“I know I’m not perfect, but thank you for being a friend. And for keeping me around,” Lizzy said.

Bristol wondered if she would even reach out to Lizzy in the next month. Everybody from the tour was playing catch-up with life except Bristol. She was hiding from it. Her mother and brother had come over one night for dinner earlier in the week, but that was it. Bristol worked out, spent a huge amount of time in her studio, and binge-watched shows that people had recommended over all social media platforms.

Her mother wasn’t giving up on her and Annie. She pressed Bristol about the two of them every time they got together. Bristol said it was just a one-time thing and for her to let it go. Tonight was different. For the first time ever, she gave Bristol love advice.

“Maybe Annie’s okay with your choices and your lifestyle.”

“How could she be, Mom? She’s destined for stardom. People love her onstage. If she wants the success I have, she has to go in a completely different direction than I’m headed. Watching somebody I care for experience even a little of what I did would be too brutal for me. I would speak my mind, and we would end up fighting and resenting one another. I want to be a part of Annie’s life. In a good capacity. If that means we’ll only be friends, that will have to be enough.”

“Even if that means giving up somebody you’ve come to love?”

Bristol turned quickly away from her mother to hide the tears that sprang to her eyes. She let them fall when she felt her mother pull her back into a hug.

“She’s the real deal, honey. I can tell. She’s not using you at all. I think if you opened yourself up, you would find that she picked you, not your success. I saw the way she looked at you. You can’t fake that.”

Bristol turned to face her mother. “It’s too late, Mom. She signed with Top Shelf.”

“How do you know? Did they make an announcement?”

“No, but one of their assistants told one of Lizzy’s assistants that she was there earlier in the week.”

Vanessa scoffed. “That doesn’t mean she signed.”

“Well, she’s not here, is she?”

“Well, you’re not in Denver now, are you?”

Bristol sat at the kitchen table. “No, I’m not.”

Vanessa set down her mug of coffee and sat across from Bristol. “Love is the best reward, baby. Nothing else matters.” She grabbed Bristol’s hands and squeezed them. “I can’t promise that it won’t hurt or tear you apart inside, but it will also make you feel amazing things and lift you up so high. You deserve true love. Hopefully it’s with Annie, but if it’s not, just be open to the idea.”