Bristol turned so she could look at Annie. “I’ll get you another pair.” She leaned up and placed a hard, fast kiss on Annie’s lips. “You’re right. The sooner we greet her, the sooner she’ll leave.” She stood and reached for Annie. “Let’s find you something to wear for the next fifteen minutes.”

Annie smiled at Bristol’s enthusiasm. Tomorrow would be a different story, but they had at least twelve hours ahead to remind them that it was okay to take chances and the future was never set in stone.

Chapter Twenty-six

Bristol walked into the kitchen as her mother was placing a note on the table next to the box of Primo’s.

“Sweetheart, I’m so sorry I interrupted you. I hadn’t heard from you since last night, and I was worried.”

Bristol couldn’t do anything about the heat on her cheeks. She smiled softly. “Sorry about that. I was avoiding Lizzy, and my phone is somewhere around here.” Bristol pretended to look around the room, even though she knew it was on the couch. Anything to avoid this conversation with her mom.

“Oh, hello, Annie. It’s so nice to see you. How was the afterparty?”

Annie slid into the room wearing a fresh pair of shorts and the same hoodie from earlier. “Hi, Vanessa. It’s good to see you.” Bristol’s mouth dropped open when Annie hugged her mom. “I wasn’t there long. But it was okay. Not really my scene.”

“Bristol’s always saying she hates everything that doesn’t involve playing her music in front of people.”

“I one hundred percent agree. I’ve only had a taste of it, and while it’s kind of cool that people want to know you, I get why Bristol wishes there was an off button after performances.”

Bristol rolled her eyes. “I’m right here, and I can hear everything.”

“It was a great concert, baby.” Vanessa looked at Annie. “By both of you. All of you. The final song was amazing.”

“I’m glad Willow gave me a heads-up about the fireworks, or else I would’ve hit the floor, thinking they were gunshots.”

“That’s so sad,” Vanessa said.

“I’m from Colorado. Everyone has guns,” she said.

Bristol looked at her. “And here I was thinking of visiting Vail because you thought it might be a safe place. Never mind now.”

When Annie moved closer and brushed her lips across Bristol’s mouth, Bristol turned beet red. She had never introduced somebody she was seeing to her mother. Annie acted as though it was normal, and so Bristol rolled with it, too.

“Does that mean you won’t come and see me?” Annie asked.

“I don’t know. I’m pretty sure all the places you suggested I check out now that I’m done touring are in Colorado,” Bristol said.