Page 104 of Most Eligible
Next to me, cowgirl-hat lady is freaking out. She squeezes my arm so hard I think she might draw blood and screams at the top of her lungs, “RHETT, WILL YOU MARRY ME?!”
Everyone in the audience can probably hear her. Rhett glances over, chuckles, a hint of a blush creeping up his neck. “Uh, I’m flattered,” he says. “But I think it’s probably best if I say no.”
She doesn’t seem disappointed in the slightest. She’s screaming to her friend, gushing over the fact that he wastalking to her. I grin into my chest and look back up at the stage to find Rhett staring at me. After a second, he breaks his gaze away, the blush still coloring his neck.
“This song is from my second album,” he says. “It’s called ‘Time of My Life.’”
Rhett’s fingers strum over the guitar strings and he keeps his gaze down as he begins. I’ve heard this song before, but hearing it live, directly from his lips and fingers, leaves me chilled.
We had the time of our lives
On those small-town back roads
But when you left, you tore me in two.
We had the time of our lives
Fighting our battles
Or was I just having the time of my life with you?
It’s a slow song, perfect for an acoustic performance, and when he finishes, the crowd erupts in cheers. He sings a few more of his older songs, stopping to say a few words between each one.
“I’m almost done for the night,” he says finally. “Y’all’ve been wonderful, but I only have time for two more. These are both new songs that I wrote recently and I’m hoping they’ll be on my next album.” My heart quickens. “This first one is called ‘Being New.’”
The song has a long intro, Rhett’s fingers flying across the strings as he leads the song into its slow, folky tune, before he starts to sing.
Sometimes, it’s a hard time, being new.
It’s the song he was playing when I snuck into his room, but the words hit me differently now as I remember what he said about his drinking, about how things ended with Cassidy.
By the time he gets to the chorus, the entire crowd is swaying, the woman next to me clutching her friend for dear life. When he finishes, I realize I’ve been holding my breath.
“One more,” he says. His eyes scan the crowd and land on me. His voice falters and for a second he just stares. His lips part like he’s about to say something, but no sound comes out.
“I’m sorry,” I mouth, hoping he can see me despite the bright stage lights.
“This song is about someone really special to me,” he says finally, tearing his eyes away from mine with a small smile. “I don’t know what’s in the cards for us, but I still care about her. It’s called ‘One Night Only.’”
I laugh as the double entendre hits me.Rhett Auburn: One Night Only. Exactly what I thought we’d be when we met last year.
As he begins to strum his guitar, tapping his foot with the beat, the woman next to me shrieks to her friend that he was lookingright at her!and that this song must be about her. I sneak a glance at her. She can’t be more than twenty.
Baby, I thought we’d be one night only
But now you’re the rest of my nights
From breaking up and breaking down, messing up all around
But ain’t that the thing about life.
My breath hitches in my chest and I let out a quiet sob. It’s about me. It has to be.You were the only one. You are the only one.That’s what he said. And now, here he is, asking me, yet again, to believe him.
The woman next to me throws her arms around me and strokes my hair. Without really thinking, I hug her back and we stand, both crying for very different reasons, watching Rhett sing the rest of the song.
Some of the lyrics pop out in neon,the hot water gospel;flying up the coast;tattoos under fingertips, never going back. Then the lines start getting slower, his fingers heavier, and I know it’s almost over. This perfect bubble is about to pop, and I’m powerless to stop it.
Baby, be the rest of my life.
