On the bus headed back for the hotel after the show, Bucky was talking animatedly about how things had gone. "That was really high energy tonight, guys," he said. "I think the new duet song was a huge hit."
Deacon smiled. "I thought it sounded good. Ray, what did you think?"
Rayna seemed to be in a pensive mood. She gave him a small smile. "I did think it went well."
Bucky picked up on a lack of enthusiasm and frowned. "Are you unhappy with something?"
Rayna shook her head absently. "No, not really. Just kind of decompressing. You know how that goes." She seemed distracted, which worried both Bucky and Deacon, although for different reasons.
Bucky had picked up on a different vibe between Rayna and Deacon even before the tour, but he couldn't decide what it was about. Things were certainly more comfortable between the two than they had been in a long time and he was hoping Rayna wasn't going back into her shell again. "Can we meet for lunch tomorrow? To talk about tomorrow night's show?"
Rayna looked up without expression. "Yeah, Buck, that sounds good. I think I might want to change a couple things up a bit." And then she looked out the bus window, effectively ending the conversation. Deacon looked at her and wondered what was going on. He hoped she'd talk to him when he got to her room later.
Rayna was still quiet as they got on the elevator. She leaned back and closed her eyes. Deacon stood next to her but without touching her. He was confused by her behavior. When the elevator stopped on his floor, she opened her eyes and looked at him, but made no reaction.
He went to his room and dropped his satchel on the desk. He reached in his back pocket for the key to her room and then sat on the bed. He wondered if something had changed between the time they'd left her room to go to sound check and after the show. She had seemed fine on stage. She seemed happy after they sang "I Need You", which was what he was most nervous about. They'd even done "Postcard from Mexico" and she had given him the come on looks she used to give him before she got married and things changed. The fans had gone crazy because they could pick up on the change in the vibe.
But she had been in an odd mood on the bus. Like she was pulling away. He wasn't sure he could handle that. He finally pulled out his phone and called her.
"Where are you?" she asked.
"In my room."
"Aren't you coming up?"
"You just seemed a little, I don't know, not yourself after the show."
She smiled on her end. "Just thinking through some changes." She paused. "I need you, babe. Right now."
"I'm on my way." He disconnected the call, slipped the phone in his pocket, and, with a relieved smile on his face, he left his room and headed for the elevator.
###
When Deacon got to Rayna's room, she ran and jumped in his arms, kissing him all over his face as he laughed. She pulled him over to the couch and sat on his lap. "You know I can't act like I want to jump your bones on the bus, babe," she said.
"I guess not, but I was kind of worried there for a minute."
She snuggled into his neck and he wrapped his arms around her waist. "Don't ever be worried," she whispered. "This is right where I want to be." She leaned in and kissed him. As the kiss got deeper, she crawled off his lap, took his hand and led him into the bedroom.
###
Long after, late into the night, they were wrapped up in the sheets, in each other. Deacon ran his hand through Rayna's hair and down her arm, pulling her closer. She ran her fingers through his hair, then down his face to his mouth, across his lips. Then she took a breath and Deacon knew that whatever had been on her mind in the bus, now she was ready to talk about it.
"So, I wanted to tell you this now instead of springing it on you for the first time in front of Bucky." She ran her foot down his leg and back up. He groaned and pulled her closer. She smiled and kissed him lightly. "I really like your song 'Back Home', but I don't think it's for me to sing."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I know you want me to consider some of your songs and I thought that might be a good one. I really like the message but…I think you did write it about me." She slid her foot in between his legs.
He leaned into her. "Damn, girl, you don't make having a conversation with you easy," he growled.
She laughed softly. "Deacon, I love that song, but I think you really wrote it to sing to me. Am I right?"
"I suppose." He had to admit he felt a little disappointed that she didn't want to sing it.
"I want you to sing it for me. Not onstage, but just for me. My own private show." She kissed him again and slid her hand under the sheets, pressing harder and harder against his mouth.
Deacon rolled her over and whispered against her mouth, "All I have to do is think one little thought of you, and I'm back home."
###
Bucky and Deacon were both waiting for Rayna at the hotel restaurant. Bucky thought she looked more relaxed, which made him relax. "You look better today than last night," he said.
Rayna sat down next to Deacon and waved him off. "I can't believe you've forgotten how I like to deconstruct the show in my head afterwards."
Bucky smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, you're right. So what did you come up with?"
Rayna looked up at the hovering server and ordered a salad and iced tea. Then she looked back at Bucky. "I'm going to take 'Back Home' out of the playlist." She put her hand on Deacon's arm and looked at him. "It's a beautiful song, Deacon, but it just didn't feel right for me. We can look at something else. Or" and she smiled "we could write something new. We have time and plenty of opportunity to try it out. Then if we like it, we can put it on the album."
Deacon nodded. "What about 'I Need You'?"
"That one's a keeper. Didn't you feel how much the audience loved it? I have to admit that Watty was right on in his assessment of that one."
Bucky smiled, feeling relieved that Rayna seemed back to herself. "Speaking of the album, we just have a few days when we're in Nashville at the end of this leg. Are you going to be up for recording at all?"
Rayna nodded. "As long as I can have Halloween at home. Maddie, especially, is looking forward to that."
Deacon smiled at the mention of Maddie. "What's she dressing up as?"
"A princess," Rayna said with a laugh. "Same as last year."
After lunch, she asked Deacon to take a walk with her and they strolled slowly down towards the Ohio River, her hand in the crook of his elbow, just walking silently. They found a bench in a riverside park and sat, close but not quite touching.
Deacon leaned forward, resting his elbows on his legs and looked back at Rayna. She looked relaxed, something she had not in a very long time. "You know, Ray, I love being with you, but I have to wonder what your plan is," he said quietly.
Rayna looked away and licked her lips. Then she took a breath and looked back at him. "I don't have a plan, Deacon. Other than to be with you as much as I can. I can't really think beyond that. You know that."
"You seem happier now than you have in years," Deacon pushed.
"Please don't ask, Deacon. Not right now. Let's just enjoy this for now. It's like quiet time being with you and I need that. I need you. I'm just not ready to make any big decisions in the middle of a tour."
Deacon looked out over the water. He didn't want to push too hard, because he didn't want to push her away. He decided that, for now, he would be patient. But it wasn't in his nature to be patient for long. Especially where Rayna was concerned. He sat back and reached for her hand, squeezing it lightly and then letting go. He turned to her and smiled. "Ok," he said. And she smiled back.
