“Good luck. Too many people are going to be around,” Bristol said. She was ending their tour with the proverbial bang with three other well-known artists. When news had spread that the final concert was star-studded, secondhand-ticket-outlet prices skyrocketed. General admission seats were selling for at least five hundred dollars. VIP were going for at least two thousand. The concert started at five and ended at midnight. Logistics were going to be a bitch, and Lizzy was beyond stressed working with the arena on the details.

“Are you really just going to run away from all this? Can you do it?”

Bristol shrugged. “Ask me in six months.”

“Will do. Now, go relax. I’ll get you for Annie’s set, if you still want to do it.”

Bristol frowned. “Of course I do.”

“Then I’ll get you in an hour.”

When Lizzy closed the door, Bristol flopped onto the couch. She was tired—physically, mentally, and emotionally. She plugged her ears and covered up with a blanket that Lizzy delivered from the bus. Trying to tune out the background noises was easy. Ignoring her loud thoughts proved to be more difficult and shaved valuable time off her nap.

* * *

Annie was smiling when Bristol showed up onstage next to her at the end of her set, but her eyes were guarded. Maybe she thought Bristol was mad at her for going on the tour or coming back late from it. She sang Annie’s song and, in a move that surprised them both, kissed her cheek before she skipped offstage.

“What was that all about?” Lizzy asked while half jogging just to keep up with Bristol’s pace.

“Just keeping the peace.” She was greeted by a flurry of activity as her stylists buzzed around her to get her wardrobe ready. Phoebe patted the chair to get started on her hair. Bristol was getting tired of coming up with new looks. It was easy to let her hair down and wear something sexy and black, but the wholesome look during the first half was wearing thin. She wasn’t feeling it today and agreed on a pair of ankle jeans, a cute white sleeveless shirt with a Peter Pan collar, and designer sneakers made just for her. She needed solid but fashionable shoes for the dance routine.

“Fast Cars just got off. You’re up in fifteen,” Lizzy said.

The buzz around her became feverish even though she was ready. She closed her eyes right before more hairspray was spritzed on her updo.

“Ready?”