Now, it’s time to face the music, to beg forgiveness, and hope they let me back in.
Blowing out a breath, I take the first step and put one foot in front of the other until I reach the front door. I knock softly. Behind the wooden door, I can hear movement, and with each sound, I become increasingly nervous.
“Ember?” My mom’s face lights up the moment she lays eyes on me.
“Oh, Mom, I’m so sorry,” I say, bursting into tears.
“You’re here now.” Her arms wrap around me and hold me close. “That’s all that matters.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-SEVEN
Ryder
“Holy shit, this place is a mess,” Mark says, stepping into the house, Charlie following closely behind.
Ember kept things more under control than I realized, including my temper.
Mark runs his fingers over the hole in the wall. “What happened here?”
I turn around and glare at him. Ember left, and things went from bad to worse for Amelia and me. Ember’s disappearing act devastated us.
Then the call came that Dorothy was running out of time.
That’s why Mark’s here. Why I need to get my ass to Nashville. Time is of the essence. I need to win Ember back before things get too far. I tried to give her some time—a week. It’s been a week. Rick won’t answer, Hazel won’t tell me anything, and Ember is impossible to reach.
It’s time to take matters into my own hands and put an end to this once and for all.
“Norah,” I tell him. He nods in understanding.
Norah is the reason Ember left. Her ridiculous accusations led to Ember feeling guilty. Guilt, I hoped with time, she would see past and realize she didn’t need to harbor.
No such luck.
Amelia stomps into the foyer with her suitcase trailing behind her.
“I want to go with you.”
Kneeling, I give her a reassuring smile. “I know you do, but Ember and I need to talk. We have some things to work out—adult stuff.”
“But if I talk to her, she’ll listen,” Amelia argues.
I chuckle, knowing she’s right. The thought had certainly crossed my mind to use Amelia to pull on Ember’s heartstrings, but that wouldn’t be fair to Ember or Amelia if Ember still refused to change her stubborn mind.
“I’m sure she would, but this is something I need to do on my own.”
“Fine.” Amelia pouts, arms folded across her chest. “But you better bring her back.” The only thing Amelia was missing was the “or else.”
Mark’s head falls back as he laughs his ass off.
I thank Charlie and Mark for taking care of Amelia, then head to the airport.
* * *
When I arrive in Nashville, I head directly to the Rusty Nail to look for Rick. And to drag out any information he has on Ember’s whereabouts—regardless of what it takes to get the information out of him.
What I don’t expect is to step into the bar and see Ember on the stage. The place is empty, but her voice fills the venue. I stand in the shadows, so she can’t see me, and I’m entranced by her. Not that it’s anything new but seeing this side of her—damn. She looks amazing on stage, as though she belongs there. The music washes over me, her voice filling my heart and giving me even more determination.
She finishes the song and heads backstage.