Page 37 of California Love Songs (The Davenports, #4)

Chapter Twenty-Six

B y the time they were ready to leave, he thought they might be late. He’d forgotten that women always took more time to get ready, even when they insisted they didn’t. He could well imagine the rest of the family sitting in Archer and Tessa’s home, bemoaning his timekeeping.

Crystal did look a little worried until they parked in the drive. With one eyebrow raised, she said, “I don’t know how you do it. It’s six fifty-nine.”

“Perfect timing, I’d say,” and then he led her into the house.

“Come on, it’s almost on,” Mila cried as she caught sight of them in the grand entry.

She was already hustling everyone downstairs to the home theater.

The lights were down low and everyone was finding a couch to cozy up on.

Tessa circulated, handing out tubs of popcorn and sodas.

Damien was touched at the effort she’d made for the event.

Erin looked over at them and then her brow furrowed. For a moment, Damien wondered if it was obvious he and Crystal had just had some wild and super fun sex. But then she said, “Where’s Opal?”

Relief swept through him. “She’s watching the show at your apartment. This is a big deal for her, and she’s got her boyfriend and her family watching it with her remotely. She said thanks for the invite, but I think she wanted to share the moment of her first big interview with her own family.”

Erin nodded sympathetically. “I totally get that.”

“It’s so crazy that she’s on national TV already,” Mila said. “I feel kind of nervous for her.”

Opal was pretty nervous about how the piece would turn out, too. It made sense that she’d want to be with her family and loved ones, at least on shared screens. She was a long way from home and probably feeling homesick.

As Arch dimmed the lights and everyone settled into their places, Damien realized he hadn’t even been thinking about the interview.

He’d been too caught up in making new music with Opal and his growing feelings for Crystal.

But as the show began and they introduced the evening’s topics, he felt a tickle of anxiety.

What if the TV people had screwed him over after all, turning the piece into racy gossip instead of the truth?

What if they spun it to show Damien in a bad light? Or made Opal’s music sound bad?

When Roxy Thanton came on with a picture of him and Opal in his studio splashed across a huge screen behind her head, his nerves fully took hold.

He held his breath as Opal’s song began to play.

Within seconds, he knew that the song didn’t sound as good as it would when they were finished, because it just wasn’t ready.

Maybe he’d been a fool to agree to put Opal forward so quickly when she was barely beginning her career.

His fears rattled around in his head as he sat, rigid, in the dim light.

He reached over and grabbed Crystal’s hand, squeezing it.

He didn’t even realize he was doing it until he felt her hand stiffen for a moment and then relax.

He glanced at her and she squeezed. “It’s going to be okay,” she said. “Stay with it.”

He nodded, and then, when he should have let go of her hand, he held on. Everyone around him was watching the screen, so why deny himself the comfort?

Roxy Thanton began their segment by saying how much she’d wanted to interview Damien Davenport for years.

And now, getting behind the gates and into the famously reclusive rocker’s music studio was one of the highlights of her career.

She was fun and a little bit flirty about it.

“You can imagine my surprise when Damien Davenport didn’t invite me to his house to promote his own record or his own career, but to help out a brand new musician on the scene.

Oh, am I excited to share the music of Opal Dahlberg! ”

The interview wasn’t long—five or six minutes—but by the end of it, all his fears were gone.

Opal interviewed even better than he’d imagined, and the snippets they shot of her acoustic songs sounded incredible.

Even in a short clip during the segment, the way they worked well together shone through.

When the piece was over, Arch muted the TV. “Damien, that was great. I’m no fortune teller, but I suspect that young woman is going to be the next big thing in music.”

He let out a huge sigh of relief. As the piece had ended, Crystal had slipped her hand out of his, and he wondered if she felt awkward showing public displays of affection in front of his family. They hadn’t yet talked about how to handle things with this loving but very nosy bunch.

“Damien,” Mila said, “we have to call Opal.”

Crystal agreed. “She probably doesn’t realize how big this is, how well she did.”

He was glad to be nudged. Grabbing his phone, he said, “I’ll do this in the kitchen.”

He called Opal and realized that Crystal was right. She sounded nervous. “It went pretty well, didn’t it?”

His smile was huge, even though she couldn’t see it. In response, he told her his brother’s prediction that she was going to be the next big thing in music.

“Archer Davenport said that? You mean, Archer Davenport watched me look nervous on national TV?”

He laughed. “Honestly, you didn’t look nervous at all. You were great.”

Instead of being as excited as he felt, in a small voice she said, “I’m not sure I’m ready. My music isn’t good enough yet. This is all happening so fast.”

“Don’t worry,” he soothed her. “You’re as good as you need to be, and getting better every day.

That’s what this gig is about. Constant improvement.

You’ve got all the talent in the world, a great work ethic, and you handled yourself really well in a stressful situation.

I think things are about to get interesting. ”

There was a small pause as Opal took in his encouragement. Finally she said, “I hope so.”

He got the feeling she was a little homesick. “How is it having your family and your boyfriend so far away?”

