“We can hear you,” Viv said. She appeared at his shoulder, rolling her big brown eyes. She brushed her bubblegum-pink hair out of her eyes and pulled Campbell into a hug and then me. “Hey, you.”

  “Good to see you,” I told her. Viv was the bass player. Behind her was Santi, who played drums, and Yorke, on guitar.

  “Just ignore him,” Santi said boisterously. He hit Campbell’s knuckles and then tipped his head at me. “We’re glad you’re home.”

  Home. LA wasn’t home. I didn’t know what was home anymore. Seattle had always been home, but now, only Mom was there. It was strange to think that Lubbock had become home in such a short period of time.

  “Yo,” Yorke said, as monosyllabic as Santi was animated.

  “So, this new song,” Bobby said. He arched an eyebrow at the pair of us.

  “Shut it, Bobby,” Campbell groaned. “Let me go play it for you.”

  “We listened to the demo,” Santi said. “It needs a solid drumbeat.”

  “Obviously.”

  “But the keys are the spotlight,” Bobby said, looking to me. “That your doing?”

  I shrugged. “Campbell wanted keys. I delivered.”

  “Yeah. I wanted it to be keys heavy. I needed something that felt like it pulled you forward.”

  But I was still looking at Bobby. He’d been wary of me since I’d helped put the album together. As if at any moment, I was going to demand my fair share of the profits. The studio and I had worked out a payment schedule, as if I were recording as a backup. They wanted to cover their ass so that I didn’t sue. Even though I had no intention of doing any of that. I’d get paid for what I deserved, but I wasn’t a member of the band. And I didn’t need their manager to glare at me to try to make me remember. I felt that every day of my life.

  “Maybe we could talk to Michael to get him in on this one,” Bobby suggested.

  “No,” Campbell barked at once. Michael was their old keyboardist, but he’d ditched the band right before this album to spend more time with his family. “West will do it.”

  “Yeah, Bobby,” Viv said with a wink. “We have West.”

  “I do miss Michael sometimes though,” Santi said with a sigh.

  “Before he turned into a wet blanket,” Yorke said.

  Everyone burst into laughter at that and agreed. The tension dissolved as only Yorke could pull off.

  We were all rushed into the studio. I sat down at the keys. My mind was blissfully blank as the notes rushed up at me. Campbell’s smooth voice took up the first verse. Then, it was a frenzy as I blew through the intricate melody I’d come up with. It was a sweeping song, and while maybe not my favorite on the new album, it was the best keys track.

  We spent the next couple hours working on everyone else’s pieces. It was grueling work but also my favorite part of the process. It was when the song went from an idea to reality.

  We stumbled out of the studio late and drifted into the nearest nightclub. We’d been regulars here the last six months. I’d been schooled on all the things that I’d taught Nora Abbey about flirting and dating. I had no interest in any of that tonight.

  “Fuck, that was satisfying,” Santi said once we were escorted to a VIP booth.

  “Definitely,” Viv agreed.

  Viv’s girlfriend, Kris, nodded. “I’m glad that I got to hear it. I can’t believe you put it together like that in a few hours.”

  “Oh, it’s still shit,” Campbell said. “We have hours more to hammer it out.”

  Kris huffed. “You could release exactly what you have now, and it’d be a hit.”

  “Yeah, but not up to his high standards, love.” Viv kissed her on the cheek. “We’ve learned to let him be a perfectionist. It is what it is.”

  “But your part is killer,” Santi cheered, slapping me on the chest. “Jealous.”

  I laughed. “Uh, thanks.”

  “Speaking of…who are you taking home tonight?”

  He scanned the bar, but I shook my head.

  “Nah. I’m good. I’m exhausted.”

  Campbell laughed. “From what? A few hours in the studio?”

  “We flew here today,” I said in my defense. When the real reason was that I wasn’t interested in some easy ass. Not when the girl I couldn’t stop thinking about was waiting two rooms over at home.

  “Got a sweetheart back in Lubbock?” Santi teased.

  “And how would I have done that in two weeks?”

