Meant to Marry Me

Being back in the studio was amazing, and Bree was so happy to have a chance to spend time with her bandmates again. Most of them had been calling or texting her every few days to see how she was doing, but being with them in person again, seeing their faces, laughing and telling jokes, was just the medicine she needed.

"So how's the healing going?" Zach Scott, the lead guitar player, asked when they were on a short break between songs. "Are you able to play anything yet?"

"Uh...." Bree sucked in some air and took a swig of coffee while she pondered how to answer that question. "I'm still working on it." While she was proud of the progress she'd made recently, she wasn't ready to play for an actual musician yet, especially not someone as talented as Zach. She thought back to the first time she'd heard him play and how he'd skillfully navigated the complicated solo of "Eruption." She already felt like a small child tinkering around on a borrowed instrument when she played in front of him before she'd burnt her hand. Now, she'd sound ridiculous.

Not that Zach would ever make fun of her. If it wasn't for him, she wouldn't be standing there. He was the one who'd brought the fire extinguisher to her hotel room and helped Trent get her out of the fire before she burned to death. "Cool. I can't wait to hear you play again. I'm sure you'll be there in no time." He patted her gently on the shoulder, and she thanked him. At one point, she might've questioned his purpose in touching her so intimately, but now that he was dating their new keyboardist, a sweet girl they'd met at a show in St. Louis named Shawna Cray, Bree was no longer concerned about the fact that Zach had admitted to having feelings for her not long before the fire. Now, it was perfectly clear whenever the pair was together that he was completely smitten with Shawna.

The blonde walked back into the room, and Zach's face lit up. She looked at him wide eyed for a second and then smiled. "What?" Shawna asked, as if he needed a reason to be so happy to see her.

"Nothing. Just glad you're back." He went over to her and kissed her chastely on the lips, and Bree found herself beaming at how cute they were.

"Get a room!" their drummer, Dominic Dunn, shouted, walking past them, a full coffee cup in his hand. He had a smirk on his face, so it was obvious he was just teasing. He walked to his drum kit and made a few adjustments. After a few minutes, the last two members of the band, Chase Simpson, the rhythm guitar player, and Griffin Bray, who played bass, were back from the break, and they agreed to move on to the next song, one of several Bree had written for Trent called, "Lead Me Home." They had yet to record that one, but she knew it would be a big hit when they finally released it. She turned to her microphone and prepared to come in as Zach played the melody and the rest of the band supported him. Closing her eyes, she thought of Trent, remembering how not so long ago, she thought they'd never be together. Now, she knew nothing in the world would ever tear them apart.

"Take my hand, take me slow,

Lead me down the lonely road.

It's not so far, we can go.

Your love will always lead me home."

She could see his face in her mind's eye, that perfect grin, his dazzling blue eyes. How had she gotten so lucky that the perfect guy wanted to be with her? She'd been in love with him since high school, and now, even with her eyes closed, she was aware of the dazzling ring on her finger, the one he'd put there.

"Take me there, let's not roam.

Lead me down the country roads.

It's the only place I want to go.

Your love will always lead me home."

Bree sang the song's refrain one more time, lost in the music and thoughts of the man she loved more than anything in the world, warmth radiating throughout her body as she relished their love, certain that nothing and no one would ever come between them.

At the end of the song, their producer, Alvin Cook, came over the microphone from the attached studio. "Fabulous, you guys! Just fabulous!"

The sound of his booming voice startled Bree as she was coming out of her own secret reverie, singing to Trent in her mind. She smiled, though, glad to see him. He didn't normally come to their practice sessions, but it was nice to hear him say they sounded good. "Thanks, Alvin."

He opened the door that led to the small recording area they'd been using to practice. The tech in the booth wasn't nearly as new as the other recording booths, so this one had become a practice area recently. Bree loved the acoustics in the tight space originally built to record and was glad when Alvin had said they could practice here, way back when the band had first gotten together, before the accident.

She tuned into what he had to say, letting her thoughts of what had gone wrong fade away. "I've got some great news," he exclaimed, his long hair billowing over his shoulders as he moved quickly into the room. He was in his mid-forties but could still keep up with the kids he worked with. "We've got some tour dates!"

"What? That's awesome!" Chase exclaimed for all of them. They were all ready to get back on the road.

Bree felt a twitch of nervous excitement in her gut. She was ready, too, even though this was their first practice since she'd been in the hospital. She wouldn't have to play the guitar--all she'd have to do was sing. She reminded herself of that as Alvin continued with his news.

"I hope you guys are ready because I've booked you one of Nashville's biggest venues for next Saturday, April 15th. You guys will be at The Rusty Wagon Wheel, with Back Roads opening for you. It should be a great show. Then, the week after that...."

Alvin continued to rattle off tour dates, but Bree wasn't listening anymore. Back Roads was going to be opening for them? Next Saturday? She swallowed hard and sat down on the stool Zach had brought her earlier in case she got tired during rehearsal.

"Are you okay, Bree?" Shawna asked, her hands feeling chilly on Bree's bare arms as she came up behind her and whispered in her ear.

"Yeah, fine," Bree assured her, patting her hand. "Just tired."

Shawna smiled at her and gave her a little squeeze. Bree tried to tune back into Alvin who hadn't noticed her spell and was continuing to talk about everything the studio had planned for them. It was all great news, except for that first tour date. The Rusty Wagon Wheel was an amazing venue. It would easily hold a couple of thousand people, and if they could sell that out, it would be a great way to prove to everyone that Bree and her band were back. There was only one problem.

Back Roads. That was Sam Fowler's band, Bree's ex-boyfriend. She hadn't seen him since college, only a few times around campus after she'd caught him screwing her roommate, Melissa. The idea of having to look him in the face and not be blatantly rude seemed impossible. At one point, she'd thought perhaps she could love him, marry him, start a musical career with him. That had been back during the time when she'd completely lost track of Trent and had given up on her dream of marrying him.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Bree took a few deep breaths and reminded herself it would be fine. Trent would be there with her, after all, so when she faced Sam again for the first time after all of these years, her fiancé's hand would be in hers. She could do anything as long as Trent was there beside her.

"You okay, Bree?" Alvin asked, finally realizing his lead singer had almost fainted on him.

"Yep. I'm fine." She nodded at him, confident that she would be all right. The rest of the band was so excited, walking around, giving each other high-fives, their smiles beaming as brightly as the spotlights Bree was used to singing under on stage. She could do this. They could do this.

"All right then. I'll let you guys get back to practicing. It's sounding amazing--keep it up!" Alvin made a sign with his hands that meant rock'n'roll, even though they were a country band, and then headed out of the practice area, through the recording booth, and out into the hallway.

"Well, you heard the man. Let's get to it," Zach suggested.

Bree got to her feet, looking at the playlist in front of her to see what was next. When she saw that it was "Meant to Marry Me," the song she'd written for Trent the night Sam had cheated on her, she felt confident in saying, "We've got this."