“OMG! Are you Garrett Wilder? Can I get your autograph? I’m like you’re biggest fan!”

Garrett’s head came up, a pissed-off expression on his face, at least until his green gaze landed on me. Then he shot to his feet, the guy he’d been having a conversation with before I showed up all but forgotten.

“Tatum fuckin’ Valentine. Christ, you’re a sight, sweetheart.” He scooped me up into a massive bear hug, lifting me right off my feet. Garrett had always been one of the biggest guys I’d ever known; even as a kid he was a head above the rest of our class. “God, it’s good to see you. Miss you like crazy, woman,” he exclaimed once my heels were back on the ground. The excitement pouring off of him caused a knot of tears to form and crawl up my throat, threatening to choke me.

“I’ve missed you too,” I croaked as wave after wave of nostalgia crashed over me. “It’s been a long time.”

“Fuck me,” he grunted, jerking me back into his massive body. “Give me another hug, girl. Jesus, it’s been too fuckin’ long.”

The people he’d been talking to were long gone by the time the hug ended, and I’d beaten back the threatening tears. “You have a few minutes to spare, or is Mr. Rock Star needed for something special?”

“Still such a smartass,” he chuckled. “Got all the time in the world for you, girl. Take a load off.” He pulled me down onto the couch next to him and made himself comfortable. It amazed me how easy it was to be in his presence after so long. It felt like no time had passed at all since the last time I saw him.

“You look great, Garrett. More ink than I remember,” I said, pointing at his bulging arms, “but still great.”

He flashed that dimpled smile I remembered from when we were kids. “Told you after the first tat, ink’s addictive.”

Man, I missed him. And I missed the other guys too. But I knew I couldn’t ask about them without Declan being included, so I had to keep to the safer topics, like those that were solely about Garrett.

“So,” I started, a teasing smile pulling at the corners of my mouth. “I saw you with that beautiful brunette earlier tonight. You finally settling down? She didn’t look like your typical groupie type.”

Something in his expression shifted dramatically—for the better. Just the mention of the woman made his face light up so damn bright it was like staring at the sun.

“Gwen’s something else, isn’t she? Never known a more beautiful woman in all my life.”

A part of me silently cheered while a smaller, quieter part grew just the slightest bit envious. I’d had that once. Then the jerk went and ruined everything. “So it’s serious?” I asked, genuinely wanting to know.

“As serious as it can get. We’re working through a rough patch, but that girl’s it for me.”

“Wow.” My eyes bugged out. “So you’re engaged, then?”

“Not yet.” He continued to beam. “But soon enough if I have my way. Tate, you won’t believe it. Wish with all my heart I could’ve reached out to you and told you sooner, but… I have a daughter.”

“Oh my god,” I gasped before clamping my hand over my mouth.

“Three years old. Name’s Liddy. Most beautiful little girl you’ve ever seen.”

“You’re a daddy,” I whispered reverently. “Garrett. That’s…. I’m so happy for you.”

“Took a while for me to pull my head outta my ass, but I couldn’t be happier than I am now, and it’s all thanks to those two.”

A laugh bubbled from my chest. “Why am I not surprised that it took you a bit to see what was in front of you. Never were the sharpest knife in the block.”

His head fell back on a bark of happy laughter. “You aren’t wrong there.” Then Garrett grew serious. “I want you to meet her, Tate. Both of my girls. I don’t want another decade to pass before I see you again. Losing you was like losing a piece of me, and I know Mace and Kill feel the same damn way.”

God, he was killing me. “Garrett.” I spoke quietly, giving my head a shake. “You know it’s not as easy as that.”

His expression grew stormy as a frown snuffed out the earlier happiness. “You were our friend too. He’s not the only one who lost you. It’s not fuckin’ fair.”

I gave him a sad smile, shrugging a shoulder. “Life’s rarely ever fair, Garrett. You know that as well as I do. But….” I couldn’t believe what I was about to say, but there was just no stopping it. “I’ll try. Okay? I want to meet your girls too.”

That seemed to make him happy, because the dark mood that was suddenly surrounding us lightened in the blink of an eye. “All I can ask, sweetheart. Now tell me about you.” One of his eyebrows shot up. “Camden Knight? Really?”

