"How about when you were the biggest asshole in the world?"

"Oh c'mon Lilian, I was…yeah okay, I was an asshole."

He propped himself up with his elbows and pulled her into him. "I'm really sorry about that Lilian. I can't believe I did that."

Lilian walked out of the bedroom in a robe. Her hair was still damp from her shower. Randy walked in the kitchen door. She walked up to him, excited for the next day.

"Hey baby, I started packing your stuff so that you could get some sleep before tomorrow."

He looked at her with no emotion in his eyes. "How'd you know I was going somewhere tomorrow?"

"Because I'm going too?" Her voice and expression was confused.

"Dave invited you too?" Randy took off the shirt he was wearing and threw it on the couch.

"What are you talking about? We're going to Nashville tomorrow, remember? A little thing called the Country Music Awards? I'm doing a duet with Shania Twain?" She sighed. "Randy, hello?"

His mind came back from where ever it was. "Yeah, sorry, I won't be there."

"What the hell! Randy, what's going on? I've been busting my ass off for this show for the past three months and you're just going to blow it off for some party with the boys?"

"Looks that way, doesn't it?"

Her jaw dropped. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me. I'm going to hang out with the guys tomorrow instead of going to watch you sing, is that okay, pumpkin?"

"What in the fuck is your problem!"

"Nothing, just felt like doing something with my friends."

"You always do stuff with your friends! Every time we both have the chance to be with each other, you always go with Dave and Paul."

"Oh, I'm sorry!" He threw his hands up. "I forgot, your whore days are over."

She went to reply but stopped realizing what he just said. "…what?"

"I said your whore days are over, now that Dave has realized he can do better."

She stood there, not saying a word. She looked down and then turned, walking back to the bedroom. They didn't say another word for the rest of the night.

The next morning at 4:00, Lilian boarded her flight for Nashville. Randy was there too, but they didn't speak to each other. Once the plane landed, they went their separate ways. Lilian went to the hotel where she was supposed to meet Shania and Randy went to Dave's condo.

Inside the hotel, the two singers got dressed. Lilian had on a turquoise dress and Shania had on a black one. "Are you ready for tonight?" Lilian looked up at her.

"I guess so, yeah."

"What's wrong, Lilian?"

She started to chew on a manicured nail. "I just never thought this song we're going to sing would pertain to me."

"Uh oh, what happened?"

"Randy blew me off so that he could spend time with the guys. He knows how important this is to me. And then, he called me a … a whore."

"Oh, honey, I'm sure he didn't mean it."

Lilian sniffed back tears and stood up. "Yeah well, it happens I guess." She looked at herself one last time in the mirror. "We better get going."

Across town, Randy was sitting in Dave's condominium. He was upstairs in a different room with the TV on. He smiled to himself as Lilian took the stage. Downstairs, there was a game on and the guys were being very loud. Randy turned the volume up on the TV and sat back.

Shania sang the first part of the song, then Lilian took over. "I'm not surprised just how well I've survived. I'm over the worst and I feel so alive. I can't complain – I'm free again." The two songbirds closed the gap between them and went into the chorus. "And it only hurts when I'm breathing. My heart only breaks when it's beating. My dreams only die when I'm dreaming. So, I hold my breath, to forget."

He sat up, watching the TV closer. He knew Lilian loved being on stage, singing to the people. But he could also see that glimpse of sorrow in her eyes. "Don't think I'm lyin' 'round, cryin' at night." Lilian backed up, letting Shania finish up the verse. She was tapping her foot with the beat of the music.

Randy jumped off the bed and ran down the stairs, grabbing his coat and car keys on the way out. Dave threw him a questioning look, but he didn't have time to answer. He ran to his car and backed out of the drive way, not bothering to pull his seatbelt on.

The song ended and they made their way off stage. Lilian grabbed a bottle of water, the rush of the live crowd still flowing through her. She found the room where she'd put her belongings and sat down on the couch. Shania came in shortly after and sat down next to her.

"What'd you think?"

"That was incredible!"

She smiled. "I told you it would be. You're a really impressive singer, Lilian. I really do expect you to be on the charts some day soon."

Lilian beamed. "Oh thank you! That means so much to me." She leaned over to give her a hug when her cell phone rang. "Hello? … Oh, hi Dave." The color drained from her face. "I'll be right there." Lilian got off the couch, grabbing her coat and purse. "I have to go; Randy's been in an accident." She bolted out the door, headed for her car.