Chapter 168 158 - Nashville 2

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*3rd Pov

"Here we are!" Ranjit announced as he pulled up to the Holiday Inn Opryland. "Not too expensive, but pretty nice for sleeping and staying the night." he added cheerfully as he hopped out.

Georgie, Connie, and Missy climbed out after him. The building wasn't new, but it stood solidly against the winter night, its neon sign glowing above the entrance.

"Not too expensive, huh? But yes, it's pretty nice." Connie said with a grin. She'd slept in far worse places and, to her, this was more than decent.

Missy, however, pouted. "I thought we were going to a six-star hotel!" she complained, crossing her arms.

Georgie chuckled. "Wait a few years, princess. I'll take you to an eight-star hotel."

As Ranjit unloaded the luggage, he chimed in again, full of energy. "This hotel is nice too, yes! Pretty expensive compared to others. And the staff—Very friendly. I even have a friend here who doesn't stop smiling for the guests… even in the toilet!"

Connie burst out laughing and clapped his shoulder. "How many people do you know in this town, Ranjit? Feels like you've got a cousin in every corner."

Georgie nodded as he helped lift a suitcase. "Are you sure you really want to move to New York? Don't tell me you're running away from debts here?" he teased, narrowing his eyes.

Ranjit went pale. "No, no, no! I don't gamble. It's my family's decision." as he waved his arms rapidly.

Georgie laughed, patting him on the back. "I'm just joking. Don't take it so seriously."

Moments later, the second car pulled in behind them. The driver climbed out quickly, his face sour as he yanked open the trunk.

Georgie and the others turned at once, catching the man's scowl as he began hauling luggage out.

George Sr., Mary, and Sheldon stepped out. Sheldon wore his trademark frown, while Mary and George Sr. looked half speechless.

"Had he followed my advice," Sheldon said stiffly, "we would've arrived three minutes earlier. Inefficiency is maddening."

Mary pressed her lips together, choosing silence, and walked toward Georgie's group. George Sr., meanwhile, forced a twitching smile as he went to help the driver with the bags.

Or maybe George Sr. was just afraid that he'd snap and slam their suitcases out of spite.

Georgie shook his head while Missy grinned wide. "Looks like you managed to annoy someone else again, Sheldon!"

Connie waved a hand at Sheldon, trying to smooth out the frown etched on his face.

Georgie stepped forward to help George Sr. and the driver with the bags. "I'm sorry for my brother's antics, sir. I just hope you don't kill him with that suitcase," he joked, grabbing Sheldon's oversized luggage.

The driver sighed and shook his head at Georgie. "I've met worse than him. I can handle it."

George Sr. blinked, half-joking, half-serious. "…Worse than Sheldon? I doubt it." more than afraid there is someone worse than Sheldon.

Ranjit bounced up with his usual grin. "My friend! You don't know who he is, right?! This is Georgie!" He pointed excitedly at Georgie. "I already have his autograph on my album—you should ask him too!"

George Sr. widened his eyes, glancing at Georgie, who only chuckled awkwardly. "Looks like my song really made it to Nashville," Georgie said under his breath, as Ranjit practically glowed with excitement.

The other driver only gave a flat smile before muttering, "I don't even like country music, you idiot."

"Oh… right," Ranjit said awkwardly, shooting Georgie an apologetic smile.

Georgie waved it off. "Don't worry. Everyone's got their own taste in music. I like pop and rock too, you know."

Ranjit and the driver both nodded, and before leaving the Cooper family behind, Georgie slipped each of them a generous tip.

Well, it was just forty dollars each—but for drivers used to small bills, their eyes lit up like neon signs on Broadway.

"Thank you, young man!" Ranjit said, pressing the bill to his chest like it was treasure. "New York or not, I will never forget you!"

The other driver muttered, "Guess country music does pay after all," before sliding the money into his pocket and slamming the trunk shut.

Georgie waved them off and turned back, hauling the suitcases toward the lobby doors.

