“Okay, I can’t take it anymore. I swear I won’t go all fan girl crazy, but I love your music. I won’t ask you to do anything here, but maybe I could get an autograph from you later?” Tina asked.
I smiled and tipped my hat to her. “Thank you, and of course. I’ll give something to Nick to give to you.”
“Finally. She’s been bugging the hell out of me about you ever since she saw you at the table,” Nick grunted out.
Laughing, I reached for Bristol’s hand and gave it a squeeze. She wore a soft, carefree smile. I was glad to see it didn’t bug her at all that Tina had asked for an autograph. Of course, it had never bothered her in the past, but that was before I became famous, and now, this type of night was rare. Me being able to go out to a dance hall and just be me. Usually, I had at least one bodyguard nearby if I did go out in Nashville or anywhere else.
“I’m exhausted. All the dancing has worn me out,” Mindy said.
“Did you come with Drake?” Bristol asked.
Mindy blushed. “Yes. He said he had to go take care of something and would be right back.” She glanced around and then smiled. “Here he comes!”
Drake walked up to the table with an expression that said he wasn’t happy about something. “Anson, may I speak with you for a minute?”
I frowned and looked at Nick, who simply shrugged.
“Yeah, sure,” I replied as I stood.
Bristol looked between her brother and me and asked, “Is everything okay?”
Drake softened his face. “It’s fine. I just need to ask Anson something.” He looked down at Mindy. “Are you okay? You look flushed.”
Bristol shot Mindy a little smile.
“I’m a little tired,” Mindy said.
Concern immediately appeared on Drake’s face. “Give me five minutes, then I’ll get you home, okay?”
She nodded. “Of course, no rush!”
Drake gave her a grin that screamed the guy was falling head over heels. Bristol and I exchanged a quick, knowing look, and then I followed Drake out of the dance hall. We walked over toward his truck, and he stopped and blew out a breath.
“There was a photographer here tonight. I noticed him when we first got here. He was taking pictures of the dance hall and around it, so I figured they had maybe brought someone in to take promotional photos. Then I noticed he took a few pictures of you and Bristol. I kept my eye on him, and I’m almost positive he was taking pictures of you, Anson. I followed him out here when he left, and he told me he had no idea what I was talking about. I came back in and tracked down the manager of the band. They hired the guy to take pictures of the event. And he did—I saw him taking pictures of the band. But also of you.”
I rubbed my day-old beard and sighed. “Could just be a coincidence he snapped a picture of me.”
“And Bristol. Y’all were dancing, but yeah, could totally just be a coincidence. I wanted to let you know.”
Smiling, I hit him on the side of the arm. “Aw, see you really do like me, Bro.”
He rolled his eyes and tried to hide his smile. “I will say this—I haven’t seen my sister looking this happy in a very long time.”
It was my turn to grin now. “I haven’t been this happy in a long time either.”
“I’m happy you two worked things out, you know that, right?”
“Drake, I don’t want to hurt your sister ever again. I need you to know that. I love her, and I’m going to figure this all out.”
He nodded. “Good, because the two of you belong together.”
“What about you and Mindy?”
A sudden look of surprise washed over his face, and he let out a laugh. “What about me and Mindy?”
“Dude, I see it all over your face. Do you still have feelings for her?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Yes. I’m trying to figure out what’s appropriate here.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Is it wrong that I want to kiss her and tell her I have feelings for her?”
I frowned. “Why would it be wrong?”
“She’s pregnant. With another man’s child.”
“So? If she feels the same way, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. I can’t imagine what she’s feeling right now, knowing she’s going to be a single mom and that the father wants nothing to do with this baby. Having you interested in her right now is not a bad thing. It’s the opposite. Be honest with your feelings.”
I could see the conflict in his eyes.
“It’ll all work out, Drake. Take it one day at a time.”
“When did you become so damn wise?” he asked with a slight laugh.
“Ha. You do realize that I write and sing sad country songs, right? Besides, I’m hardly wise, but I have learned my lesson the hard way. Never let go of someone you love.”