For the next few days, I was floating on air. I spent every night at Austin’s place, getting sweet texts from him during the day and waking up in his arms every morning. It was a little bit of heaven. And it was only going to get better.

Because tonight was the big preview of his solo record. And next week, it released—and my article would be published. It wouldn’t be long until we’d be able to share the truth of our relationship. I couldn’t wait.

But Austin was in a different headspace. He was nervous and distracted at breakfast, ignoring his food and coffee, his leg bouncing erratically underneath the table.

“Come on.” I held out my hand. “You’ll go crazy if you sit around here all day. Let’s go out.”

He was so distracted that he didn’t even ask where we were going, just took my hand and followed me out of the apartment. I got us a cab and took us to the one place where I knew Austin wouldn’t be able to think about music or the launch or his career.

I took him back to the arcade.

“This is your chance to finally declare victory,” I told him, handing him some quarters.

“What are you talking about?” he asked, finally breaking a smile. “Didn’t we agree that I had won the last match?”

“I just let you think that because I wanted to sleep with you,” I teased him.

He pretended to be offended. “Is that all I am to you? A sex toy?”

I patted his arm. “Yes.”

Austin laughed and swept me into his arms, almost knocking his baseball cap off.

“Oh my god,” I heard someone say behind us, from a small distance away. “I think that’s Austin James!”

“No way,” his friend said. “What would Austin James be doing in a dive like this? He’s famous.”

Austin pulled his baseball cap low and gave me a sideways look. I pretended to be focused on the pinball game in front of him while obviously still listening to what was happening at the other side of the arcade.

“Did you pre-order it?” the first guy asked.

“Obviously,” the second guy responded.

“I heard it’s gonna be better than anything Method of Madness did,” a girl who was standing with them added.

I saw Austin’s lips quirk upward in a slight smile at that comment.

“He always was my favorite member of the band,” the girl continued, letting out a dreamy sigh.

“The band was so fucking great,” the first guy said. “I used to listen to ‘Sara, Sara’ over and over again.”

“I love that song,” the girl said. “Their lyrics were always so amazing.”

“Can’t wait for the new album,” the second guy added. “I heard that Austin gave a surprise concert in Boston a few weeks ago and it was awesome.”

I wrapped my arms around Austin.

“See,” I told him, leaning up to kiss his cheek. “Don’t worry about tonight. Everything is going to be fine.”

---

It’s common knowledge that, for the most part, getting ready for a fancy party with your best friends is usually better than the actual party you attend. Now, I was pretty sure Austin’s launch party was going to be pretty damn amazing, but I was still having a great time getting dolled up with Cassie and Grace, my extra dates for the showcase.

“So, explain it to me again,” Cassie said as she touched up her lipstick. “The record still doesn’t drop until next week?”

“No, tonight is the first time he’s playing the songs, for industry people and hand-picked fans,” I explained. “It’s a really big deal. The plan is, everyone raves about it and builds the hype right before release.”

“Or they pan it, and it bombs,” Cassie said cheerfully.

“Don’t!”

“Why, have you heard it?” she asked. I paused.

“Not exactly.” Aside from a few—naked—snippets, the record was still a mystery to me too. “But it’s going to be great, I can just tell.”

I had left the two of them getting ready in Grace’s room to put the finishing touches on my makeup and slip into my dress. Before I stepped out into the living room, I took one last look at myself in my full-length mirror.

I looked good.

The black cocktail dress fit me like a glove, a long slit in the side showing off my legs when I walked, while the slim spaghetti straps had a whole Audrey Hepburn vibe. I had my hair down in vintage inspired waves and had allowed Cassie to do a dramatic cat-eye to pair with my bright red lips. I looked glamorous and sexy, and I hoped that Austin would go nuts when he saw me.

“Oh wow!” Grace breathed when I walked out of my bedroom. “You look gorgeous.”

Cassie gave me a standing ovation, looking equally beautiful in a tight red body-con dress with gold stilettos and kohl-rimmed eyes.

My phone buzzed. “The limo’s downstairs.”

Grace squeed. “A limo!”

“Austin promised the VIP treatment.” I beamed. I couldn’t wait to get to the show and see him. “Ladies.” I grabbed my bag. “Our ride awaits.”

---

We were whisked backstage the moment we arrived. The show was taking place in a cool club on the Lower East Side, the kind of venue with graffiti on the walls that was probably scribbled there by Blondie and Hole. I greeted Zoey, who looked as adorable and punk-rock as always in a perfectly tailored sleeveless tuxedo with her hair streaked with blue.

“Where’s Austin?” I asked excitedly, looking around the room. It was absolutely packed, standing room only, and I could recognize all kinds of celebrities. This was a really big deal!

Zoey bit her lip. “He’s actually having a bit of a freak-out right now,” she confessed before her expression brightened. “Maybe you can talk him out of it.” Zoey took me to Austin’s dressing room and knocked on the closed door.

“I’ve got someone here to see you,” she said before pushing it open.

Austin was sitting in front of the mirror, his expression drawn and worried. As we entered, he looked up, and I could tell he was ready to send Zoey away until he saw me. He stood.

“Hey,” he breathed, coming over. “You look incredible.”

“Thank you.” I blushed.

“I’ll leave you two alone,” Zoey said with a wink. “You’re on in ten.”

Austin nodded, but his eyes were focused on me.

“I think she knows,” I told him once Zoey had closed the door behind her.

“Zoey is very observant,” Austin agreed, and pulled me into his arms.

He kissed me deeply, and for a moment, the entire world fell away. We weren’t backstage at his concert, while hundreds of people waited for him to come out and play for them. We weren’t hiding away from our friends and family. We weren’t lying to the press. We were just Austin and Mia, two people lost in each other.

We broke apart and Austin rested his forehead against mine. “Talk to me,” I whispered.

“I’m nervous,” he confessed. “What if I can’t live up to the hype?”

“You can,” I said with confidence. “Remember what we heard this afternoon? People are excited about your music. They’re ready for you to share this next stage of your career.”

Austin managed a small smile.

“I wish I was just playing for you tonight,” he said wryly.

“You will be,” I promised. “I’ll be in the front row the whole time. So just ignore everyone else, and focus on me.”

Then, from far away, we heard a loud cheer coming from the direction of the stage. There was a knock on the door. It was Zoey.

She poked her head in.

“Time’s up,” she said with a grin. “Now go knock ’em dead.”