“Let me put this into perspective. I have a one-bedroom apartment that is six hundred square feet. And I share it with a cat. Over seven thousand is mind-blowing.”

It occurred to Bristol that Annie misunderstood why she had all of this. “I bought this house not because it’s seven thousand square feet or has an amazing workout room or has the best view of the city. I bought this house because it’s safe. I don’t need all of this. I paid a lot of money for my safety and privacy. The house just came with it.”

Annie must have sensed she’d hit a nerve because she reached over and touched Bristol’s hand. “It’s incredible what you’ve done with your life. You deserve all of this, especially the safety and privacy. Please don’t think I’m teasing you because I’m not. Even though we don’t know one another well, I’m proud of you. Is that weird?” Annie crinkled her nose during her confession. It was utterly adorable.

“I felt proud of you, too, when you were onstage. You had some great shows on tour.”

“Thank you. It was the best experience of my life.” Annie hid a small yawn with the back of her hand.

“Listen. Why don’t I give you some clothes to sleep in and set you up in one of the guest wings? We can have a nice day after we’ve both slept.”

“That sounds good. Thank you for getting me away from the party. Watching the sunrise with you in your home was the perfect way to end my tour.”

Bristol pulled Annie into a hug but stepped away when it was apparent they either needed to kiss or separate. “Get some sleep.”

“Thank you, Bristol. For everything. I mean that,” Annie said.

“Thank you, too. I’ll see you later.” Bristol went to the master suite, stripped off her party clothes, and showered before crawling into bed. She felt comfort in knowing Annie was close. It was exciting, too, but gave Bristol a sense of peace she hadn’t had in a very long time.

Chapter Twenty-five