He heard a sigh on the other end of the phone. “It was hard. I know what I’m doing, and making music is the most important thing in my life. But I missed having the most special people in my life right here when it happened.”

“I know.” And he did. He thought about how he’d been able to reach over and hold Crystal’s hand while the interview was broadcast, how he’d been surrounded by the people he loved most in the world.

He hadn’t had that privilege in a long, long time.

Sure, it wasn’t his big break, but it was an important moment for him.

His protégée was in the process of being discovered.

He just hadn’t realized until the last couple of days how much of a responsibility he’d taken on.

“I’m going to give you a piece of advice, even though I try not to be big on advice.

But here’s the thing that’s kept me sane for the last couple of decades in this crazy business.

The people who love you now are the people who will be there for you when you’re so famous you don’t know who to trust. Even though it might seem like it sometimes, you’re not alone. ”

“Thank you,” Opal said, her voice thick with emotion. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

As he hung up, Damien reflected on just how much he owed Crystal. She’d been his friend and supporter from the beginning and now was so much more. He felt like the luckiest man in the world.

His mom came into the kitchen and gave him a hug.

“You did great, sweetheart,” she said. “Opal’s lucky to have you as a mentor.

” She stepped back and looked at him with a warmth that made Damien feel like a happy kid again.

“I’m proud of you. It’s great you’re helping other people realize their dreams.”

Damien smiled. “I never realized how rewarding working on someone else’s music could be. I’m the lucky one.”

His mom smiled again and tucked a blonde curl behind one ear. “We’re going to order in some dinner. I’m sure I can get you something vegan.”

He shook his head and told her that he and Crystal were going out for dinner. He almost told her that they were headed to a jazz club. But he wasn’t ready to tell even his mom about the whole jazz thing, because it was too new, and he was too unsure.

His mom’s pretty blue eyes twinkled. “I couldn’t help but notice you were holding Crystal’s hand during the interview.” There was a pause, until she said softly, “Is anything going on there?”

He was so happy someone had actually asked him. “Mom, I’m not going to lie to you. Yeah, there’s something going on there. It’s really new, but it’s incredible.” He grinned from ear to ear and then added, “Please don’t say anything to anyone else.”

She patted his cheek as if he were three years old. “You know I’m not one to betray confidences in this family. I’ve known Crystal a long, long time, and over the years I’ve watched you two together. I think she could be really good for you.”

He loved that he had his mom’s seal of approval. Not that he needed it at his age, but it was still nice to have. “Look, while we’re alone, can I ask you something?”

“Of course, honey.”

“You know Crystal always planned to be a doctor.”

“Of course I know. I used to watch her working so hard at school. Harder than Erin, if I’m honest. She had such hopes and dreams. She wanted to go to med school and I always imagined she’d make an excellent doctor.

But we all know what happened. I know it broke her heart, but she did the right thing. ”

Damien nodded. “I know. She was amazing. She still is. But here’s the thing, Mom. Why can’t she go to college now? She’s only thirty.”

His mom stared at him as though such a thing had never occurred to her. “She’s created and is running a very successful business. Just because she’s not on the path she originally chose doesn’t mean she’s not on the right path.”

Damien couldn’t help but frown. “I know, but I think she’s really interested in going back to school. Even if she doesn’t go all the way to med school, she could get a degree. You’ve seen how good her staff are. I don’t think she needs to work full-time. I think she could do school as well.”

Betsy gave him her full attention. “But what does Crystal think? That’s what’s important.”

“I think she’s interested, and she’s scared. You’re a college professor. You could advise her. Mom, would you talk to her?”

“You know I will, but I think it’s important that Crystal comes to me.

I don’t want her to know that we’ve talked about her, and I don’t want her to feel pushed.

I completely support higher education, obviously.

But it has to be right for her. And if she asks for my help, you know I’ll do everything in my power to give it.

I can advise her, find the right people for her to talk to. ”

His mom might be advising caution, but he could see she was already getting excited about the idea.

“Thanks, Mom!” He wrapped his arms around her in a huge bear hug, lifting her right off her feet and swinging her around the kitchen.

It was something he’d been doing since he was a teenager, as soon as he got big enough to hoist her up in his arms. But he hadn’t done it for a while and they were both laughing and breathless when he put her down.

When she’d caught her breath, she said, “I hear you’re hosting Crystal’s thirtieth birthday party. You know I’m happy to have it at our place if you prefer.”

Damien shook his head. “I really want to do it.”

His mom narrowed her eyes a little. “Are you absolutely sure you’re going to be here? I know what your life is like. You’ll get a call, and some sultan will want you to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to his daughter and pay you a couple million for it. And you’ll be gone.”

“Mom,” he said a little sternly, “I’ve said I’ll be here for Crys’s birthday, and I will.”

Her face softened. “Okay.”

At that moment, the rest of the Davenport clan poured into the kitchen talking loudly over one another about which restaurant they should order from. He caught Crystal’s eye across the room and mouthed, Let’s go .

She smiled a contented, secretive smile and nodded in reply. She’d never looked so beautiful.