Finding the Dream (For the Love of Music #1.5) by Mia Josephs Page A

in here.” Alyson paused in the doorway. “And you’re acting weird today. Can I take off early?”
    Donovan nodded and gestured for her to leave. “Fine.”
    She paused in the doorway for just a moment longer before wandering out.
    Maybe he’d tinker around and clean in the storefront—though, with how quiet it had been, Alyson probably had it taken care of.
    He moved into the store from the back room, the wall of backpacks looking a little thin with the beginning of school, but the boots were in order. Socks were hung. Wooden floor immaculate. Even his favorite area of camp stoves, water bottles, compasses and gadgets were aligned.
    The familiar wood walls helped him relax a bit. Everything was in order. Every part of his body still felt amped, like he’d done nothing but drink coffee all day, which wasn’t the case--at least not entirely.
    Sunlight streamed through the front windows, and he rested his hands on his head. Maybe he needed to bring an extra guitar back into the store for slow days like this. Maybe he should be playing more. The U2 song on the radio gave way to Lita James new unplugged single. Damn, the woman could sing. And still he stood there in the shop, just staring at the front window onto the street, listening to Lita James. Remembering when he used to listen to unplugged tracks and think— one day that’ll be me. Life was life, though. Once he realized that there was something he wanted more than music, he’d shifted his life to suit that goal instead. Had be been right? He thought so until… Until what? Until Mike recorded him and people liked it? Until Sierra’s incredulous look over him not playing much anymore? He wasn’t sure.
    The store phone rang, and Donovan answered, “Great Outdoors.”
    “I’m looking for Donovan Holmes.”
    Crap .
    “You got him.”
    “Holy shit, man. Do you know how hard you are to find?”
    “Who is this?”
    “This is Gavin, from Solomon’s.”
    “Oh…hey…” Donovan hadn’t answered them, and assumed the offer to play was gone.
    “You ever check your Facebook?” he asked through a laugh.
    “Not if I can help it.”
    “We wanted you to play. Had a few people ask about you. You didn’t answer, so we filled the spot, but I saw your YouTube video, and a different night opened up. Thursday, which isn’t the best, but is far from the worst.”
    “It wasn’t my video.”
    “Yeah. Mike. I saw,” Gavin said. “You still interested? Because I think you can still draw a crowd Donovan, and if you wait much longer people are going to forget who you are.”
    Donovan rubbed his eyelids with his fingertips. He knew this. He knew, but hearing it out loud, from someone who knew the music scene… His stomach clenched and he leaned on the counter.
    “Donovan?”
    “What day did you have in mind?” he asked. Was he really doing this? When was Hanson coming back? The last time he’d done a gig at Solomon’s, it had turned into a mini tour through Washington and Oregon and some college kid had stolen thousands from the shop while he was away.
    One gig.
    One.
    He could manage one.
    “Two weeks from now. Thursday night. Eight.”
    “Why?” Donovan blurted. “Why me? I haven’t been around, I don’t…”
    “Because a bar owner can put a random video of you online and it takes off. Because your style of music is too mellow for me, and I still wanna hear you play.”
    “Shit. Yes. I’ll do it.” He just now had to find time to practice and smooth over some of his new lyrics and get ready for the sale, keep the store running smoothly, find a replacement for Alyson when she left… This was not a good idea.
    “Great. I’ll send you the information to your store’s email. Does that work?”
    “Yep,” Donovan croaked out. “Thanks for uh… Thanks for thinking of having me on.”
    “Let’s hope we both make a fair chunk of money.” Gavin chuckled. “We’ll be in touch.”
    “Yeah. Okay.” Donovan slowly hung up the phone, still leaning