Wright that Got Away (Wright)

I tucked my phone away and sat down across from Campbell. He popped open the champagne, pouring each of us a glass like a pro. I sometimes forgot that he’d bartended before he got his big break with Cosmere.

A waiter appeared a moment later with menus, and after we ordered our food, he left us all alone again. I sipped from my champagne and looked out across the city of Lubbock beyond.

“I can’t believe you did all of this.”

He grinned. “I’m glad you like it.”

“Is it like this in LA?”

“Like…what?” he asked cautiously.

“Always fabulous and fancy.”

“Oh,” he said, looking off in the distance. “No, it’s not. It shines kind of like gold-plated jewelry. It’s beautiful on the outside, but once worn, it flakes off to reveal the dull interior.”

“That sounds sad.”

He took a sip of his drink and set it down. “I don’t mean to make it sound sad. It’s great. Honestly, so many people love it. It’s its own microcosm of society, all in one place. You can’t really understand LA without having b lived it. Is it weird to love and despise something at the same time?”

I shrugged. “I feel the same way about Lubbock. It’s too small for my tastes, but it’s home, and all my friends are here. I love being here, and I hate being here at the same time. I think we all feel that way about places.”

“True. I’m always defending Lubbock to other people.”

“I get that. Lubbock is kind of like what I assume a sibling is like,” I said with a shrug. “You can make fun of them, but when someone else does, then you get pissed.”

Campbell burst out laughing. “Wow. Yeah, that’s exactly what Lubbock is like. I have never thought of it that way, and now, I will never think of it any other way.”

“Glad I could help. But really, I think we’re never perfectly happy where we are. The grass is always greener.”

“True. Plus, LA gave me my break. It gave me everything I could ask of it. But sometimes, it feels like it’s eating me.”

“So, don’t live there.”

He shot me a look. “You make it sound so easy. Everything is in LA.” He frowned. “Well, not everything.”

My cheeks burned at that. I was not in LA. I was right here in front of him.

The food came a few moments later to keep me from feeling any more embarrassed. I picked at my butterfish as he dug into his still-bloody steak.

“Tell me about your work. Not the social stuff, but what you’re doing with Blaire Blush. I read some of your articles.”

“You did?” I asked with wide eyes.

It was his turn to blush a little. “A lot of them actually. I’ve been following you for a while.”

“I didn’t realize that.” I cleared my throat. “Then, you already probably know.”

“I like to hear you talk about it. When work comes up, your eyes light up.”

God, how could he see that so easily when everyone else thought my work was just a big joke? Like I’d stumbled into some influencer position that wasn’t really earned. Like it was just something to pass the time until I got a real job.

“Well, Blaire Blush started out as kind of an advice column. People, mostly young girls, would send in letters, and I’d answer them, using my psychology degree and the wellness certificates that I’d earned along the way, to help them. Sort of like unlicensed therapy. Usually, I’d direct them to therapy.”

“You certainly got enough of that growing up that it must have come natural.”

I nodded. “Well, my mom was not on board. She wanted me to stop doing it. She said I had no qualifications to help these people. They needed to see a professional. Then, I think she got jealous that my following bloomed practically overnight. It seemed I could help with everyone else’s problems but my own.”

He frowned at that. We both knew exactly what I was talking about. I could tell a million girls to get over their ex, and yet here I was, sitting with mine. Unable to let go or move on entirely from the man who had broken me.

“I still maintain the blog and do weekly advice columns. I hold Blaire Blush virtual workshops, where we go through my process to a better well-being. I also work with a few sustainable designers. A lot want to work with me and send me free samples and such, but I’m pretty picky about who I want to work with. I want the environmental impact to matter.”

“So, you’re basically a badass,” Campbell concluded.

I chuckled and shrugged. “Sure. But I’m not an international superstar.”

“Hey, don’t do that. We don’t have to judge our success on the same line. What Cosmere has doesn’t diminish what you have with Blaire Blush.”

“Look at me, not even taking my own advice,” I said with a laugh. “You’re right. We’ve both done exceptionally well. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished. And even though I suppose I didn’t want ‘I See the Real You’ to be your breakout, I’m glad all your dreams came true.”