me when the girl your label wants for you is right there?”

I grab her hands and look into her eyes. “Someone once told me she’s only ever done what others expected of her. What she thought other people wanted. She thought she had to prove herself to be worthy. Until she realized what she actually wanted and she went for it. Head first, no fear.

“ You helped me see the light, Baylor. Hell, I came on this show because the label wanted me to, you know that. But coming here, to Heart Strings , led me to you. And now I’m taking matters into my own hands, and I’m doing what I want.

Not what Rob Acerra or Ace High Entertainment or America wants.

What I want. And what I want—who I want—is you.

“I never thought I’d find someone on this show who matches me so perfectly.

You see me for who I am. Not the persona that I put on.

Not the famous country singer. You don’t see Dusty Wilder, you just see Dusty .

And I’ve fallen head over heels for you because of it.

None of this matters if you’re not here by my side.

They could take this all away tomorrow, and I wouldn’t care.

Because it’s you. It’s always been you.”

“Dusty…”

“Let’s make this official, Baylor. You and I, together.”

Before I can say another word, she wraps her hands around my neck and crashes her lips to mine. I don’t care about the cameras, or Jarrod Stone, or anyone else at this moment. It’s just me and the girl I’ve somehow managed to fall madly in love with in ten weeks on a reality dating show.

When we finally break apart, she whispers, “I love you, Dusty Wilder.”

“I love you, too, Baylor. Let’s take on the world.”

On one of the biggest stages in country music, with the woman I know I’m meant to create music and start a life with, I can say with confidence that I’ve made it.