“No,” he said at once. “Absolutely fucking not. I want to do this.”
“Great. Then, you’re hired.” I nodded at him. “Let’s take a break.”
“Sure.” Weston looked dazed for a few moments and started typing on his phone. Probably telling other people what had just landed in his lap.
I should call Santi or Viv to make sure this was all right with them. Santi would bullshit his way through it, but Viv would tell it to me straight. Instead, I pulled up another number.
Blaire had texted me her number after I gave her mine. I wanted to call her and see where her head was, but even though we currently had a video that was going viral, I couldn’t seem to push myself to hear her voice over the phone. How did a phone call feel too intimate? How?
So, I shot her a text.
Saw you posted the video. My phone has been ringing off the hook. My manager is sending the rest of the band to Lubbock to figure out the album now. So, I guess I have you to thank for that.
What? He’s sending the whole band because of one video?
Probably just an excuse. I’d guess he already wanted to, and this gave him the leverage to make it happen.
Is this a good thing? It sounds like a good thing.
Yeah. I’ll get more done with the five of us than just me.
I’m glad.
I wasn’t expecting the video to do this.
I’ve had videos get a few million views. But we’re at fifteen already, and it just released a few hours ago.
I had in fact expected it to do this. I thought it would reach way more than fifteen million views by the end of the day. The rest of this happening was what had surprised me.
Are you…cool with it?
I guess. I can’t take it back now.
No, we couldn’t. It was out there for all the world to see and judge. And somehow, all I could think was how I would get to see her again.
What are you doing this weekend?
For a very long time, nothing happened. The three dots that said she was typing kept appearing and then disappearing. As if she couldn’t quite decide if I was going to ask her out or not.
It’s Fourth of July weekend. I’m going to the festival and then fireworks. Do you want to come with all of us? Hollin will be there with Piper.
Right. The Fourth. I’d forgotten about that. Normally, holidays weren’t a fun thing for musicians. We were always booked for those dates. Unlike normal people who got to experience them, we got to entertain. Since Cosmere had just gotten off a huge tour, we’d refused any Fourth of July events. Though Bobby had been pissed. I was kind of glad now.
It didn’t mean that I could go gallivanting around a summer festival though. Not without security.
I don’t think it’s safe for me.
Oh. I didn’t think about that. If you change your mind, I bet we can get you to the fireworks incognito. I’m sure someone has a Hawaiian shirt and cargo shorts for you.
I laughed at the thought. Yeah, no one would expect me to be in that kind of getup. And she must have known it would make me laugh and shudder, all at the same time. The other thing was…she was giving me another way in. She was even offering it. It still wasn’t safe for me to go, but maybe she’d say yes if I asked her out this time. Or at least, not an immediate no.
Though I didn’t know what was happening with her and Nate. What could I lose from asking?
Have to pass. But have fun.
Is Nate going to be with you?
There was another long pause. She hadn’t mentioned him when we were alone at her place. She still posted videos of them together, and they commented on all of each other’s stuff. But she had been perfectly quiet about him.
No. He’s in Midland.
Another long pause.
And we decided to stop seeing each other.
My head spun at that news. Well, thank fuck. That certainly made what came next a lot easier.
I see. Well, I’m going to watch the fireworks from the top of my hotel. You can join me if you want.
That’s a good view.
But I think I’ll watch from the park.
I hadn’t expected her to say yes. But we were talking, and that was a start. She was right about one thing: she was either invisible or everything to me. And she wasn’t invisible to me any longer.
12
Blaire
The girls giggled behind me as we walked around the Fourth of July festival in Mackenzie Park. Fireworks would be set up down the hill in an hour or two. Already, cars were filling the parking lots to get prime locations. But the festival was still full of college students who were unlucky enough to be taking summer classes, teens holding hands and sneaking kisses, and families full of toddling children, happy to eat cotton candy and ride precarious carnival rides. A band blared music from the stage, and booths were set up with food and crafts and a market to sell wares. It was a delightful summer evening despite the heat. But at least Lubbock was part desert, so the nights were windy and cooled down to almost a reasonable temperature.