Bristol rushed to her dressing room. Lizzy was going to be pissed. They needed a solid hour to get her ready, and talking with Annie and Charley had shaved a precious ten minutes off the time.

“Your fans are going to be upset if you’re late,” Lizzy said the second security led her into the room.

“I know, I know. I got carried away,” Bristol said. She sat in the chair and let the team fuss over her. It amazed her how efficiently the crew buzzed around her as though she was the queen bee. Her job was to sit still for the next forty-five minutes and let everyone else take over. “Time?”

“Fast Cars just left the stage. That gives us fifteen minutes,” Lizzy said.

A collective gasp from the worker bees as the buzz around her grew frantic. Somebody tripped over a cord, and there was a moment of pause before the burst of activity ramped up. Bristol could feel the energy stir inside and knew that by the time she took the stage, that energy would explode into something that would carry her through the next two hours. Or maybe it was the excitement of the fun planned after the concert that made Bristol giddy. She loathed VIP treatment anywhere but Vegas. Usually, she was stuck in a booth in a club and couldn’t partake in any of the festivities because too many eyes were on her.

“Are you ready?” Lizzy stood in front of her.

“Do I look ready?” Bristol asked. She held hands with Lizzy as they took several deep breaths together. Nobody bothered them during this unusual routine they had before each show. They weren’t praying, just clearing their minds and ensuring the nerves had worked their way out of Bristol’s body so she could start each show clean. Most of the worker bees hovered as though afraid leaving would affect their ritual.

“You’re going to slay it tonight,” Lizzy said.

Bristol felt stronger emotionally than she had in a long time. “It’s going to be a good one.”

“Vegas is magical like that,” Lizzy said. She wagged her eyebrows. “Let’s go.”

* * *

The best thing about the concert was seeing Annie and Charley in the front row dancing. The whole crowd was, but Bristol felt a connection with Annie that gave her energy to do better. To perform for her. Her routine had to be altered because the stage was smaller, but that didn’t deter her from giving her fans what they wanted. She sang her sweet music and played guitar, but when the lights flickered and went dark halfway into the set, she slipped offstage.