Standing outside the Good Morning America Studio in Times Square, I toed the black X taped to the stage while we waited for our segment to be announced.

Beside me, Cameron fiddled with his guitar strap. “I can’t believe this,” he said out of the corner of his mouth, his eyes shining with excitement as he glanced over the crowd. “How did we even get here?”

I cut my gaze right, zeroing in on Tori. The tiniest of smiles curved her lips, and I knew her eyes were locked on mine behind her dark shades.

“No clue, bro,” I replied, smiling back at her.

But I knew. I was in bed with Tori when she got the call from Taryn informing her that Justin had a sore throat and Drafthouse had to beg off the charity show in Central Park.

Did I feel bad that Tori gave Caged the nod? No. Did it drive home the point that we had to keep our casually exclusive whatever-the-fuck-we-had-going-on private? Absolutely.

Honestly, it was getting harder to do. In the two weeks since we’d left Tennessee, I’d made an effort to manage my time better. I owed it to my band, my music. But dragging myself away from Tori was difficult.

Maybe once we got home …

I didn’t want to think about home.

I was happy just being out here on the road, experiencing all this shit with my girl.

My girl.

Slowly, I felt my brows turn inward, because when did that happen?

Contemplating, I chanced another peek to my right just as the host bounded onto the stage. The crowd erupted into applause, but all my focus was on raven hair, honey-colored eyes, and the sun-bright smile directed solely at me.

Tori was my girl. A piece of her anyway. Maybe that’s all she had to give. A piece. Maybe the lingering sadness in her eyes was the one fragment she could never give anyone. The piece that died with him.

And maybe I’d have to be all right with that.

For now.

The sun poured through the fortieth-floor window, casting a glare on my iPad. Even with the spots dancing on the screen, I could clearly make out Taryn’s snarl.

“I’m going to kill him, Belle.”

I nodded wearily, my attention divided between our conversation and the phone resting next to me on the couch. Elise was already at the next location upstate, leaving me to handle some of the logistics for this event. Not that there was much to handle. The free show in Central Park wasn’t a Twin Souls production. Caged was one of half a dozen bands slated to perform at the concert to raise money for the New York Endowment for the Arts.

“I can’t believe you’re so calm,” Taryn huffed, suspicion threading her tone. “Why?”

It was hard to get worked up with a steady dose of oxytocin flowing through my system from all the sex. I’d looked it up because I thought there was something wrong with me. Ever since Logan and I started hooking up, I stayed in a perpetual state of near bliss. I vaguely recalled this feeling from my youth, the all-over body glow I had when Rhenn discovered how to give me an orgasm. But this was different. More intense. Maybe because I didn’t know back then that life was fragile. Happiness was fleeting.

Nothing lasts forever.

Shaking that thought away, I refocused on my best friend. “What’s the use in getting upset? Mac’s going to do what he’s going to do.” It was the truth. Mac wasn’t trying to get my attention. Or make me see reason. He was greedy. But he couldn’t exactly take me down without doing serious harm to his own image. So why not destroy mine?

Taryn chuffed out a breath. “We’ll see. When are you coming home?”

“After the Florida show.”

She marked it on the big ass planner she kept on her desk. “Are you flying out with the boys?” My blank expression drew a frown. “Dylan and Becks? They’re coming home to speak with Miles about signing over his rights to the unreleased tracks, remember?”

Pulling my legs under me, I traced a finger over the heart I’d drawn on the knee of my jeans in red marker. Was I in high school? All I needed was Logan’s initials in the center.

“Yeah,” I said slowly, smoothing a hand over the little doodle. “I won’t be flying anywhere with Dylan.”

A long moment of silence turned into two, and I could practically feel a piece of Taryn shrinking from the finality of my statement. The screw in my chest tightened, and I shifted my gaze to the New York skyline to avoid the discontent in her eyes.

Whether she wanted to admit it or not, Taryn held onto the hope that someday Dylan and I would get together. Like he could be inserted into Rhenn’s spot in all our framed pictures and the evolution would be complete.

I couldn’t fault her. Hell, a year ago, I was her. When Taryn decided to leave her ex behind and pursue a relationship with Chase, it was like something shifted in our world. Like the door to the past was closing, sealing our memories on the other side.

“Why?” Taryn finally asked, her voice almost child-like.

Sighing, I met her stormy blue gaze. “I’m trying to move on.” The truth spilled over my tongue, bitter and sweet in equal measure. “Dylan … he’ll never be more to me than a friend. One of my best friends. But that’s all.” A knock echoed off the high ceiling in the suite, saving me from any further explanation. “Someone’s here.” I smiled. “I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”

Taryn cleared her throat, holding me tight with unblinking eyes. Like if she didn’t let go, I’d change my mind.

