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“I got you in the program, girl. Of course, I had to fly in,” the blonde woman says before turning toward me. “I’m Chloe, her manager. You must be Todd. I’ve heard so much about you.”
“You have?”
She chuckles, her voice lowering as she whispers, “You’re the one who inspired her songs in their first two albums. Pissed Harrison off big time.” She frowns when she notices my expression. “You didn’t know that?”
I shake my head, surprised. “No, I didn’t.”
“Well, you were,” she says as Devyn poses for official pictures with the organizers and sponsors. “She was hoping you’d at least call one day, but when you never did, she figured you moved on.”
No, she moved on, I almost say out loud, but I don’t. “Did you handle her calls then?”
Chloe shakes her head. “I didn’t become her manager until the sixth year when they started having problems, and she stopped trusting Harrison to run the business. Before that, it was all him. No assistants. He was paranoid like that.”
Of course, he was. It must have been Harrison who probably listened to my messages when I was trying to get in touch with her. It was also Harrison who changed her phone number, not Devyn.
“But I’m so glad to see you two connected,” Chloe continues. “I’ve always heard how magical Taos can be, and this—you two reconnecting after all this time—just proves it. Fate stepped in.” She spreads her arms. “And now the festival. Talk about perfect timing. It will be a blast tomorrow. People won’t know what hit them.”
Harrison won’t know what hit him, I almost correct her, wondering if I’ll ever see the man around. Has he heard the news that Devyn will be performing?
I sure hope he has and he’s crapping his pants.
Devyn’s hand suddenly finds mine, and I turn to her, surprised. She should be with her fellow artists.
“I can’t believe it’s really happening,” she says, her eyes shining. “I was so scared to come back, but now that I’m here, I feel like I’m home.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
She smiles. “Somehow I feel like you have something to do with it. You’re my lucky charm.”
If I were, you’d have been famous when we were still together, I almost say but bite my tongue. I don’t want to ruin this moment for her. Instead, I squeeze her hand gently. “I’m just happy to see you doing what you love and being happy.”
Devyn leans in and kisses my cheek, and I can feel the warmth of her lips on my skin. My heart races, and I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to have her kiss my lips.
I need to remedy that.
If Harrison doesn’t convince her to join him first, that is.
“Come on, let’s go see the stage,” she says, tugging on my hand.
“It’s probably best that I don’t stay too long,” I say suddenly. “I don’t want to take your time away from hanging out with your friends.”
She looks at me in surprise. “But you’re one of those friends.”
“Devyn, this is your first time back after two years and the last thing I want to do is cramp your style,” I say. “Your manager is here and it’s her job to help you make connections. This is your chance. I can come back to pick you up later.”
Devyn looks at me with a mix of disappointment and understanding. “Okay,” she finally says. “Chloe can drop me off at the house, but promise me you’ll come back tomorrow for my performance.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I say with a smile.
As I make my way out of the backstage area, I can’t help but feel a pang of jealousy as I see join Chloe and the rest of the performers onstage. Harrison’s probably somewhere here too, basking in her success like it was his own.
But I shake those thoughts away, reminding myself that I’m not here to cause any drama. I’m here to support Devyn in any way I can, even if it means stepping aside and letting her shine on her own.
ChapterFive
DEVYN
After having dinner in town with some of the performers, Chloe drives me back to Todd’s house. I hadn’t wanted to stay out too late, but knowing Chloe is flying back to New York after my performance, I felt it only made sense for me to spend as much time with her while she was here. We’ve even made connections with a representative for a record label who wants to produce my solo album, and while the offer isn’t as big as many of the offers we receive to have Devyn + Yorke do a reunion album, I’d still consider it. I’m not going back to performing with Harrison ever again even if he keeps hinting at a Devyn + Yorke reunion to the fans.
