“Exactly.”
Bailey examined the profiles. The first man looked decent. Nice face. Pleasant smile. Was that enough? Her phone chimed again with a message. Already?
“Well?” Noelle asked.
“I don’t know if I should answer.”
“You don’t have to marry the guy. If you’re not comfortable, you can delete the match later.”
Bailey swallowed. Typing a response to the first man who sent her a message. The man wrote back in no time.
Wanna meet up this weekend?
“That’s soon, don’t you think? I thought we could at least talk.”
Noelle leaned over and looked at the man’s profile. “Yeah, I wouldn’t. At least talk first.”
Bailey replied. Not yet. Would like to talk.
The man responded. I see why you’re still single.
“Seriously?” Bailey rolled her eyes.
Noelle grabbed her phone. “Well, he’s blocked.”
Bailey slouched on her couch.
“It’s only one guy. There’s more out there.”
“I don’t know why I even agreed to this. I know I vent now and then, but I’m fine.”
Noelle handed her back her phone. “If you want to delete it, it's fine, but I’m proud of you for getting out there. Give it time.”
Bailey rubbed the back of her head. “Sure.”
Chapter 2
Bailey’s glass hissed as the waitress filled her cup. She gave a small smile as the music thumped through the speakers. It was open mic night at Mac’s Nightclub and Lounge.
As the music died down, she stared as a singer took the microphone in her hands on the stage. She captivated the crowd with her soprano voice. The harmony between her and the guitar player was incredible.
As the lights dimmed, she drew in the tranquil melody. If only she had the courage to sing in public, but her voice wasn’t ideal—so she thought. Some called it raspy. If only she had a higher range as other vocalists.
Bailey hummed along to the music anyway, recalling the familiar tune she listened to in the 90s. She further rocked in her chair as she sang along. Was that her voice she heard? She swallowed and looked around the room. A few people noticed and smiled, but she instead gripped her drink.
Once the song ended, she applauded with the rest of the crowd. Some cheered while others whistled. Bailey blew out her cheeks, grabbed her cell, and stared at the notifications from the dating app. She had over fifty matches.
It should have excited her, but her heart deflated like a beach ball. The first guy—a jerk, but that didn’t discount the rest. She promised Noelle she’d be open.
That was progress compared to her attitude towards love the year prior. News traveled in the small town of Bridge Point, Texas. Her ex marrying a break out actress spread like wildfire. Questions of why didn’t th
ey work out died down, but seeing the power couple on the red carpet on television only reminded Bailey of their failed relationship.
She moved on with her life. Besides, other matters filled her thoughts. Did she want to continue working in her mother's hair and nail salon? She made a decent living as a nail technician. Decent living. Was that enough? There was music, but she couldn’t do it. Yet, why did it speak to her soul?
Melodious sounds filled her ears as the band played. She smiled to herself recalling her childhood learning the piano from her father. Play in public? Sing in front of an audience? Her stomach burned at the notion. Yet, she lip-synced along with the next song in the band’s set.
Closing her eyes, she envisioned herself on stage. The music would flow through her like the sea whose waves were set in motion by the winds. The audience would cheer for her, begging for an encore. No way.