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Every drop of blood in my body drained out on to the floor.

“I didn’t see it at the time,” Blake said. “I found it this morning when I was looking at the film. Anyway, the point is—I just wanted to let you know that I caught it on accident, which means other people might have seen it too. I’m saying this woman-to-woman, not as a filmmaker, that maybe y’all could be a little more careful. I’m assuming you’re keeping it a secret on purpose. Do you understand what I mean?”

God help me, I surely did.

“I’ll delete the footage,” Blake said. “But I wanted to mention it. Be careful, I guess is what I’m saying.”

“I appreciate it. Most people would exploit the situation and put it in their film.”

“Those people suck,” Blake said. “And you’re right. A lot would. But I’m not one of them. My dad might be a mess, but he taught me to always have integrity when it comes to my work.”

“I’m glad they chose you, then,” I said.

“I am too. These last few weeks have fed my soul. And I needed that.”

“I understand.”

“Here, I’ll delete the footage in front of you so you don’t have to worry.” Her thumb hovered over the phone.

“Wait. Send it to me first?” I asked.

She looked at me for a moment. “You sure?”

“I need something … for January when all this will feel like a dream.” I pressed my fingers against my eyes. “We’ve agreed to keep it from Jack and Ivy. Grant doesn’t think my brother can take it. That it’ll harm the band if he found out.”

“Legit concern, I guess.”

“I guess.” I looked up at the ceiling, trying not to cry. “It’s awful, sneaking around.”

“Has this been going on for a while?”

I found myself telling her the entire story, grateful she hadn’t hit record on her camera. I told her about that Thanksgiving where we could not stop talking or hanging out, but that he’d ghosted me after the weekend was over. “I fell in love, I think. I’ve spent the last three years trying to telling myself if wasn’t real. Just a random weekend. But now that I understand him better, I get what happened. We got too close and it scared him.” I explained to her about Grant’s childhood. “He thinks love is transactional. My brother’s not that way. Regardless, if he’s not able to tell Jack about us, there’s no hope. Like if he doesn’t love me enough to risk it all, then it’s not enough. No matter how I feel.”

“You need a man who’ll fight for you.”

“That’s right.”

She reached over to take my hands. “I’m sorry, Luci. I wish I had some advice for you, but sounds like I’m not the only one with Daddy issues. He’s got to work through this and decide what’s most important to him.”

“And if it’s not me, I have to move on,” I said, dully.

“Like it or not, yes.”

Despite my own misery, I was curious about Beck and Blake. “What’s going on with you and cute butt?” I asked.

She flushed, laughing. “We just connect. We’re very similar. There’s just something about him that feels right for me. But, like you guys, it might just be a Montana thing. We both have busy, full lives that would not intertwine easily. That said, I’ve never met anyone like him. No one who gets me like he does. That probably sounds so trite.”

“Not at all,” I said. “That’s how I feel about Grant.”

“Maybe that’s love, huh? Being seen for who you are and loved anyway.”

We went on to the interview after that, with her asking me questions mostly about our childhood. I was surprised to find that it was comfortable to share my memories with Blake. She was a great interviewer and such a decent person that it was actually fun.

By the time we finished, I’d given her a lot of material. She thanked me, then hugged me.

“Hang in there. Things usually work out,” Blake said.

I hugged her back. “From your mouth to God’s ears.”