Then she shakes her head. “Gosh, I don’t mean to make you talk about work.”
“Nah, it’s all right.” He raises a palm to dismiss it. Then he glances at me before looking back to her. “I know what it’s like to be where you are right now. So if you ever want to talk… If you need any advice”—he tips his head toward me to indicate I’ve got his number—“you know how to reach me.”
“Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.”
I pour her a fresh cup of tea, and we chat a while longer until she says she’s ready for bed. Then I grab a couple more beers, and Garrett and I move out onto the porch to give her some privacy.
“Thanks again for coming out here, man.” I lean against the wall, holding out my bottle for him to clink.
“Anytime. Whatever you need, you know you can always count on me.”
“Likewise.” I take a swig, then scan the woods. “You’re sure no one followed you here?”
“Like I said, all clear. No tail.”
“Good.”
It’s quiet tonight. We’re way outside of town, and security is tight here, with cameras and an alarm system. We should be good for the night. Thank God, because my head is all over the map.
I can’t stop thinking about Harper on that dance floor tonight. How good she felt in my arms when we were moving together.
When I almost kissed her.
“What’s on your mind?” Garrett’s deep voice cuts through my thoughts.
“Ah, I don’t know.” I take another pull from my bottle. “Lots of things, I guess.”
He tips his head back toward the house. “Like the one in there?”
I chuckle. “Is it that obvious?”
He grins. “It’s all over your fucking face, man. I can tell you’re sweet on her.”
“Yeah, I don’t know.” I shake my head, staring out into the darkness. “Maybe I am.”
“Maybe.” He chuckles.
“Fine. Yeah, I like her.” I grin. “She’s a little wild. She’s honest, and she has a good heart. I feel good when I’m with her. But she’s a fucking pop star, man.” I shake my head. “I split from that world a long time ago.”
Garrett knows what I went through. He was right there with me onstage.
“So what?”
“Sowhat?” I snort. “So it doesn’t work. I’ll never go back to that world, and she sure as shit doesn’t need to be kicking around here for the rest of her life.”
He nods slowly. “Don’t you ever miss it though? The music? The excitement?”
“Nope,” I lie.
“Come on. I remember those days too. Being out on that stage, making all the ladies cry.”
I drop my face into my hand, laughing. “I wish I could forget.”
“Nah, we were good, and you know it.”
I chuckle. “I don’t know, man.”
But he’s right. There were good times. Hanging out with the guys. Feeding off that energy. Feeling the music together with allof those people. Being a part of something bigger than myself. I don’t have that kind of excitement in my life anymore.