  “You move fast, hombre!”

  “The only person he’s seen since he’s been in Lubbock is my little sister,” Campbell said.

  Santi crowed, “Ooh, you into his sister?”

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa. I didn’t say that,” I said quickly.

  “You’re not an idiot,” Viv said.

  Yorke just nodded. “Suicidal.”

  “That’s fucking right,” Campbell said with a sharp grin. “Nora has been through enough.”

  “Nora’s hot though,” Santi said.

  Campbell glared at him. “Take her name out of your mouth.”

  “Can’t protect her forever,” Viv said just to needle him.

  “Look, her boyfriend cheated on her with her best friend, and she found them,” Campbell said. “She was totally fucked up about it. She needs more time to get over it. Not any one of you shitheads interfering.”

  Santi held his hands up. “I’m just fucking with you, bro.”

  I said nothing. I wished that I could sink into the seat and disappear entirely.

  “How’s she doing anyway?” Campbell said. “She seemed fine at my birthday, but she hides it well.”

  I cleared my throat. “Uh, better. We’ve been going out to the bars sometimes to blow off steam.”

  Campbell narrowed his eyes. “Just you two?”

  “Yeah, as friends,” I said hastily. “I’m her roommate. So, it’s easier. We just drive together.”

  “Wait, wait, wait,” Santi said, leaning forward. “You live with his baby sister?”

  “Yeah,” I said softly.

  Santi turned to Campbell. “And you allow this fucker to live with her?”

  “You’re talking about her like she’s an object,” Viv snarled. “She’s a woman. She can do what or who she pleases. Fuck all of you misogynistic men!”

  “She’s right, Campbell,” Santi said, preening. “Let her fuck whoever she wants.”

  “That’s my little sister, you asshole.”

  “You’re so controlling,” Viv teased, poking his shirt.

  “I’m not controlling. I don’t want her to get hurt.” He considered it for a second, and then his gaze shifted to me. “And I’d kill anyone who touched her.”

  “Not controlling,” Viv said with a snort. “Yeah, right.”

  I met Campbell’s gaze levelly, trying not to let him know I was sweating through my shirt. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

  When he said touch her…did he mean the inside or outside of her?

  He was going to kill me.

  Literally kill me.

  I’d already broken bro code. And there was no going back from what I’d done. But I could keep it together. I could make sure it never happened again.

  15

  Nora

  Annie paced back and forth across the bridal suite.

  “Would you sit your ass down?” Sutton said with an eye roll. “I’ve gotten married this twice, and I was never this nervous.”

  “I’m not nervous,” Annie said. “I passed my boards. That made me nervous.”

  Jennifer arched an eyebrow. “Then explain the pacing.”

  “It’s taking too long,” she said.

  “You chose a five o’clock wedding,” Sutton reminded her.

  “I know. I know. Why didn’t we get married at one? Better yet, why didn’t we elope?”

  “Because you’d have regretted it,” I told her. “You know you want that big Wright wedding.”

  Annie smiled softly. She was a vision in a cream lace gown with an impressive V down the front, which tapered down to hug her hips appreciatively. Her red hair had been designed into an elaborate updo with loose tendrils falling purposely. “I do want that. I should have done a first look.”

  “David and I did. Took so much of the edge off.” Sutton’s smile dipped softly as she said, “But it was my second wedding.”

  “I think I’d want one,” Jennifer said. “Less time to stress, and we all know that I have too much anxiety. I’d be a bigger mess than you.”

  Annie huffed. “I’m not a mess.”

  I laughed softly. She was a bit of a mess, but it was okay. I’d seen brides be way less sure than her about what they were about to walk into. Annie and Jordan had been made for each other. I was glad to be a part of their big day.

  “Nora,” my assistant, Tessi, called from the door.

  “Have a drink,” I told Annie. “It’ll help. I’ll be back when it’s time.”

  Annie smiled brilliantly at me. “Thanks, Nora. You’re the best!”

  I waved her off and then headed out of the bridal suite.