Inside, warm air rushed over them, carrying the faint scent of coffee, furniture polish, and the low hum of a vending machine tucked in the corner. The carpet was patterned in green and brown swirls—slightly faded but clean. A fake ficus plant stood proudly by the front desk, its leaves glowing under the fluorescent lights.

Missy and Sheldon's eyes lit up as they took in the lobby, intrigued. They were used to motels on family trips, never a hotel that looked this polished.

"Welcome to the Opryland Inn," the receptionist greeted with a bright smile. "How may I help you this evening?"

Connie whistled low and leaned toward Mary with a smirk. "Ranjit was right—they really do love to smile."

Georgie ignored the joke, stepping forward with his own polite grin. "Hello. Yes, we should have a reservation under Luminous Records." Georgie said, setting his guitar case gently against the desk.

The receptionist typed quickly, her bright smile never faltering. "Yes, sir. Three double rooms for three nights. All reserved under Luminous Records."

"Three?" Mary repeated, sounding both relieved and surprised. "Oh, thank goodness."

Missy tugged at Georgie's sleeve, whispering loudly, "Does that mean I get my own bed?!"

"Depends if you behave," Georgie teased, giving her a wink.

"Your rooms are side by side on the second floor," the receptionist continued smoothly. "Non-smoking, as requested. Each room has two double beds." She slid three envelopes with keys across the counter.

Mary quickly snatched one. "George and I will take the first room."

"Fine by me," Connie said, grabbing another key with a smirk. "Guess I'll bunk with Georgie and keep him outta trouble."

"Wait, what about me?" Sheldon frowned, already calculating.

"You're with Missy," George Sr. said firmly, picking up the last key. "Case closed."

Sheldon groaned. "This arrangement is completely irrational."

Missy stuck her tongue out at him. "Too bad, smarty-pants. Don't snore, or I'll kick you out."

The receptionist's polite smile twitched slightly, but she kept her tone professional. "If you need extra blankets or pillows, just let the front desk know. And the indoor pool is open until ten tonight."

At that, Missy gasped. "We're going swimming!"

"No, we are not," Mary cut in instantly, though Missy was already bouncing with excitement. "Nobody's gonna swim in this freezing weather!"

Georgie chuckled, scooping up the keys. "Alright, folks. Let's get upstairs before we scare the nice lady behind the desk."

—-----

Snowflakes drifted lazily over Broadway, melting on the glowing sidewalks, while neon lights shimmered in the puddles below. Country music spilled out of open doors, tangled with the scent of barbecue and cigarette smoke. For Georgie, it was like stepping straight into the beating heart of Music City.

Missy skipped ahead, her breath puffing in little clouds. "Look! Boots! Cowboy boots, Georgie!" She pressed her nose to the window of a shop where rows of leather boots—brown, black, red, even glitter-studded—lined the display.

Georgie chuckled, adjusting his jacket against the cold. "You already got shoes, princess. You planning on starting a boot collection?"

Kayla, walking beside him with her hands tucked in her coat pockets, smirked. "Let her. At least she's looking at boots and not leather jackets. Those things cost more."

Missy spun around, grinning. "So if I ask Georgie, he'll buy them for me, right?"

"Don't push your luck," Georgie said, though his smile betrayed him. He nudged Kayla. "You too, huh? Gonna drag me into every shop on this street?"

Kayla shrugged, her breath misting in the cold. "Maybe, but i want Georgie to spoil me too!" She widened her eyes in mock innocence, fluttering them like a puppy begging its master.

Missy instantly copied her, though the effect was different—Kayla's looked innocent but dangerous, while Missy's was just plain innocent.

"…You know we're here to work, right? Not to shop?" Georgie sighed, glancing from Kayla to Missy. "I already got you a jacket like your brother, and now you want cowboy boots too?" he said to Missy.

"I'd look so pretty in red boots," Missy shot back without missing a beat.

