Chapter 27
amber
I paced Tate’s living room for what felt like hours.
James was sacked out on his couch. Her anger had cycled out hours ago. She was quick to blow her top, but she didn’t hold onto it for long.
My phone buzzed on the kitchen island. I ran over it, hoping it was Tate.
It was an unknown number.
“Hello?”
“Hello, is this Amber?”
The voice was vaguely familiar. “How did you get this number?”
“I have my ways. This is Noah Jordan, is James there?”
“Oh, hi Noah. Sorry, I didn’t recognize your voice.”
“She’s not answering her phone.”
I glanced over at James who was curled onto her side with a blanket up around her chin. “She’s sleeping.”
“That woman can sleep through a goddamn bomb.”
“No lies detected.” At Noah’s annoyed almost growl, I smiled for the first time since that morning. “Do you want me to wake her?”
“No. Tell her to stay put. I’m coming for the little thief.”
“Noah, she’s fine.”
“Not based on the videos I’ve been watching all fucking afternoon. What the hell were you two thinking?”
I collapsed against the stool at the island. “It’s my hometown, Noah. I don’t usually have a problem.”
“Usually being the operative word. If you had your usual detail this wouldn’t have happened.”
“I don’t need that when I’m home.”
“Yeah, well today says you’re a fool.”
I drew in a sharp breath. I deserved it, but it didn’t sting any less. I’d put Tate’s whole opening day in danger, and moreover we were lucky James and I hadn’t been hurt.
“I’ll tell James you called.” I hung up.
My phone vibrated while still in my hand. “Shit,” I muttered when I saw the readout. I hit accept. “Hey, Stevie.”
“Don’t hey Stevie me. Why did I have to find out about today on fucking TikTok?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Sorry. It was a shitshow. I’ve just been trying to calm down about it.”
“Ambrose4Life put together a goddamn bus trip from New Jersey for fuck’s sake.”
“What?”
It was one of my bigger fan accounts on social media. Stevie and I kept track of some of the more inventive ones. A lot of times they were great during tours, but for this?
“Yeah. You’ve barely been off tour for a month and they’re still batshit about your whereabouts.”
“Stevie,” I warned.
“Am I lying?”
“I wouldn’t be anywhere without my fans.”
“They can buy albums and merch—they don’t need to be in your business all the damn time.”
“I know.” I stacked my arms on the counter and laid my head on top. “I’m fine.”
“This time.”
“Look, I just got chewed out from Brooklyn Dawn’s security too.”
“It wasn’t just you. And the videos—God, have you seen them?”
“No. You know I don’t go looking for vids of myself.”
“Yeah, well make an exception. I gotta go clean up some of this mess. Can you just stay put for a while?”
“Yes. I won’t be going anywhere.”
“Good.” The line went dead. Not even a goodbye.
I sighed and opened TikTok. I didn’t even have to dig for videos. As soon as I opened the search bar I was trending.
That wasn’t good at all.
I scrolled for at least an hour, my stomach churning as video after video showed me and James in various states of distress. James, mostly looking like a feral cat with her claws and mouth.
When I couldn’t take it anymore, I ran outside without my coat and immediately regretted it, but I was too angry with myself and the situation to go back. The whole opening crowd was gone. They should have been enjoying Tate’s Wonderland of Lights at this point. The whole village was dark.
I crossed my arms over my chest at the destruction. It looked as if they’d tried to clear most of it away.
Barrels were broken, the doors at a few of the sheds were off their hinges and leaning against the buildings, and even the benches were stacked along the path for repair.
So much destruction.
“It’s all her fault.”
My shoulders lifted against the voice.
Valerie.
“The situation got out of control, but you didn’t help. You’re fired, Valerie.”
“What?” Her voice was a screech. “I busted my ass for you and for this place and you’re going to fire me over her?”
“You put her in danger because you wanted views on your goddamn video. That’s why you’re fired.”
