Bristol usually kept calm. She understood this close to the end was hard because people were at each other’s throats. The world was small when they toured, and private spaces even smaller. And Annie had it wrong. “I need every single person to get the fuck off the bus right now except for Annie.” Her voice boomed in the bus.

Lizzy’s assistants scrambled over one another to get out. They’d never seen this side of Bristol before because she hid it, but not anymore. Lizzy’s lips disappeared into a straight line before she stood and slowly made her way to the door.

When she turned, Bristol held up her hand. “No.” Lizzy shrugged and left. Once the door was latched shut, Bristol blew out a deep breath and turned to Annie. “Please sit down.”

“I don’t want to.” Annie stood with her hands on her hips, still radiating anger.

“Didn’t you just give a massive speech about people being adults around here? I understand why you’re mad at Lizzy, but why me? What did I do?” Bristol hated that her voice got loud, so she stopped. “Well, I’m going to sit, and I’d like to talk to you about several things. Then maybe you’ll understand why Lizzy is the way she is and why I’m the way I am.” She sat at the end of the booth and waited for Annie’s next move.

“What did I do wrong? How did we go from being fun and flirty to you completely ignoring me? I know you have trust issues, and I completely understand why, but I’m pretty fucking vulnerable here, too. You’re Bristol Baines. Me trying to convince you that I’m in it for you and not because you can advance my career is fucking hard.”

Bristol felt the sting of tears starting to form so she bit her bottom lip and looked away. “You didn’t do anything wrong. Lizzy told me to hold off on talking to you until after the tour ended. I should have ignored her. I’ve spent the last two days missing you.”

Annie’s shoulders sagged as she let go of some of the anger between them. “Why did you listen to her?”

“Because she’s right about one thing. You’re one more connection to Top Shelf. The truth is that I want out.” Bristol made a slow, swooping motion with both hands. “All of this. It’s killing me. I have no life. Ever since I was sixteen, I couldn’t go anywhere without people mobbing me. I’ve even had people tear at my clothes.” Annie’s eyes softened at her confession. Bristol smiled sadly. “And you want all of this. We’re on two totally different paths, and as much as I wanted to make love to you that night in my suite before bonehead Lizzy showed up, it would have only made matters worse.”