  “What’s up?” I asked Tessi.

  “You sure you don’t want to be a guest at this wedding? I can handle it.”

  “I know you can. But this is my favorite part.”

  I’d brought Tessi on for the event to run the reception since I wanted to attend my friend’s wedding. Jennifer had done much the same. She was the official Wright Vineyard photographer, and she’d brought her camera because she loved it, but since she was a bridesmaid, she’d gotten Annie to hire her friend for the wedding instead.

  And I probably should have handed the whole thing off to Tessi, but I loved helping brides walk down the aisle. There was something so special about it.

  “All right. No problem. Looks like almost everyone is here. I got the guys into place. Want to check it all over?”

  I nodded and followed her to the barn door. The ceremony would be starting any minute. People were already flooding into seats on the Wright Vineyard lawn. We were lucky that the weather was picture-perfect. The first touch of spring with a clear blue sky and an abundance of sunshine.

  My gaze skated across the crowd. It was the second-biggest event we’d had here. Only rivaled by Morgan Wright’s wedding. As she was the CEO of Wright Construction, the family company, it had been unsurprising. But Jordan and Annie had nearly as big of a crowd.

  But I was looking for one person in particular. And when my eyes found Weston Wright talking to his brother, it was like a pulse thrummed between us. He found my gaze and smiled.

  “He’s cute,” Tessi said.

  “He is.”

  “Yours?”

  I bit my lip. “My roommate.”

  Tessi winked at me. “You have time. Go talk to him.”

  She pushed me out of the barn, and I nearly tripped forward on my high heels.

  I laughed and shot Tessi a look. She just shrugged and gave me a thumbs-up.

  “Hey,” I said with a smile as I approached West and Whitt.

  West had only gotten back last night. He’d waved at me when he got in and promptly passed out. I’d been too busy with wedding stuff all morning that I hadn’t seen or talked to him. Which meant I hadn’t been able to implement any of my new flirting techniques on him. I’d been pumped about it when Eve and I came up with the idea, but now, I was worried it was stupid.

  But that smile on his face as I walked up to him sure helped matters.

  “Hey, what a wedding,” West said.

  Whitton nodded. “You’ve done an incredible job here.”

  “Thank you.”

  Whitt gestured away. “I’m going to grab Harley and sit down. We’ll save you a seat.”

  West waved him off. “Is Annie ready for this?”

  “She’s a little nervous, but yeah, I think she’s more than ready.”

  “Good.”

  I reached up and took his tie in my hands. “Your tie is crooked.”

  West glanced down at himself. “I don’t wear them often.”

  “I remember,” I told him, looking up at him under my thick lashes.

  The memory of him forgoing a tie in a button-up when we’d gone out came with the added reminder of his finger strumming my clit. The way he’d gotten me off that night. My cheeks flushed slightly as that hit me all at once.

  Then, I pushed down the embarrassment and went back to fixing his tie. “There. That’s better.”

  “Thanks,” he said, clearing his throat.

  “Of course.” I forced myself to smile and get the words out. “I missed you.”

  “Yeah?” he asked softly.

  “I know your life is crazy right now, but it’s good to have you back in Lubbock. I’m sure you’re going to be gone again soon.”

  He shrugged. “Maybe.”

  I’d always known West was going back to LA. It was something I’d purposely not thought of.

  “Maybe?”

  “I mean, I don’t know. LA was different this time. But yeah, it’s part of the job.”

  “What happened that has you so uncertain?”

  “Just a feeling I got. Let’s talk about it later.”

  “Okay. Well, I’m glad you’re home. The house is empty without you.”

  Which was true, but oh the implications.

  His eyes widened slightly, and then he looked away. Off toward where Campbell and Hollin were seated with Blaire and Piper. Then back to me. He looked conflicted. “Well, at least someone missed me here.”

  The music changed to announce the start of the wedding.

  “I’m going to take a seat. I’ll see you later, Snickers.”

  My pulse quickened. Fuck, I wanted him. I wanted this.

  “Nora,” Tessi said.