After a moment, she finally relented. “Yeah, okay.” My finger hovered over the end button, waiting. Hoping. “I love you, Tori.”

I released the breath I’d been holding. “I love you too, T-Rex.”

She cut the connection before I had the chance, and a background photo of Rhenn populated the screen, superimposed over my reflection. Gazing into his rich, chocolate brown eyes, I waited for the searing pain to take me whole. But all I felt was a dull ache in the place where he’d always live.

A second knock brought me back to the present, and I struggled to my feet.

“Coming!” I called as I padded across the plush carpet.

Popping up on tiptoe to check the peephole, my stomach did a flip when I spied the redhead standing in the hall. Anna. I smoothed my hair—why I didn’t know—then opened the door, offering a cautious smile. “Hey, uh … Anna.”

She blinked at me, her mouth slightly agape. From what Logan had told me, Anna was a fan, so I waited patiently for the awkward moment to pass. Within seconds, Willow surged forward, throwing her arms around my legs. “Vitoria!”

She beamed up at me with a gap-toothed smile that melted my insides. I’d steered clear of Willow since our outing in St. Louis, the longing that hummed beneath my skin more pronounced when she was around.

“Hi, Willow.” I sifted a hand through her curls while her mother sputtered an apology and tried to peel her daughter off me. “It’s fine, really.” Even though I had no idea what brought them here, or if I really wanted to know, I shuffled back to allow them entry. “Come in.”

“We don’t want to intrude,” Anna said, looking around as she stepped inside. “We were just wondering … I mean, Willow was wondering … and me too … if you’d like to go to the park? With us?” A blush detonated on her pale skin. “Would you like to go to the park with us?”

It took me a second to decipher the rambling invitation. “Oh … I …”

“Pweese, Vitoria. Come to the pawk.” Willow peered up at me with expectant blue eyes.

What choice did I have?

“Yeah … sure, that sounds like fun,” I found myself saying with a gesture toward the living room. “Y’all have a seat, and I’ll find my shoes.”

Anna took Willow’s hand and they sat on the couch while I did a quick sweep of the room for anything incriminating. Logan had been pretty careful about leaving his stuff lying around since the Tennessee incident, but that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be some trace of him here since he stayed in my room every night.

“Make yourself at home,” I said. “I’ll be right back.”

As discreetly as possible, I snatched my phone from the sofa cushion. Once I was in the bedroom, I fired off a text to Lo.

Did you know Anna was coming by?

The message was delivered, but after a moment, I abandoned hope I’d get a return. Logan was terrible about responding to texts. He didn’t even look at his phone half the time.

Growling in frustration, I plucked my sneakers from the floor and retraced my steps.

Perched on the edge of a sofa cushion with her hands clasped in her lap, Anna looked less than comfortable when I returned. “We didn’t mean to bother,” she repeated. “I thought since the guys were going to be busy all day, you might want to get out.”

There was a familiarity in her statement that caught me off guard. Did she know about Logan and me?

Reeling from the implications, I eased onto the sofa, my Converse landing on the carpet with a soft thud. “I usually work during the day,” I said weakly.

I wasn’t above using my position as the bands’ manager to throw her off the scent. Not that it did much good. Anna slowly redirected her gaze to one of Lo’s discarded T-shirts draped over the arm of the chair, and she smiled.

Shit.

Since I didn’t have an excuse for that, I shoved my feet into my shoes and then pushed to standing, eager to get out of here before the redheaded bloodhound found something really incriminating.

I pinned a smile to my lips. “Y’all ready?”

An hour later, with Daryl standing sentry at the edge of the playground, Anna and I took a seat on the bench facing the sandbox where Willow was playing.

“Is that weird?” Anna whispered, gesturing to my bodyguard. “Having someone follow you around all the time?”

I shrugged. “I guess it should be, but I’m used to it.”

Her green eyes dimmed slightly, and I wanted to kick myself. Even a veiled reference to who I was inevitably circled back to the tragedy.

“I loved your music,” she said, out of the blue. “Damaged was like …” She shook her head and looked away. “Everything.”

I never knew quite how to handle that type of comment. Should I commiserate? Thank her? Shrug it off? In the end, I merely nodded.

“Yeah.”

“It must be hard to move on after something like that.” All her focus shifted to me like a laser. “Have you? Moved on?”

A response twisted around my tongue, but I trapped it behind tight lips to make sure I didn’t blurt out something I’d regret. Every day, my feelings for Logan intensified. Not love. That would be stupid, since we were only playing around “until.” But … something.

“I’m trying,” I conceded, hoping she’d drop it.