My chest twisted at Tate’s voice. I’d never heard him be so cold and angry.
I backed away before he could see me. I couldn’t even revel in Valerie being fired because she was right. All of this was my fault. I knew better, but I’d fallen for my own hype. Not for the Ambrose half of me.
No, I’d forgotten she was the lead in my life no matter what I wanted.
Amber would never be able to have a normal life. No matter how amazing it felt to be with Tate, my fame would always come between us. Today was proof of that—times a million.
I climbed up the path to the Rudolph building. It was completely twisted on its base. So many bodies had been pushing and shoving. The poor girls in the room with us had been just as frightened at the ferocity of my fans.
James’s fight response proved it as well.
I knew her fear response was always a punch instead of tears.
I kept climbing past the food stations to the arches for the Haven Wonderland of Lights. All the lights were dark save for a row of safety lights that showed the perimeter of the village.
This had been Tate’s dream for too many months to count, and I’d ruined it with one walk down North Star Lane. I’d forgotten who I was. I’d just been a proud girlfriend who wanted to experience every part of his plans coming to fruition.
Instead, there was just wreckage.
I brushed away the tears that came. They weren’t going to help, but they wouldn’t stop.
Blind with them, I only wanted to get away from the proof of my royal fuckup.
I ran. I didn’t want to face any of it. When I stumbled into the fence line, I sagged against the roughhewn wood. It was to keep people out, but it also kept his dad out of his space too.
A whinny told me I was too close to his property. Before I could turn away and go back down to Tate’s place, a flash of flame and the sharp scent of sulfur lit the air.
“What are you doing up here Amber Dalton?”
“Mr. Reynolds?”
“It is. Out for my number two smoke of the day. Why are you encroaching on my peace?”
“I was looking for some. It’s okay, I’ll go.”
“It’s fine.”
“Thanks.” I leaned against the fence. “I just need a minute then I’ll go.”
“What are you doing up here instead of being with my son?”
“I don’t think he’ll want me around him right now.”
“Why?”
“Didn’t you hear what happened?”
“Just that Tate said he was postponing the use of the horses.”
“Didn’t think to ask why?”
He inhaled deeply, the cherry end of his cigarette glowing bright in the darkness. He blew a plume of smoke up to the sky. “I figured he’d get around to telling me.”
“You didn’t care?”
“Not my business.”
I shook my head, swallowing down tears. “Not your business? He’s your son.”
“It’s his business. I have nothing to do with what he did to this farm.”
I sighed. “Evidently both of us are sucking when it comes to taking care with Tate.”
There was a long beat of silence, when finally, his father spoke. “What happened?”
I gave him a quick recap of what happened and the destruction my overexcited fans had caused.
“So, you’re up here sniveling?”
What was it about rude men today?
“I actually looked around at the destruction. I think I’m entitled to a few tears.”
“Then fix it.”
I blew out a breath.
“Look. You can judge me all you like, girl. Just don’t disappoint him like I did.” He pushed himself off the fence, then stubbed his cigarette out on his boot and turned back to his house. “Now get out of here,” he called out to me.
I rubbed at my chest where the ache had spread.
For him and his relationship with Tate.
And for me, in all the pain I’d caused him.
I sniffed and scraped my nails through my hair. I was good at solving problems.
This was just one more.
I had to fix it for him, but I was going to need some help.
I headed back down to the village and looked around with fresh eyes. It was going to take a lot to fix it.
More than I could do on my own. And more than Tate’s team could do without some extensive repairs.
There wasn’t enough time for that kind of setback.
Not with the plans he had for the Brothers Three Orchard coming to kick off December. The trees and the cocoa bus, as well as the cider being sold in one of the buildings.
I had a few short days to get this done.
The only ones I could think who could do it were my team from the tour.
Not only did I have to make it up to Tate, but I needed to make it up to my town too.
I pulled out my phone and dialed the only person I knew who could make it happen.
“Stevie? I need your help.”