“Six months on tour when the album drops to begin with, followed by getting me back in the studio to record my second album.”

“I assume he means for that to happen in his studio in Nashville.”

“You assume correctly.”

She didn’t say anything, but he could see her fingers linking and unlinking.

He reached over and put his hand on top of hers, feeling the bite of the engagement ring he’d given her against his palm. “I haven’t said yes to any of it. He did all the talking.”

“But he expects you to say yes.”

“I believe Buddy Longstreet is quite accustomed to people saying yes to him, so it doesn’t occur to him that I wouldn’t say yes.”

“God, Evan, what’re we going to do?”

“See that, right there, what you said?”

“What did I say?”

“You asked what we’re going to do. We. This involves both of us, and we’re going to figure it out together. No matter what happens, we’re getting married on January eighteenth. That is non-negotiable.”

“But what happens on January nineteenth?”

“That’s the part we’ve got to figure out.”

“I can’t go anywhere. I’m up to my eyeballs in the pharmacy. Even if I wanted to walk away, I can’t afford to. Not for a couple of years anyway.”

“I know, baby. I need a little time to think about how to handle this. I’ve got to play it right, because if I turn down Buddy’s offer the wrong way, he could squash Island Breeze like a bug if he wanted to. I don’t want that to happen, so I’ve got to figure out the best way to play it.”

“You’re going to say no to him?”

“Yeah,” Evan said, surprising himself as much as her. “I think I am.”

“Can you do that?”

“I don’t know. I’ve got to talk to Jack and figure it out.”

“You’re really going to say no to Buddy Longstreet.”

“My life is here. Our life is here. I want to make a go of the studio, and I want to make babies with you. I can’t do that if I’m on the road for half the year.”

A sniffle from the passenger seat had him looking over to find tears rolling down her cheeks. Evan pulled the car off the road and put it in park. He held out his arms to her. “Gracie… I’m so sorry. Please don’t cry. You know I can’t stand it when you cry.” He held her until she got it all out, stroking her silky hair and breathing in the scent of home.

No matter how great the offer or how great the superstar making it, Evan couldn’t leave her to chase a dream he’d given up on since he met her and found a whole new set of dreams.