Page 134 of Forever To Me

I sigh. “Yeah, whatever.”

Then I walk out of the bar, several goats lighter, and pray to God that by this time next week, I won’t still be drowning in them.

Chapter 30

Violet

I’ve never seen Cami nervous. At all. She's one of the strongest and most confident women I know. Nervous? Never.

She’s not even frazzled when she’s running her coffee trailer in the middle of a morning rush. Not when she’s elbow-deep in a fight with a local town employee about parking permits for her trailer.

She doesn’t ask for help. She is quick to help everyone else and makes things happen. So, when Cami walks into Murphy’s Auto, finds me leaning against Poppy’s workbench, and says, “I need help,” my entire world tilts.

Because her voice is quiet, and there’s something raw in her eyes. And because she looks scared.

I set my coffee down slowly and move closer to her. “What’s wrong?”

Cami exhales hard, crossing her arms. “You know how Ineverask for anything?”

Poppy, sitting nearby with her feet kicked up on an overturned bucket, snorts. “Oh, this should be good.”

Cami gives her a vulnerable look. “Not now, Pops.”

Poppy holds up her hands in surrender. “I’m just saying, this is ahistoric moment.”

Cami doesn’t take the bait. Instead, she looks at both of us, jaw tight, shoulders stiff, like she’s holding herself together with sheer willpower. “I’m gonna lose my family's ranch,” she says.

My stomach drops. “What?”

She swallows hard. “My mom’s given up and has moved to town. Ollie’s given up and apparently lives upstairs above your shop. The bank gave us an extension, but we need money.Fast.”

"What can we do to help?" Poppy demands. "We'll do whatever it takes."

I reach out, grabbing her arm. “Cami…”

She shakes her head and stares at us with desperation and turmoil etched on her face. “I can’t lose it. It’s all I have left. I have to fight.”

I nod, my chest tightening. “Okay. What can we do?”

She takes a slow breath. “The county fair has agreed to let me do a fundraiser concert at the fair.”

“Oh!” I say, relieved. “That’s great! The whole town loves stuff like that. You’ll raise a ton of money.”

Cami nods once. “Yeah. But… I need you to perform.”

I freeze. Then blink. Then laugh. “Wait, what?”

Cami’s face is stone cold, serious.

“I haven’t performed in a really long time,” I say, shaking my head. “Not since…” My stomach turns. “Not since Nashville.”

“I know,” she says. “But I really need you. Remember the part where I said I never ask for help?”

I open my mouth, then shut it. Panic climbs up my throat. She's right. She needs me. But my heart is in my throat right now. Panic fills me just thinking about what she's asking me to do.

Perform? On stage? With people watching?

I can’t. I can barely perform for the horses when no one’s looking.

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