“Holy shit!”Frankie pulls me into an awkward side-hug.“Bro, I will do anything you want if you stay.”
I let out a sigh.I could never refuse my friend.Especially since he has always had my back and tolerates my flaws without judgement.
“Okay, let me know what you need.”
“Yes!”Frankie hugs me again, then hugs Carlos, and anyone else he can get his arms around.
Carlos turns his gaze towards me.He is a local, raised in this town, just like many others.He is well aware of Bayleigh’s history.“That was an incredible song,” he says, breaking the silence.“You’re a good man for helping him.”
I give him a small smile.“Thank you.”
As Carlos leaves, I can’t help but ponder: if I truly am a good man, why did Bayleigh choose to leave me behind?
CHAPTERFIVE
Bayleigh
“I need coffee,”I grizzle as I zombie-walk out of the bedroom the following morning.
In a matter of seconds, Kelly is by my side with a cup of black coffee in her hand.I take a sip, but the bitter taste makes me grimace.“There has to be better coffee in this town,” I say as I pass the cup back to Kelly and turn to look out the window.The streets are bustling below, filled with people going about their day.
“Did you sleep well?”Kelly asks, standing beside me.
“Not really,” I admit.In truth, thoughts of Chase kept me tossing and turning all night.
“It’s only a few days, and it’ll be over before you know it.”My assistant is ever the optimist.“Once you’re ready, we’ll go out for breakfast and be seen around town, looking at the shops.”
“That shouldn’t take very long.”I run my gaze up the street.Although there are new shops and businesses, Sweetgum Valley is still a small town—not exactly a shopping mecca.I doubt they even have a mall.When Target opened, it was a big deal to the townsfolk.“Alright, but first, coffee.”
Kelly helps me dress into light blue jeans and a chic boho shirt.I am well known for my boho/country/chic look and my signature cowgirl boots.I have built my image on being a stylish country music star who loves tassels and scarves.The style has always suited my blonde curls, which I usually wear down.
With my makeup in place and a tan purse slung across my body, I follow Kelly out of the suite.
“This is Max.”She gestures to the large, bald man, dressed all in black, standing in front of the door.“He’s your new bodyguard.”
“Hey, how you doing?”I smile at him and walk toward the lift, Kelly and Max close behind me.
As a celebrity, privacy is often hard to come by.However, after years of living in the public eye, I have grown accustomed to the constant presence of security.There are always fans who push boundaries and disregard personal space.I’ve had my share of creepy stalkers.
When we walk out of the lift into the lobby, a man in a grey suit approaches us with a friendly wave.“Ms.Gilmore!”
I recognize him as the hotel manager who greeted us upon arrival, so I pause and let him catch up to us.
“Ms.Gilmore, I want to ensure that your accommodations are satisfactory.Is there anything I can do to assist you?”Mr.Dobson asks politely.
I turn to Kelly with a questioning look.“I believe everything is fine.Don’t you agree?”
Kelly nods in agreement.“Thank you, Mr.Dobson.Your hotel is lovely.”
“We’re honored to have you as our guest,” he says with a friendly smile and pride in his voice.
“Thank you,” Kelly replies, motioning for us to continue walking.I force a smile as we exit the lobby and step onto the street.A cool breeze tousles my hair and I quickly brush it away from my face.The air smells fresh and clean, a welcome change from the constant scent of gasoline in the city.
With her phone in hand, Kelly leads us down the street to a diner with outdoor seating and umbrellas for shade.“Inside or outside?”she asks me.
“It’s a bit chilly out here.Let’s go inside.”I turn the handle and push open the door, causing the bell above it to jingle.As we step into the cozy bistro, I am surrounded by natural light and shelves filled with lush green plants that add to the warm atmosphere.Most of the tables are occupied by couples and families enjoying their Sunday breakfast together.The tempting scents of freshly brewed coffee and warm biscuits fill the air, making my stomach growl loudly.
Max pulls out a chair for me at a table near the wall, then stands behind me where he can watch.A nervous waitress comes over to take our coffee orders, glancing at me every few seconds.I can feel the stares and whispers from the other patrons around us as they take photos and giggle amongst themselves.
