She’s My Kind Of Rain (Rawlings Ranch #1)

Chapter 32

32

SAWYER - JULY 26, 2004

Sleeping his way to the top.

I never imagined while stopping for gas I’d be staring face to face with myself but there I am right on the front cover of a tabloid magazine. Fuck. The headline alone says it all, and what it’s saying is not good. Plastered all over it are pictures of Daisy and I in the alleyway from Saturday night, from our kiss, to her handing me the envelope that contained the very contract I’m on my way to sign. Small subtitles read: A How to Get Famous Fast! ; and The Downfall to Telluride Records . The cashier clears his throat and I do my best not to look like I just got caught with my pants down, though, quite frankly, I feel that way.

Who the fuck took that?

I think about the moment in the alleyway when I’m interrupted by the attendant. “Uh, pump six right? You owe…” He turns to look at the magazine rack, his eyes barely cracked open, and I stiffen. Please for the love of god do not notice . “Wait, dude, is that you? That’s sick, dude! Is that shit true?”

“What, uh, no.” I answer his first question with a lie, laughing softly because I’m too caught off-guard to make something up, and hoping he’s too stoned to know the difference since he smells like weed.

“Naw, bro, that is def you, dude. That or you have a twin, man.”

My mouth opens, but it’s like my brain doesn’t work anymore. I’m so shocked I can’t even come up with a response. I just want to get the hell out of here.

“What’s the total?” I try my best to shift the conversation so I can pay and leave before more people notice me. The bell to the door dings and both of our attention switches toward the guy who walks in. Unlike the cashier who has spiky hair with white tips, this guy has long shaggy hair. They both sport baggy pants and tie dye shirts, one of which literally has a pot leaf on it.

“Yo, Denny, Dude,” he calls out to the guy he’s clearly friends with. “This guy’s on the magazine cover up here. Take our picture, dude. He’s famous.”

I shake my head, unsure what to say or how to handle this situation. Fuck. I just wanted to get some gas and a damn bottle of water. Is this what I’ll have to look forward to if I take the record deal? I open my wallet, only finding a fifty. There’s no way my bill is gonna cost me that much. But, you know what, if skipping the change will get me out of here faster, then screw it. Tossing the money on the counter, I grab my drink and hastily head toward the door.

“Dude, you forgot your change, bro,” the cashier calls out to me, but I have much bigger issues to deal with, and sticking around here is not going to be one of them.

“Just keep it,” I utter over my shoulder, heading to my vehicle as quickly as possible.

Once seated I flip open my phone. Not a single call or text from anyone, which leads me to believe that I’m the first to see this fucking mess. I thought this day was going to go easy, but, honestly, everything up until this point has been and I should have expected the other shoe to drop. The worst part about this entire thing is that I should have had this conversation with Daisy long before today, but now it’s too late, and if she isn’t already in trouble, she’s about to be.