I kicked off my shoes as soon as I entered my apartment and released a weary sigh. It had been a long day. I was tired. I was starving and I didn't know whether I wanted to scream or cry.

Today had been very eventful to say the least.

It was late, but I needed something to eat, so I entered the kitchen and made myself a grilled cheese sandwich.

Once I sat down and finally got some food in me, I rehashed the last several hours in my head, but I just couldn't allow myself to give in to the tears that I so desperately wanted to shed. By the time Kevin was finally able to talk me down and reassure me about added security and his promise that he would be by my side for the New Orleans show, I was finally feeling a little bit better until I was informed that Ryan and I needed to get the duet recorded before we went on the road. The label had wanted to have it mixed and ready to release as soon as we debuted it in Atlanta, which meant it had to be done today.

It had taken several hours, take after take, but it was done and had actually come out pretty well. As promised, Ryan had been in his best behavior, but I knew it was all an act because as soon as he thought no one was looking, especially Kevin, he took every opportunity to check me out and he didn't try to hide it from me. His gaze was lustful, eyes a shade darker as he licked his lips. The guy was a creep who thought every woman should just bow at his feet, drop to their knees and suck his dick. Such an ass. I could not believe what I had gotten myself into.

I was going to really have to put some serious acting skills to work in order to make this believable. Ryan made me cringe, but I was going to have to hold his hand, kiss him in public, look adoringly at him and act like I was giddy in love and having the time of my life. The whole idea was daunting to say the least. I never claimed to be an actress, yet I was going to have to give an academy award winning performance, and it made me a little sick to be honest.

Ryan was entirely too good looking, and charming and smelled amazing, when sober, which he had to be due his recent contract, but he was also spoiled and entitled due to his legacy, or rather his father's legacy. He was truly talented and probably could have made it in the business without his father's name, but because his father had been such a country music legend, everyone gave him his way and he had come to expect it.

Just like I had given into doing this whole absurd plan.

I heard my phone chime as I was washing off my plate, ready to do nothing more than take a quick shower and crash. Who was texting me this late?

Ross: I just heard the news that you landed a big tour. Congratulations.

Wow, news travels fast.

Madi: Thanks. This is a huge opportunity for me.

Ross: I'll say. Opening for Ryan Blaney is definitely huge. I'm so proud of you Madi. You're living your dream.

Yeah. Too bad you're not a part of it, I thought to myself.

Ross: So I see your first stop is Tampa. I'm definitely going to be at the show and I'd love to see you if you have time.

Madi: Why Ross? We broke up. Remember?

Ross: How could I forget? But we said we would still be friends and I'd like to see my friend. I miss you Madi. I'd like to see how you're doing. Maybe have lunch and talk.

Madi: I miss you too. Yes, I'll make time to hang out.

This was probably a bad idea. I was going to have to sneak around because I couldn't take the chance of someone seeing me with Ross and then having Ryan and I "going public" in a few weeks.

Ross: I didn't even realize the time. I'm sorry Madi. I know it's late. We'll talk later okay.

Madi: Okay. Good night Ross.

Now I definitely wanted to cry. Ross Chastain was the love of my life. He and I had been together for nearly three years. His family owned a watermelon farm in Florida. He and I met when I was still trying to make my way in the music world. I was playing anywhere I could...festivals, open mic, clubs, dive bars...wherever I could to get out of Louisiana...away from living with a neglectful, drunken, psychotic father. Tired of having to be the adult when I was still pretty much a kid myself. Doing whatever I could to make ends meet until I could make my way to Nashville.

It was a watermelon festival in a little town in Florida when I locked eyes with the farmer and the rest is history. I fell hard, and I fell fast. Ross was a sweetheart. A hard worker with a heart of gold with the most amazing smile and green eyes.

The relationship wasn't easy because I was trying to make it in music and his feet were firmly planted in the family business, the largest watermelon farm in Florida, one that would be all his one day.

A lot of our relationship was spent long distance. I lived a gypsy life, never staying in one place long. I had finally made it to Nashville and Kevin found me at some dive bar that I couldn't believe he had even set foot in. Kevin told me later that my name had been mentioned a few times and he had to check me out for himself. It wasn't long after that I was signed to Victory records.

I was no longer wandering around restlessly searching for my place. I had found a home in Nashville. Ross and I had tried to make it work, but realized our lives were going in different directions. He wasn't leaving Florida and I was now putting down roots and establishing myself in a music career. Ross was a simple man who had no desire to leave his farm and be in the spotlight by dating a Nashville recording artist, and he didn't want me to give up on my dreams because he knew I would never be happy on the farm, just as he knew he would never be happy away from it. We made the difficult, mutual decision to break up so that each of us could move on with our lives, but vowed to remain friends.

I missed him so much. I probably shouldn't see him in Tampa in a couple of days, but I needed to. I needed to look into his eyes one last time and remember what real love felt like before I went into this deal with Ryan. Although I could not let Ross know about the deal due to the NDA I signed, I wanted to let him know in my own way that he mattered to me, but I had to move on. For both our sakes.

I finally finished my shower and crawled into bed, expecting sleep to quickly take me in. Instead I found myself thinking about two different pairs of eyes: One pair green. One pair ocean blue.

A/N: Sorry for the short chapter, but I just haven't had much time to write and I wanted to get something out there.