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“That’s why you wouldn’t come watch the fireworks with us.”
“Yeah. It sounds stupid, but I’m more careful now. I didn’t think it would happen to you.”
“Me either.”
“I’m sorry for putting you through that.”
“I still don’t think it’s your fault. You can’t blame yourself for what your fans do.”
“Can’t I?”
“Okay, you can, but you shouldn’t. I’m not blaming you.”
He shot me a smile that made my knees weak. “Thanks for letting me help at least.”
“I appreciate it.” We’d turned off the highway. “Where are we going anyway?”
His look turned sheepish. “I didn’t want you to miss the fireworks. I was planning to watch them from the rooftop of my building. I thought you could join me.”
“Oh,” I whispered.
“I could take you home though, if you prefer.”
“No,” I said slowly. “No, that would be nice.”
I didn’t know if it was going to be nice or if it was going to be a disaster. But Campbell had come to my rescue. He blamed himself for it. We had history and all our old complications, but I did want to see the fireworks.
Campbell didn’t disagree with me, and then suddenly, we pulled into a parking spot behind the historic Pioneer building in downtown Lubbock. It had been constructed in the early 1900s, originally as Hotel Lubbock. After changing hands over many years, it was now primarily luxury condos in the top eleven floors and home to the fine-dining restaurant West Table as well as its subsidiaries Coffee Shop and Brewery LBK. I’d never been upstairs, but I’d certainly eaten at all the restaurants.
“You’re renting a condo?”
He shook his head. “Nah, there weren’t any available. The third floor is the Pioneer Pocket Hotel. I’m doing extended stay in their Legacy Suite. It’s more condo than hotel, so it fits my needs.”
“Why didn’t you just get a house or something?”
He hopped out of the car and came around to my side. “I didn’t know how long I was staying. Then, I liked having hotel accommodations and coffee only an elevator ride away. I’d been on tour too long to start cooking for myself again.” He glanced at me. “Plus, they offered security if I stayed longer.”
“Ah,” I said, realizing that safety was always at the forefront of his mind. After what I had gone through, I could see why. “Smart.”
“It’s really not always like that,” he told me, sliding a key into the elevator. “Just precautions.”
“I get it now.”
The elevator dinged on the top floor, and then Campbell directed me to a short flight of stairs that led to the roof. It wasn’t anything fancy, mostly industrial, and someone had brought fold-out chairs up here. But we had an uninterrupted view of the skyline.
“It’s beautiful,” I said, leaning against the railing and looking toward the park. “This might be a better view than inside Mackenzie Park.”
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I glanced down to see that Piper was finally returning my call. I held up a finger to Campbell and then answered. “Hey.”
“Are you okay? Honey told me you were mobbed!”
“I’m fine. Campbell came to pick me up.”
“Oh, really?” Piper asked, drawing out the word. “Mira, I have no room to talk—”
“No, you don’t,” I said, interrupting her and glancing over my shoulder. “I was in a panic. No one else was answering.”
“So, you’re staying with him?”
“I’m going to watch the fireworks from the roof of his hotel.”
“And you want to be there?”
“I’ll be fine.”
Piper huffed. “That is not the same thing.”
“I want to be here.”
“Okay. Have so much fun,” she said with all the insinuation in her voice. “Hollin says hi and to have fun, too.”
“Tell him to shove it,” I said with a laugh, and then we said our good-byes. Campbell was looking out and away from me so as not to eavesdrop. “Hollin says hi.”
Campbell groaned. “Great. I’ll never hear the end of it.”
“Same.” I came to stand at his side. “Thank you for picking me up.”
His eyes dropped down to mine. “I’m just glad you want to be here.”
My cheeks heated at that. He had been listening. And despite myself, I did want to be here.
“Yeah,” I muttered.
“Why weren’t you with your friends at the festival anyway?”
I glanced down. “Uh, I ran into my mother.”
“Pamela.” He crinkled his nose. “That must have been pleasant. If it was anything like high school.”
“Exactly the same, honestly.”
I remembered the first time Campbell had met my mother. It had been an accident really. No one from high school knew about us. I hadn’t exactly wanted Pamela to know either. She was supposed to be gone for the weekend with Hal on one of their adult vacations. Theoretically, I was old enough to not need a babysitter for the weekend, and as long as I didn’t throw a party, she didn’t care what I did. One, I would never throw a party since I didn’t have friends. And as far as she knew, I’d never had a boyfriend either.