Anna squared her shoulders, suddenly serious. “Logan’s a really good guy. I’ve known him since high school.”

A flush rose from my collar, burning a path to my face, because that look she was giving me—she knew. Jesus. There was no doubt.

Anna touched my hand, and I realized I was telegraphing my panic. If she didn’t know before, I’d just confirmed it. Which made her an evil genius or me a dumb ass.

“The guys don’t notice things,” she said gently. “But I do. And Logan is special to me.”

She slipped that last part in so casually, but her tone was one step from a warning.

“Special?”

It was out there before I could reel it in, and my tone had an edge as well. A razor sharp edge that elicited a small smile from the redhead.

“Sean is Logan’s best friend. I mean … they’re all best friends. You know how that goes.” She rolled her eyes, but I remained stoic. Watchful. “We were roommates after high school—Sean and me, and Logan.” I tilted my head to the side, and I know my mouth was open because I felt the air on my tongue. Anna turned a shade of red that matched her hair. “No …” She grabbed my arm. “Oh, God no. Not that kind of roommate. Shit … I’m messing this all up.”

Pressing my lips together, I watched her squirm for a moment while I tried to figure out an appropriate response. I finally gave up and opted for direct. “What exactly are you trying to say, Anna?”

She sighed, looking more than a little uncomfortable. “I just want Logan to be happy. He deserves it. If you only knew …” She shifted, eyes back on her daughter. “Just don’t hurt him. I don’t think he’s ever … well, I know he’s never connected with anyone. He doesn’t let people get close.”

“But you’re close,” I pointed out.

She nodded. “Do you know anything about what happened with Sean and me?”

I’d heard rumors. A year and a half ago, Sean was the biggest player around, second only to Logan, and then one day, boom, he was off the market. And then Anna was there, his high school sweetheart. With a kid no less. And one look at Willow and you could tell she was his.

“Not really.”

She brought her gaze to mine, and this time, I saw something else. Pain.

“After the accident …your accident …” she began hesitantly, “Mac offered Caged their first contract. Sean, well, both of us, we were so young. Invincible, or so we thought. And so in love. But I had my own plans that didn’t include chasing my boyfriend around the world. I would’ve done it, though. Especially since …” Her eyes drifted to Willow, and I just knew what was coming. “But Sean made a terrible mistake. We both made mistakes. Anyway … when Sean and I split, Logan chose Sean. No divided loyalties with that one. He’s not built that way. So Logan and me, we didn’t talk for almost three years. But then he emailed me. I don’t know what I’m trying to say, except that Logan doesn’t always come right out and say how he feels. He’s more an ‘actions speak louder than words’ kind of guy. So, if you care for him, you might have to be patient.”

Her tone was raw, infused with sincerity, and I couldn’t help but respond in kind. “I don’t know what Logan told you, but—”

“Nothing,” she was quick to interject. “He wouldn’t say anything. He might not even realize what’s going on. But I see it. I can read him.” She looked down, shaking her head. “Poor choice of words, I guess.”

Anna was all over the place, and I had no idea what she knew or didn’t.

“I like Logan,” I said with a smile. “He’s different than I thought he was. But, still kind of the same. He has his life and his goals. But he’s honest. And that’s all I want from him.”

All he can give me.

Anna looked me over, dubious. “Are you sure?”

No.

“Yes.” She nodded grimly, and I took a deep breath. “If you could keep this to yourself … I don’t want anybody to think …”

All the warmth drained from her emerald gaze. “You don’t want people to know, is that it?”

“Yes. No.” I shook my head. “I don’t want people to think that I’m playing favorites. It would only hurt the band. And my reputation. I have some other things going on … legal stuff.”

She relaxed a little. “Yeah, I know about that. Nothing specific,” she added when my gaze darted to hers. “I’m a law student. I keep up with stuff like that. Especially when it affects the band.”

Willow came trotting over, Daryl a step behind. He was smiling, a genuine smile that stretched across his whole face. I didn’t know that was possible.

“I’m huggry,” Willow said to her mother.

Anna sighed and shoved to her feet. “Let’s see if we can find one of the pretzel guys around here. Then we need to get back to the hotel and get ready for Daddy’s show.”

“You’re going?” I asked, pushing off the bench.

“Sure. Aren’t you?”

Crouching in front of Willow with a Wet Wipe she’d produced out of thin air, Anna went to work on her daughter’s hands. Did every mother have some hidden pocket where they kept all the things they needed to care for their child? I guess I’d never know.

“Tori?”

I shook my head, pushing the thought aside. “Sorry, what did you say?”

“Are you going tonight?” she asked. “To the show?”

Two sets of eyes, one emerald green and the other the bluest blue stared up at me. And I smiled.

“Maybe.”