  It was time.

  Weston Wright would have to wait until after.

  I hurried back to Tessi and into the bridal suite. “Showtime.”

  Annie grinned from ear to ear. “Let’s do this.”

  I arranged everyone into position. Both girls were in matching navy-blue dresses with bouquets of white roses, festooned with eucalyptus leaves. Annie’s father waited for her at his designated spot.

  Tears came to his eyes when he saw his baby girl, and he pressed a kiss to her cheek. “You look beautiful, darling.”

  “Thanks, Dad,” she said, fighting back tears.

  Then, Peyton appeared, holding Aly’s hand. “Your flower girl is here.”

  Annie’s seven-year-old niece, Aly, twirled in her white dress with a navy-blue sash around her waist and a basket of rose petals in her hand. “I’m here, Aunt Annie.”

  “Oh, you look gorgeous, Aly.”

  Aly did another perfectly executed twirl, like the little ballerina she was. “Thank you. Miss Peyton helped do my hair.”

  “I love it,” Annie said, admiring the twin braids that snaked into a crown atop her head.

  Peyton squeezed Annie tight. “I love you. So glad to be your sister on this day.”

  “My sister always,” Annie said.

  Once Peyton got into her seat at the front, I took Aly’s hand and gestured for her to do her thing. To her credit, she was spectacular. A performer through and through. She didn’t just toss her petals. She skipped and twirled and did little leaps, raining petals all over the aisle. Everyone appropriately oohed and aahed over her before she dropped into the seat next to Peyton and waved at her daddy. Isaac waved back from his spot as a groomsman, next to Julian.

  I sent the bridesmaids down the aisle, and then it was Annie’s turn. “Whenever you’re ready.”

  The audience rose as Canon in D came on. Annie looked to her dad and nodded. She straightened her spine and then walked down the rose-strewn aisle. I stood with Tessi at the back in awe. We gripped each other’s hand and sighed over the beauty of it all. My favorite part. The very best part.

  Jordan got the first look of his bride. His jaw fell open at the sight of Annie walking down the aisle toward him. It was a one-of-a-kind look. A perfect, heart-wrenching moment that would be encapsulated in pictures and videos for all time. But right now, that look was just for her.

  The rest of the wedding was as stunning as I’d thought it’d be. They had written their own vows, and most of the party was sniffling into tissues by the end of it, Tessi and me included.

  But it was the first look by the groom that always did me in. The moment that I knew true love existed and no one could take it away. It was the moment I’d wanted for myself all those years. The one I’d fought for with August for nothing.

  True love couldn’t be destroyed.

  It couldn’t be buried.

  It was effervescent and irrevocable and forever.

  Maybe it made me a sap to believe in something that I’d seen fall apart firsthand with my parents. But pain didn’t make love any less beautiful; it made it essential. And no one could ever convince me otherwise.

  16

  Weston

  Here I was, determined to stay away from Nora, and she had come over to tell me she…missed me. All I could think the whole time Annie and Jordan said their I dos was that Nora had missed me. That the house had been empty without me.

  I’d barely been able to pull myself away. I wanted to dig into that comment. Was she saying what I thought she was saying? Because despite how I’d told myself I’d stay far away, I kept thinking about her, too.

  Whitt stood at my side in the reception as we waited for the bride and groom to show up. Harley was on her phone, ignoring us both.

  “Hey, did you miss Dad’s call?” Whitt asked.

  I shot him a look. “I saw that he called.”

  “He keeps asking about you.”

  “And why are you even answering his calls?”

  Whitt shrugged. “Because he’s still our dad.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “Debatable.”

  “His semen created half our DNA,” Harley interjected. “But yeah, fuck him.”

  This was one of the few things that Harley and I agreed on. Whitt still talked to Dad. As if there were some reason to still talk to the man who had hidden us as a secret family while he was married to someone else. He was the one who had fucked up. I didn’t owe him a damn thing.

  Whitt sighed, as if he knew that he’d lost this battle again. “Fine. He just wants to congratulate you.”

 

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