CARRIE, THE DRIVER, dropped me off at the hotel. I sat in the foyer, looking all scruffy and dirty. The staff kept side-eying me, but no one said anything. I got out my phone and messaged Crow.

I’m here. I’m in the lobby.

There was nothing to do but wait. I’d thought of not letting him know. I’d be able to get an access pass for the concert from Elijah, and I could just appear backstage, but that idea had so much potential for disaster. I also thought about messaging Polly, but I wanted to talk to Crow first. Also, I didn’t want everyone in the lobby to hear her scream at me over the phone.

I found a sofa to sit on while I waited. I wished I’d gotten something to eat first. My stomach rumbled. I needed some kind of nourishment.

“What are you doing here?”

I stared up at Crow. He wasn’t smiling.

“I needed to see you. I needed to see you without Polly interfering.”

“All hell is going to break loose. You know that. She’ll freak out, thinking you could be dead in a ditch somewhere. You need to tell her, and then head back on the next train.”

I pouted. He could be more pleased to see me.

“Can I at least have a shower? I’m all stinky. And you know, since I’m already here, it wouldn’t hurt to go to the festival. It’s not like I’d get back in time to rehearse, anyway.”

He scratched his head. “I’m not sure. Ring Polly and see what she says. I don’t want any trouble.”

I grinned. There wasn’t much Polly could do while I was this far away, and I’d get to be naked in Crow’s room. That would put plenty of temptation in his way.

We went up to his room. When I had some privacy, I called Polly.

She sighed when she answered the phone. At least she wasn’t yelling. “I guess I know where you are,” she said.

“You’d guess right.” I didn’t want to sound too happy in case it got her mad.

“Fay, you are the biggest idiot. I have no idea how you got there, but if you do anything like that again, I’ll throttle you. You could’ve died.”

“Well, I didn’t. I’m fine.”

“Let me talk to Crow,” she said.

I didn’t want to, but I had no choice. I handed him the phone. He turned his back to me so I couldn’t see his face. All I heard was a few mumbles from him.

When he turned back, I peeled my t-shirt off.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Having a shower, like we agreed.”

He grabbed his bag out of the wardrobe and slung it over his shoulder.

“Wait... What? Where are you going?” I asked him. He wasn’t just going out for food, because he had all his stuff.

“Damo’s room. You can stay for the festival, but you’ll be staying here alone.”

Before I could protest, he walked out of the room. This was not part of my plan. What had happened to those passionate kisses? The way he stared at me until my body burned? I didn’t like this new iciness.

Still, I could stay the night. He might be all business now, but later tonight, he’d feel differently. I just had to bide my time. I jumped in the shower, then dressed and redid my makeup. I was more than ready for this festival.

I waited near the elevator for the others so we could get the bus to the festival.

“Whoa, Firecracker,” Elijah said when he saw me. “You’re turning into a bundle of trouble.”

He ruffled my hair, which really annoyed me.

I wasn’t trying to be trouble. I just knew what I wanted, and I went for it. Was that a bad thing? If Crow really didn’t want me, I’d have backed off, but I had no reason to think that.

“It worked for you,” I said to him, and nodded at Rose.

“You’re right about that. Want to be flower girl at our wedding?”

He really did think I was a little kid.

“Flower girl? I’m not a little kid. Tell me you’re joking, or I’ll kill you before you get to the altar. Hey, wedding?”

“Yep, no more screwing around for me. The ball and chain is firmly on.”

I laughed at him. He could say that, but anyone could see from the way he glowed that he loved it, and he loved Rose.

“You’re going to have hell to pay when you see Polly again,” he said. “I would not want to be in your shoes. She’s one scary lady when she’s angry.”

“Well, so am I,” I told him.

My heart wasn’t in that, though. Crow’s reaction had taken the wind out of my sails. Maybe I’d made a huge mistake coming here. When I left Brussels, I’d wanted to prove a point to Polly, but with some time to think about it, I realized I had been stupid. She really did have reason to be angry with me.

“Ease off a bit,” Elijah said quietly. “Guys like to be the hunter.”

I scoffed. “In what century?”

“In all centuries. You don’t have to be all meek and mild, just back off a bit. Don’t scare the guy.”

I folded my arms and leaned against the wall. Screw Elijah and his advice. I didn’t scare Crow. He was a whole different person from Elijah. The whole time we’d been in Amsterdam, I’d been laid back and friendly, and that hadn’t worked at all. We’d hung out and had fun, but if we’d stayed like that, we’d have been at the friend’s level for the rest of our lives. I didn’t want to be friends with Crow. I wanted the full experience.

Soon, the bus arrived. Fartstard came to gather us up. He did a double take when he saw me.

“Yeah, I’m here, despite your betrayal,” I said.

“Sorry, but if I’m going to be in anyone’s bad books, your books are much preferable to Damo and Polly’s. It’s just expedient, that’s all.”

He could say that, but he needn’t expect me to be friendly to him ever again.

Crow turned up just as we were ready to leave. I smiled at him, but he ignored me. That cut right down to the bone. We got on the bus, and Damo sat down beside me.

“Are you going to give me a proxy lecture from Polly?” I asked.

“Nope, but, Fay, you’re really interfering with my love life. She’s become totally focused on you. She has nothing left for me.”

I’d thought it might be like that, but I hadn’t asked to be Polly’s first priority.

“Maybe you should talk to her about that, not me. Her obsession with my sex life is becoming a bit creepy.”

“She feels responsible for you. The whole family thing. It’s not that she wants to make you miserable. She just doesn’t want to see you hurt.”

“Why does everyone think I’m going to get hurt? I can have a happily ever after,” I said.

“You can. I’m not denying that. What I am denying is that your happily ever after will be with Crow. He’s a great guy, a fantastic drummer, but he’s no knight in shining armor, by any means.”

I looked out the window, not answering him. Why would I want a knight in shining armor? Would a white knight push me against the wall and kiss me until my lips bruised and my insides screamed for his touch? Because, now I’d had that, I wouldn’t be happy with anything less.