Strung Along (Cherry Peak, #1)

by Hannah Cowan

Footsteps pound on the pavement behind me as I throw my second-ever punch. This time, it doesn’t suck. It hits its mark just right. Blood spurts from Stewart’s nose as I step back and shake out my hand, sharp pain zipping up my arm.

Lmao

“He’s welcome to take a shot at me, sweetheart. Nothin’ will make me regret punchin’ him.” Not even the call I get from Garrison the next morning, informing me that a representative from Swift Edge is on their way to Cherry Peak for an emergency meeting. I’d do it all over again if I could.

“Before I had someone here waitin for me,” he finishes. “You aren’t the only artist out there with a family at home. Plenty of people make it work. Killian, for example,” Reggie says. “I’m not talkin’ about other artists. I’m talkin’ about me, and I’m tellin’ you that I don’t know if I can commit to it.”

“You do have a say, Anna. You do. But I can’t—I just—fuck. I don’t know what I’m doin’. I’ve spent a huge chunk of life runnin’ from Cherry Peak. Of pretendin it wasn’t home. Now, I’m finally back and so damn happy here, and I’m supposed to give it all up again? I can’t do it. I can’t lose you.” I shake my head furiously. “The only way you’ll lose me is if you try and lock me up in a padded box. I love so many things about you, Brody Steele, especially your protectiveness. Please don’t make me resent you for the same trait that played a part in me falling in love with you. All you have to do is ask me what I’m willing to do for you and us. What I’m willing to give to make this work. It doesn’t have to be all on you.”

“What are you willin’ to do for us, sweetheart? Because there isn’t anythin’ I’m not prepared to sacrifice to spend the rest of my life with you.” “It’s rude to continuously steal someone’s thunder, you know?” I ask. “What?” “That’s the exact same thing I was going to tell you. There isn’t anything I’m not willing to do. You need me to join you every few shows on the road? I’ll be there. You need me to fly out for days at a time while you record? I’ll make the time. Late-night video chats? You’ve got it.” I press our hands to my lips and kiss each of his knuckles. “I love you. I love you enough to beg you not to give up your dream. Not for me or your family and not for this place, even as beautiful as it may be.”

“I need you to go to Nashville, Brody. I need you to go and figure everything out and give it a chance,” I add, my voice little more than a whisper. He peels his eyes open, those pretty blues dulled with worry. “I’ll go. So long as you’re here when I get back.” “Always. I’ll always be here waiting for you.”

She never planned to have her privacy invaded and be exposed to nasty comments on her social media every day. I just stepped back and let her choose what she was willin’ to sacrifice in order to be with me and made sure I made up for it elsewhere. That’s what love is, Brody. I’m riskin’ soundin’ like a pussy here, but love’s all about sacrifices. She gives, and I give right back. A balance, y’know? “You got to trust that your woman knows what she wants and what she’s willin’ to do for it. If she’s tellin’ you she’s in, then fuckin’ hell, man, take her at her word and bring her in. Believe her when she says she’s good and thinks you’re worth it. You don’t turn away a woman like that. Especially when you love the shit outta her the way you do.”

dad. That doesn’t answer my question.” “That’s because you’re not lettin’ me finish. My wife’s a bit of a gossip, which in turn makes me a gossip.

“Not if there’s already someone who has a dream of ownin’ a hair salon, I’d reckon. Maybe a woman whose name rhymes with banana.” I double blink. “You think Anna should buy it from her?” “I think you should buy it for her. Help her with her dream while she helps you with yours. She gives, you give.

It can be easy to let our careers suck the life out of those in our lives, Brody. I know my woman is strong enough to fight for herself—God knows she’s kept my head on straight all these years—but when I got the opportunity to help her with her dream, I didn’t hesitate. Anna might tell you to go to hell and that you overstepped, but it’s worth a try.”

It still feels rude not to knock on the door, so I hit it three times and wait until Eliza’s smiling face is right in front of me. “How many times do I have to tell you to just come right in?” she asks, ushering me inside. “Probably a few more,” I tell her honestly.

Lol me

“I listed my house in Nashville for sale, and unless I’m tourin’ there, I don’t plan on goin’ back. Cherry Peak is my home, and it’s where I plan on stayin’ when I’m not in Calgary at the new Swift Edge office or on the road. I’ve already requested that you have the option to join me on tour whenever you want to, and I sure as fuck hope you do that often.

“It’s good to see you like this. That stupid grin of yours is a sight for sore eyes.” “I smiled before I met Anna.” “Not like that. Not like you have something really good in life. Like you’re truly happy.”

They agreed to let me record at the new Swift Edge Records office in Calgary when it finally opens this month, and once that’s finished, I’ll announce my first North American tour. It took several hours of back-and-forth video chats to work out the dates and cities, but with Anna’s approval, we finalized everything.

Whether subconsciously or otherwise, he rubs the bare skin on my fourth finger, where I once wore another man’s ring. A harsh swell of emotion ripples through me. Longing, I’ve realized recently. Longing to wear Brody’s ring on my finger.

“Well, the fans want to know when you’re going to pop the question. Do you have an answer for them? Will it be soon?” I almost laugh at the timing of the question. It’s like the universe was listening to my pleas just minutes prior. Brody doesn’t have a chance to reach for the same prepared answer to the question before I’m tilting my head back to meet his eyes and saying, “Hopefully soon. I can’t wait until I get to be Brody’s wife.”

“No. No he’s not. None of us are. But I don’t think we have much of a choice. Garrison Beckett isn’t fit for Cherry Peak, but it might be the only place that can straighten him out.”

Wut