Wright with Benefits (Wright Series #8) - K.A. Linde Page 0,73
as stressed.”
“Just what he needs.”
Jennifer cringed. “Just don’t think about it until later. I know that’s hard, but it’ll be fine. I’m sure of it. Go hang out with the girls and enjoy the show. I know you like Cosmere as much as I do.”
“I do.” I hugged Jen. “Thanks for being so awesome.”
“It’s just who I am as a person.”
I gasped and hip-checked her. “Was that a joke, Jen?”
She grinned. “You’re rubbing off on me. Now, go.”
With a shake of my head, I headed back out onto the main floor of the barn. After careening through a group of giddy undergrads discussing Campbell, I found Blaire, Piper, and Sutton standing just far enough away from the desperate gaggle of college kids.
“This is crazy,” I said when I finally reached them.
“I’m not surprised,” Piper said. Her eyes swept around the barn, scrutinizing the new interior. “It was bound to get out that Campbell was performing. They should have gotten security, had a guest list, et cetera. It’s an amateur mistake.”
Sutton chuckled at Piper. “Just because you hate Hollin doesn’t mean that you have to hate the winery.”
Piper softened. “I don’t hate Hollin or the winery. I think it’s stunning. They did excellent work. I honestly never would have thought this place was capable of looking this good. But…it’s still the competition,” she said with a wink.
Piper was easily the most competitive person I’d ever met. Sinclair Cellars was her baby. I could understand why she might be worried about a Wright opening a winery in this town. Their name was gold, and she didn’t want to lose business, even as an established brand.
“So, what are they going to do?” Blaire asked. She had her arms crossed and was avoiding looking at the stage. “Are too many people here? Are they going to have to cancel the show?”
“No, the guys went to handle it, and Campbell is going to go on right away to avoid riots.”
Blaire sighed heavily. “Great.”
Man, I wanted to ask. I really wanted to ask. But I had my own problems. Might as well leave Blaire to her own since she clearly didn’t want to talk about it.
Just then, Campbell stepped out onto the stage with an acoustic guitar strung around his neck. The crowd went wild. He shot them that same panty-melting smile and held his hand up as he approached the microphone.
“Hello, Lubbock!” he cried.
Everyone screamed and cheered and stomped their feet. The noise in this barn was louder than I’d ever heard it…even when it was a nightclub.
“Man, it’s good to be home. I’ve missed you.” Campbell tuned his guitar by hand while he said it, not quite looking out at the audience. When he was satisfied, he played up to the crowd again. “I wasn’t expecting this big of a turnout, but it’s Lubbock! We know how to turn out for our own, am I right?”
Another round of screams.
“Well, why don’t I kick us off then?” His fingers moved across the guitar as if he were caressing a woman’s body, and the opening chords to their breakout hit filtered in through the speakers.
The crowd erupted over just those chords.
“This one goes out to every girl who’s ever felt different,” he said seductively, leaning into the microphone. “This is…‘I See the Real You.’ ”
Blaire made a gagging sound. “I think I’m going to be sick,” she said, ripping out of our group. “I’m going to just…go home.”
“Blaire,” I said with concern in my voice.
She shook her head. Her hand went to her stomach. “Seriously, I must have…eaten something that didn’t agree with me.”
Why did I doubt that?
“Okay. Be safe.”
“I will,” she said and then all but ran out of the room.
“She’s been acting like this all day,” Piper said with worry in her voice as she watched her best friend. “Actually, I’m going to go check on her. I’ll be back.”
Then Piper disappeared, too. Sutton and I exchanged a glance. We’d been friends long enough to be able to read each other’s thoughts. Something had happened with Blaire and Campbell. I just didn’t know what.
Campbell finished off the next song and went into his latest hit. I tried to let the stress of the evening go. I couldn’t do anything about Jordan until he was ready. Even if it made me more anxious than I’d been in a while. I just wanted enjoy the music. I really did love Cosmere. But as Campbell moved into the next song, I felt a tap on my shoulder.