Wright with Benefits

Piper was easily the most competitive person I’d ever met. Sinclair Cellars was her baby. I could understand why she might be worried about a Wright opening a winery in this town. Their name was gold, and she didn’t want to lose business, even as an established brand.

“So, what are they going to do?” Blaire asked. She had her arms crossed and was avoiding looking at the stage. “Are too many people here? Are they going to have to cancel the show?”

“No, the guys went to handle it, and Campbell is going to go on right away to avoid riots.”

Blaire sighed heavily. “Great.”

Man, I wanted to ask. I really wanted to ask. But I had my own problems. Might as well leave Blaire to her own since she clearly didn’t want to talk about it.

Just then, Campbell stepped out onto the stage with an acoustic guitar strung around his neck. The crowd went wild. He shot them that same panty-melting smile and held his hand up as he approached the microphone.

“Hello, Lubbock!” he cried.

Everyone screamed and cheered and stomped their feet. The noise in this barn was louder than I’d ever heard it…even when it was a nightclub.

“Man, it’s good to be home. I’ve missed you.” Campbell tuned his guitar by hand while he said it, not quite looking out at the audience. When he was satisfied, he played up to the crowd again. “I wasn’t expecting this big of a turnout, but it’s Lubbock! We know how to turn out for our own, am I right?”

Another round of screams.

“Well, why don’t I kick us off then?” His fingers moved across the guitar as if he were caressing a woman’s body, and the opening chords to their breakout hit filtered in through the speakers.

The crowd erupted over just those chords.

“This one goes out to every girl who’s ever felt different,” he said seductively, leaning into the microphone. “This is…‘I See the Real You.’ ”

Blaire made a gagging sound. “I think I’m going to be sick,” she said, ripping out of our group. “I’m going to just…go home.”

“Blaire,” I said with concern in my voice.

She shook her head. Her hand went to her stomach. “Seriously, I must have…eaten something that didn’t agree with me.”

Why did I doubt that?

“Okay. Be safe.”

“I will,” she said and then all but ran out of the room.

“She’s been acting like this all day,” Piper said with worry in her voice as she watched her best friend. “Actually, I’m going to go check on her. I’ll be back.”

Then Piper disappeared, too. Sutton and I exchanged a glance. We’d been friends long enough to be able to read each other’s thoughts. Something had happened with Blaire and Campbell. I just didn’t know what.

Campbell finished off the next song and went into his latest hit. I tried to let the stress of the evening go. I couldn’t do anything about Jordan until he was ready. Even if it made me more anxious than I’d been in a while. I just wanted enjoy the music. I really did love Cosmere. But as Campbell moved into the next song, I felt a tap on my shoulder.

I turned around to find Chase Sinclair standing there with his hands stuffed into his pockets. “Hey, Annie.”

God, I didn’t have time for this. I didn’t care that he looked…rough. Like he hadn’t been sleeping well or eating. That wasn’t my problem.

“I have nothing to say to you,” I said, turning back around.

Sutton bit her lip as she glanced between us.

“Can I just apologize?” he asked.

“No, you cannot. You can go away.”

“Annie,” he breathed, moving between me and Sutton. “Come on. We’ve known each other our entire lives. You’re my best friend. I can’t lose you. Please just hear me out.”

Sutton frowned. “Chase, maybe now isn’t the time.”

“I’ve been messaging and calling all week,” he continued, ignoring her.

“Yeah, and you’d think that you’d get the hint that I wasn’t responding.”

Chase reached forward and turned me to face him. I broke out of his grip and tried to avoid the earnest gaze he was shooting my way, the one completely full of regret. He was hurting, and I hated when he was hurting. But he’d done this to himself.

“Annie, please…”

“I really…” I began, but then suddenly, Jordan appeared out of nowhere.

He pushed between us, shoving Chase backward.

“Jordan,” I cried.

They were practically nose to nose as they stared each other down.

32

Jordan

“Time for you to leave, Sinclair,” I spat.

Chase’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t think it is.”

“Considering I own the place, I have every right to kick you out.”

He glared at me. “This is unbelievable.”

“Just stop it. Both of you,” Annie said. Her hand wrapped around my bicep and pulled me back. “Chase, you should just go.”

“Annie, come on!”

“No. You said what you came to say.”

“So, what we have means nothing to you?”