Collaboration (32 page)

Eli ignores Trace’s remark but looks him in the eye, saying, “Man, I can’t thank you enough. Really and truly. This is all you, bro, and I look forward to working with you.”

“Good to hear since you signed a contract with us, E,” Trace says with a laugh. Eli smirks and then struts off with some serious swagger, ready to take on the world.

Trace and I continue, hand in hand, until we have to separate to find our respective spots on the stage. Nerves and anxiety don’t seem to bother me now, knowing he’ll be right by my side.

The audience screaming can be heard from the darkness below, while two spotlights shine down on us. We rehearsed this over twenty times this afternoon, but I still pray I don’t screw it up, since this will be the first and last time we perform the song that brought us together.

Trace’s eyes remain focused on me from across the stage. His microphone moves to his lips when the sound of the heartbeat comes over the speakers.

You hear that? It’s the sound of my heart callin’ out

Never felt this way, there ain’t no doubt

Didn’t know I was lost

‘til you I found

Hearin’ your voice

Is the sweetest damn sound.

But friends and family alike they say

We don’t go together, there’s no fuckin’ way

My lil’ country girl,

You done roped my heart

But I’ll be needin’ it back

‘Fore this tears us apart.

‘Cause there ain’t no future for the two of us

Can’t do what we want, only what we must

Back to our own kind,

It’s where we belong

No, there’s no happy ending

In this love song

Finishing his part, he begins walking closer as I move down a few steps, bringing my own microphone to my mouth and singing slowly—

Please baby, I need you

I don’t care what they say

Only you

Can make me feel this way

I don’t know where we’re going

I just want you to stay

Please don’t leave me

I promise, it’ll be okay

The instrumentals kick in and we stare only at one another as we move closer while the spotlights follow us. A sexy smirk appears on Trace’s face before he brings the mic to his mouth again.

There ain’t nothin’ okay about this, I swear

The way I think about your body, your face, your hair

Every time you laugh

I wanna break down and cry

I know I’ll never be the one

To be by your side

Girl, don’t you know the way that I am strugglin’

Everyday now, I’m fightin’ and I’m jugglin’

The choices I make

Every single damn one

For all the world to see

To judge and poke fun

It’s always been about me and where I’m goin’

But I can’t ignore the way the winds are blowin’

I can feel the power

It’s like a hurricane

The forces too strong

Gonna drive me insane

I start my next verse as I descend the last of the stairs, stopping just short of where he’s standing.

Please baby, believe in us

I can’t keep you at bay

Give me all of your trust

I won’t throw it away

I don’t know where we’re going

I just need you to stay

Please don’t leave me

I promise, it’ll be okay

As he sings his next line, Trace puts his hand up as if pushing me away and I want to smile, since I know that’s the opposite of what he wants to do.

But the forces pullin’ us apart are far too strong

I reach out my hand as I sing my response.

Are you saying we’re not strong?

He sings and, as planned, clenches his hand into a fist.

I’m saying we can’t fight what’s goin’ on out there

My outstretched hand moves over my heart and I sing—

Well, what about what’s in here?

He surprises me when he places his hand over mine before we continue our back and forth.

Trace: No one’s more surprised than me

Me:Except maybe me

Trace: Could’ve used a warning or two

Me:Yeah, me too

Pausing, we stare into each other’s eyes as our fingers intertwine, and then our joined hands fall between us while the instrumentals take over once again. The realization hits that we made it—we proved them all wrong. With the music slowing down, Trace takes control of his microphone again.

You’re my kryptonite, my Achilles’ heel

I can’t believe the things that you’re making me feel

But I’m no Hercules, baby

Ain’t no white knight

Got no superpowers

So I’m losing this fight

You gonna break me, remake me,

Open me up for all the world to see

But I’ll give you what you want

Cause I can’t say no

Take all that I have

But baby, never let me go

I begin during the last few words of his verse and pour out in song all that we have been and will be.

[Oh no] I will never let you go

Boy you gotta know

You’re the one for me

Baby, can’t you see

Don’t wanna take it slow

Trace looks at me and it’s obvious that the words he sings next are coming straight from his beautiful heart.

Baby, don’t let go

How could I not have known

Now I can see

That you’re the one for me

And I love you so

The music slows and fades into the background as we sing our last verse a cappella and in complete harmony.

I won’t let you go

Yeah I want you to know

Baby, I can see

You’re the one for me