Kayla pouted, folding her arms. "You bought her a jacket and not me? How could you treat me like that, Georgie!"

Georgie was left speechless.

Meanwhile, Fenley, Rosie, and the rest of the band were already in Nashville a day earlier, tied up in meetings with the TV crew and prepping instruments for the taping. Fenley and Rosie were buried in talks and agreements, too busy to enjoy the city.

The band spent their hours tuning, polishing, and setting up gear for the show, and for Kayla here? She is running away from her duty with excuse 'Georgie need a friend'.

What a lame excuse!.

Hee Haw's taping would stretch over two days, with Georgie scheduled for a feature segment alongside the cast. Which was why, tonight, Georgie wanted to savor every second of freedom.

With a long sigh, Georgie pulled out his wallet. "Alright, fine. Let's buy those expensive boots." he said before going into that damn store who stole his little sister's attention.

Missy squealed, running after her brother before throwing her arms up before planting a quick kiss on Georgie's cheek and giggling.

"Me too!" Kayla chimed, reaching for his face.

But when Georgie leaned back to dodge her playful attempt, Kayla didn't stop. Her lips brushed his—not his cheek, but his mouth.

Georgie froze with eyes wide and heart pounding. That wasn't what he expected.

He pulled back, nearly bumping into the rack of boots behind him.

Missy gasped, her mouth falling open. "Kayla! You kissed my brother!"

Kayla tilted her head, her expression unreadable. "What? It was just a kiss. You act like I committed a crime."

Missy blinked at her, then shrugged, completely unfazed. "Well, he's already single, so I don't mind." She turned back to the rack of boots, humming as if nothing had happened.

Kayla's eyes widened, a slow smile curling across her lips—sweet on the surface, but edged with something sharper. "Single, huh?" she whispered, her voice dripping with mischief.

"…You can't do that, Kayla," Georgie said firmly, shaking his head. "I already see you as my little sister."

But the glint in her eyes didn't fade, and that dangerous smile lingered.

"Sure." Kayla replied lightly, before strolling after Missy to inspect the boots.

Left behind, Georgie swallowed hard, a knot forming in his stomach. Whatever Kayla was planning, he knew this wasn't the end of it.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the block…

Snowflakes drifted lazily over Broadway, melting as soon as they touched the glowing sidewalks. Mary linked her arm through Connie's as they walked, while Sheldon trailed a few steps ahead, notebook in hand, scribbling furiously.

"Look at this chaos," Sheldon muttered, eyes darting at the crowd outside honky-tonk bars. "No crosswalk signage, neon lights wasting electricity, and people shouting over music that's at least twenty decibels too loud. It's a miracle anyone survives a night here."

Connie smirked. "Relax, Moonpie. Folks come here to have fun, not to run traffic studies."

"Fun is irrelevant if the infrastructure is flawed," Sheldon shot back, nose wrinkling at the beer-scented air drifting from an open bar door. "And judging by the odor molecules, at least thirty percent of these people are intoxicated. That's a safety hazard."

Mary gave him a look. "Sheldon, honey, keep your voice down. People don't like being called intoxicated in the middle of the street."

"I'm just reporting facts," Sheldon insisted, scribbling another note. "Someone has to document this for posterity. Nashville's urban planning is atrocious."

Connie laughed and patted his head. "Well, I'll give you this—you're the only tourist in Music City who takes notes on sidewalks instead of songs."

Sheldon paused to frown at a shop window full of cowboy hats. "Completely impractical," he declared. "Wide brims make it impossible to use a telescope properly."

Mary sighed, rubbing her temples. Connie chuckled and added, "Cheer up, Mare. He's not wrong—half the men in this town can't see past the brim of their own hat."

Mary rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. Between Sheldon's endless complaints and Connie's sharp tongue, their stroll through Nashville was less about the noise of the city—and more about the familiar rhythm of family.

And George Sr.? Well he already has a place in one of the Honky Tonk with a new buddy there, laughing and enjoying music there.