Chapter 36
Chapter 36:
The innocence they once shared? It was long gone.
A quiet, bitter laugh slipped from Maia’s lips. “Isn’t Brielle already singing that song every other minute p>
With a shake of her head, Pattie responded, “Come on, that doesn’t count. She’s a pop icon now. I barely catch a glimpse of her anymore. And those songs? They’re for her fans. You always sang it with more heart p>
Back in high school, Brielle Hinks had overheard Maia singing that exact song. She wouldn’t stop pestering Maia until she caved and taught her the lyrics.
That was the turning point. Brielle took One More Day to the city’s showcase and nailed it. The song catapulted her into the national spotlight. Overnight, she became a sensation.
With a dramatic pout, Pattie clung to Maia’s arm. “You promised you’d lift my mood today. So sing it for me! Just this once, and I’ll call it even p>
There had never been much warmth from Maia’s parents or brothers. But her grandma — and girls like Pattie — kept her heart from freezing over. That was how she stayed full of life.
Had things not taken such a terrible turn, she could’ve been everyone’s beam of sunshine.
But Pattie hadn’t had it easy either. She lost her mom when she was young, and after her dad remarried, her stepmother barely saw her as part of the family. If her grandfather hadn’t stood by her, and if she hadn’t been so fierce, Pattie might’ve broken long before now.
But Pattie didn’t break. She became the force everyone now knew as Pattie Miller.
It was those scars they shared that made their friendship unbreakable. If they hadn’t found each other back then, their teenage years would have felt like a story with its heart missing.
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That thought brought a smile to Maia’s lips. “Fine. Just this once. But don’t go thinking you’ll get a repeat p>
The spark in Pattie’s eyes returned, and she nearly bounced where she stood. For a heartbeat, the years of struggle melted away. They were just two girls again, back on that old field under the sky.
“I already have everything ready! Just put the dress on and hit me up!” So she’d been planning this little surprise from the start.
With a resigned sigh, Maia took the bag holding the Blue Sea gown and walked toward the backroom to change.
In the meantime, Pattie grabbed the two handsome men by the arm and raised her voice. “I hope you’re all ready, because the best voice in Wront is about to blow the roof off this place. And I better hear applause loud enough to shake the walls p>
At the edge of the bar’s lounge area, Jarrod was knocking back shots with a table full of spoiled rich young men from wealthy and powerful families. By the time he hit his fourth drink, the tipsiness had kicked in.
He leaned against one of his friends and pointed toward the singer warming up on stage. “None of these people can match up to my sister Rosanna. Her voice is in a league of its own p>
One guy burst out laughing. “You’d take that back so fast if Brielle Hinks walked in right now p>
Even Jarrod had to admit — he was a bit of a Brielle fanboy. He usually scoffed at other singers, but Brielle’s music? He’d had her songs on repeat more than he cared to admit.
“I won’t lie. Brielle’s got skills. But the real magic comes from whoever this ‘K’ person is. That composer’s a chameleon — one minute it’s sweet pop, the next it’s pure heartbreak. Every track feels like a new chapter. And One More Day? Still unbeatable. I swear, if K ever wrote something for Rosanna, she’d leave Brielle in the dust p>
Jarrod couldn’t help himself — his whole expression shifted whenever Rosanna’s name came up, like just saying it lit something up inside him. One of the other rich boys let out a sharp laugh. “Man, you’re always hyping her up. If she’s that great, why don’t you get her onstage right now p>
“She’s not the type to spend time in places like this — Rosanna’s got class.” Leaning back with a scoff, Jarrod narrowed his eyes. “But if you really want proof, I’ve got something better p>