Letting out a giggle, I smacked him in the chest. “First of all, Camden’s just a friend. One of my best friends. Secondly, whether you want to admit it or not, you know damn good and well his music is amazing.”

“First of all,” he started, mimicking the tone I’d just used, “Used to be that me and the guys were your best friends, so that sucks. But… I’ll give you the second one. His shit’s not terrible.”

“I’ll be sure to pass along your kind words,” I laughed before my smile and blissful mood both fell flat. “I should probably go. We both have dates we need to get back to.”

“Yeah,” he said softly. “But yours is totally platonic, right? I’d hate to have to track the dude down and beat the shit out of him at such a swank party.”

“Totally platonic.” I grinned and stood from the couch. “It was good to see you again, Garrett. You have no idea.”

He followed me up, wrapping me in his arms once more. “Yeah I do, Tate. And this isn’t the last time. I don’t care if I have to hunt you down and drag your ass outta San Fran.”

I returned his hug just as tightly before pulling away and taking a step backward. “I’ll look forward to you trying. Take care for yourself. And tell Kill and Mace to do the same.”

A disappointed look marred his handsome face. “You could always tell them yourself, you know.”

That time, when I said his name it was in a warning.

“Okay, okay,” he relented, holding his hands up. “I’ll tell them. Anyone else you’d like me to give a message to?”

Tilting my chin down, I glared up at him through my lashes. “Nope. I covered everyone.”

Those dimples made another appearance. “All right, sweetheart. Take care of yourself. And don’t be a stranger, yeah?”

Blowing him a kiss, I headed back in the direction I’d last seen Camden, reaching into the tiny purse looped around my wrist to retrieve my cell phone.

Me: You about ready to go, or should I find other means of transportation?

His response came through a second later.

Camden: Give me five, cockblocker. I’ll meet you out front.

Me: I’ll give you ten just to prove I’m a good friend. And we’ll meet out BACK. Less paps.

Camden: 10-4

I headed in the direction of the back exit while shooting Camden’s driver a text telling him where he could find us. Then I dropped the phone back in my bag and pushed through the heavy metal door into the cool night.

The temperature might’ve dropped, but the pollution still hung heavy in the air, and there wasn’t a single star in the sky.

I hated LA.

To be honest, I hated most all of California, San Francisco included. The entire state held way too many memories. But my family, Lyla, and Will were still there, so I couldn’t bring myself to leave. And to top it off, Camden spent most of his time there close to me when he wasn’t touring or recording.

“Maybe I just need a vacation,” I muttered to myself as I leaned against the brick exterior of the swanky hotel.

I’d just closed my eyes and rested my head on the wall when a rough, gravelly sound from several feet away startled them open.

Looking to my right, I noticed the shadowed figures from the other side of a dumpster. I was just about to head back inside, worried I’d stumbled upon a mugger or something, when a familiar voice spoke, sending a chill down my spine.

“That’s right, baby. Suck it hard. Take all of it. I know you can do it.”

Oh my fresh hell. I’d have known that voice anywhere. Bile crept up my throat as I stood frozen in place.

“Uuuuuhnn,” he groaned. “Yeah, just like that. Fuck me, I’m about to come. Want you to swallow every fuckin’ drop I’m gonna give you.”

I was going to be sick. There was no doubt about it. It was the very same voice I’d heard when I walked into that hotel room years back and had my life destroyed by the one man who was supposed to love and cherish me as much as I did him.

Coming unglued from the pavement, I quickly turned and bolted back toward the door I’d exited minutes earlier.

“Whoa. Where’s the fire, honey?” Camden asked when I crashed into his strong chest just inside the ballroom door.

“What?”

He looked at me, his gorgeous face laced with concern. “You okay? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I panted, trying to catch my breath. “Nothing. I’m just ready to leave. Can we leave now?”

He looked like he wanted to push, but thankfully decided against it.

“Yep, we’re out of here.”

Thank God. As I let him lead me back outside, I kept my gaze straight ahead, refusing to look in the direction I’d heard Declan’s voice just short moments ago. I couldn’t risk seeing him, not after what I just heard.

Climbing into the sleek interior of Cam’s Bentley, I finally released an unsteady breath while thinking, Yep. I definitely need a fucking vacation.