Right after the encore Shelbs shouts, “Let’s go backstage before we get trampled. Don’t fight the river! Go with it!”

We are carried out by the swarm toward the exits and the huge lines at merchandise tables. People are shouting about how good he was. I hear a girl with short hair and a nose piercing say, “You see that dancer who was up on him? That’s Olivia. They were photographed coming out of a hotel in Barcelona together last month!”

I snap at her, “Why don’t you shut the hell up!!”

She exchanges a look with her friend.

Shelby guides me toward a bouncer. “Okay, let’s get you out of here.”

“I can’t believe I just did that!”

“Me neither.” We hold up our wristbands to a huge dude with tattoos and a walkie-talkie on his waist. Shelby informs him, “We have backstage passes.”

He nods and pulls the rope back.

Backstage is a zoo. Gaffers and lighting technicians running around tearing everything down. Dancers laughing as they pass us, talking about what they did right, and who fucked up which cue. The band’s roadies are stacking gear while the band rests in a room filled with V.I.P.s. There’s booze overflowing, a feast lined against one wall, and Gabriel is nowhere to be seen.

Shelby and I hover for a moment. At the same time we recognize Gabriel’s sister Hannah. She’s with her husband who we also know from news, a champion MMA fighter. They’re sharing a chic lounge chair, talking like there’s nobody else in the room.

A deep voice behind me says, “Paige.”

I spin around to find Ben smiling at me. He looks incredibly handsome in faded blue jeans and a white Henley shirt, with boots that look like they’ve been worn every day for twenty years.

Shelby’s head cranes up and she nearly faints again, clearly attracted to him. “I’m Paige’s best friend, we didn’t officially meet.”

“Ben Cocker.”

She bites her bottom lip and nods, “Shelby,” twisting the ends of her tight blonde curls. Carter who?

Blushing I tell him, “Sorry about last night.”

His laugh brightens his whole face. “It wasn’t your fault.” To Shelby he asks, “So you both teach yoga?”

She nearly falls over herself. “Paige teaches more Yin Stretch and Hatha, but I do Vinyasa and sometimes Bikram. Have you ever done…hot yoga?”

He smirks, “I’ve done every kind there is.”

Remembering what he told me I explain, “His family has a retreat on their property, so they’ve had all kinds of teachers come through there over the years.”

“My mom and dad’s ranch. They live just a couple miles from my farm.” Glancing to me he shoves his hands in his pockets and asks the hard question. “You have fun last night?”

My face flushes deeper red. “Yeah, we just went to the waterfall.”

He frowns, “What one?”

“By the old mill in Roswell?”

“That’s a dam, not a waterfall.”

I stare at him. “Gabriel didn’t say that.”

“Probably trying to impress you.”

Maggie and Carrie walk up, the former pointing to my best friend and announcing, “Another natural-curls girl! Yes! How often do you wash it?”

Shelby laughs, “No more than every other day, you?”

Maggie grins, “If I wash mine every day, total ‘fro.”

“Can’t even deal with the frizz!” Shelby rolls her eyes, looking adorable.

In a declaration or ownership Carrie takes Maggie’s hand. Shelby glances down and subtly reacts, taking a half step back to let it be known she’s not trying to hit on anybody, she’s just being friendly. Trouble is that Shelby has a hot little yoga body and personality to spare. And like me, she’s wearing a mini dress barely covering her.

I can tell Maggie is happy her girlfriend got jealous as she asks me, “Have you seen Gabriel yet?” To Ben she gives him a respectful but disinterested wave. “Hey Ben.”

“Hey Mags.”

Shrugging one shoulder I tell her, “No, not yet. But he was great out there tonight!”

“Wasn’t he? I caught him looking at you a lot, Paige.”

“Yeah?” I smile.

“Come on. He has his own dressing room. We’ll have some drinks in there.” She leads the way with Carrie at her side.

Hannah calls out, “Where are you headed, Ben?”

He raises his voice over the conversations. “His dressing room. You coming? Where’s Ethan?”

“He rushed home right before the encore. Can’t be away from Charlie too long since she’s due any day. We’ll join you guys in a minute,” she smiles before turning back to Tobias and lowering her volume to a more intimate one.

Shelby and I exchange a look because both of us are thinking the same thing – that the Cockers are one good-looking family. And I am so envious of how Tobias was gazing at Hannah. They were so connected. I want that.

As we go to leave a group of people pour into the room. Shelby scoots by them but I get pushed backward. Ben touches the small of my back to catch me and keeps his hand there until we’re free to go. I glance up. He’s locked on me with a confident glint in his eyes. He’s definitely interested in me. Gabriel tricking him didn’t stop that.

Shelby slows for me to catch up, and she casts a knowing look to Ben, under her breath, “You’re so lucky.”

Maggie is talking outside Gabriel’s dressing room to some guy in a suit. “Glad you’re happy. Oh, Devin, this is Paige, she won the contest.”

He shakes my hand. “Oh yes, saw the photos of you two at Rays on the River. Did you have a nice time?”

“Yes, thank you.”

He nods and excuses himself.

Maggie waits until he’s out of earshot to tell our group, “Devin is the representative of the record label. He’s just here to get laid. That’s what everyone wants. Money and tail. It’s all they care about.” She winks and opens the door.

Out runs Olivia, pulling her shirt over braless, naked tits. “Excuse me!”

Maggie tries to shut the door but inside Gabriel is zipping up his pants. He turns and his gorgeous eyes narrow as he realizes what’s going on. He locks on me and his lips slacken.

I take a step back and run into Ben.

Shelby grabs my arm, whispering, “Oh fuck.”

Maggie slams the door. “I’m so sorry, Paige, I should’ve…”

I start running.

Shelby’s heels are right behind mine.

Gabriel shouts my name.

He doesn’t chase me.

But Ben does.