Page 52 of Saving Graces
“You’re literally the most nerve-wracking person in the entire world to talk about songwriting with, you get that right?”
Savannah laughed, then quickly looked down to check she hadn’t woken the baby.
“You’re sweet,” she said, dropping her voice a little. “And direct. No wonder Cassie likes you so much.”
“I’m very likable.”
“I’m sure.” Savannah’s smile went up a notch. “So where’d you get your start?”
They talked about Kinsey’s time at Juilliard and - to her deep embarrassment - her lifelong attempts at songwriting, and her mom and dad’s encouragement of their creative daughter.
“Are you close with your family?” Savannah asked.
“Yeah.” Kinsey smiled. “My parents are still in Chicago and so’s my younger brother. I fly back for Christmas every year.”
“You’re the oldest?”
“Mmhmm. Luckily. Someone’s gotta keep that kid in line.”
“He’s a troublemaker?”
“Wildly. He’s a twenty-three year old accountant, who’s already married his high school sweetheart and bought their first house together.” She grinned fondly. “Honestly I think my parents are relieved that one of their children ran off to Nashville to chase their dreams, otherwise they’d wonder where they went wrong.”
She heard Rosalie breathe out a small laugh and wondered if she planned to join in on what was starting to feel a little like a thoroughly charming interrogation. It didn’t seem like her style. They’d talked only briefly the night they’d met, before everything got so hot and hazy that talking seemed superfluous. She wondered if Rosalie would rather know less about her than more. Suddenly she felt grateful to Savannah for her very direct interest in making Kinsey explain herself.
They talked about her time in Nashville, the band and her dreams for it. She thanked Savannah profusely for the studio time and they swapped stories about Greta. It felt surreal, casually chatting to Savannah Grace about their shared producer. Kinsey wanted to pinch herself.
“I’m going to make Cassie let us come to another show soon,” Savannah said. “She gets weird about having me there, but I’m dying to hear you guys do a real set.”
“She’s amazing,” Kinsey said. “She’s just getting better and better every time we perform. When we eventually blow up, it’ll be because of her.”
Savannah nodded. “She’s a firecracker., but don’t sell yourself short. She says the same thing about you.”
“We’re a good team. And we’re great live. You absolutely should come and see us.” She deliberately included both of them with her smile. Rosalie had made the occasional polite hm in response to their conversation but she seemed otherwise content to listen and gaze off into the distance.
“Oh we will!” Savannah promised. “I’ve been hearing great things. You have a lot of fans already.”
“It’s surreal. We’re so excited to be playing for real audiences now.”
“You must be getting a hell of a lot of attention from women.” Savannah gave her a sly smirk.“Being so gorgeous and in a great band.”
Kinsey glanced at her. Savannah’s smile was teasing and her eyes guileless but Kinsey’s danger signals sparked. Savannah was Rosalie’s best friend? Oh she knew. She definitely knew at least something about her and Rosalie. She was one hundred percent being sussed out right now under a smokescreen of Southern charm and big sister energy. This wasn’t a casual walk they were on, this was a minefield.
Kinsey’s spine straightened.
“I do alright,” she said simply. “Of course, Cassidy is the main drawcard. I just hang by and help Lane beat everyone off with sticks.”
“Oh, I think you’re being modest,” Savannah pressed, her eyes sparkling. “There’s no way you don’t have a small legion of groupies already.”
“That,” Kinsey said easily, “is not my style.”
“Oh? What is your style?”
Kinsey knew a trap when she saw one.
“I prefer something with a little more substance,” she said. “How do you manage all your groupies?”
Savannah laughed and she heard Rosalie snort too.
