The following morning I was up early. I put my very best effort into my appearance, wearing my favourite burgundy skirt with a cream lace top and black cardigan. I styled my wavy hair into loose curls and spent extra time on my makeup. I wanted to make a good impression at my interviews.

I heard a car pull to a stop just as I stepped outside and hitched my bag up on my shoulder. Most of the clubs had their own pianos, so I didn’t need to lug my keyboard around, which was a relief. I’d just I reached my gate when I stopped in surprise.

What is he doing here?

Trev exited his car with two takeaway coffee cups in hand and my breath caught at the sight of him. He wore a form-fitting white shirt and grey slacks, which was way more grown-up than the combats and hoodies he used to wear. I came over a little peculiar at the sight of him looking so adult.

“Perfect timing.” He grinned. “I was hoping I’d catch you before you left for your meetings.”

I stepped up to him and he held out one of the coffees. The aroma hit my nose and I couldn’t resist. I took a sip and the temperature was perfect just like his timing.

“Thanks,” I said. “What . . . um, what are you doing here?” I knew Trev as much as anyone could possibly know him, so I recognised when he had an ulterior motive. This wasn’t just a visit for the sake of a visit.

“I just wanted to stop by and wish you luck,” he said . . . like butter wouldn’t melt.

“And?”

He made an attractive expression as he gave in. “Fine. I also wanted to try and persuade you one last time to take the PA job. It could be the best three weeks of your life, Reya.”

I was already shaking my head. “Trev, you know I—”

“Look, just think about it,” he said and handed me a piece of paper. “We’re holding more interviews today. This is the address. If you stop by before five o’clock you’ll get to meet the gang. Maybe they can persuade you better than I can.”

I took the paper and unfolded it to find an address for an office building in the city. He really didn’t give up. I shoved it in my bag, no intention of using it, but I knew if I handed it back to him he wouldn’t take it. Hands in his pockets, he blew out a breath and I found the uncertainty in his gaze curious. He never used to have an uncertain bone in his body. In fact, he’d always been an act first think later type of person.

“Can I give you a lift to your first meeting?” he asked as I studied him.

My first instinct was to refuse, but like always I couldn’t resist the opportunity to spend more time with him. Some things never changed.

I nodded. “Sure. It’s in Camden.”

Trev smiled wide, that handsome expression that never failed to make my belly flutter as he gestured to his car. “I’ll have you there in no time.”

* * *

A few hours later I pulled the address from my bag, my attitude far different from what it had been earlier. Needless to say, my interviews didn’t go as well as I’d hoped. I never realised how good I had it at Club Echo. One manager wanted me to wear sexier clothes when I performed, another wanted to pay me a pittance, and the third basically propositioned me, insinuating I’d get the gig if I put out.

Eh, no.

Sometimes, even when you had talent, you couldn’t avoid creeps who wanted you to lower yourself just to get a gig. It was demoralising, and also the reason why I was now considering something I never would’ve considered just a few hours ago.

There was a lot of mental back and forth going on in my head. Should I take Trev up on his offer and potentially have the best few weeks of my life? Or do I decline and end up regretting it forever? I didn’t like regretting things, and I convinced myself that more good came of saying yes than saying no.

Even with this reasoning, I was still unsure what I was going to do as I took a cab to the address Trev gave me. I stared up at the impressive high-rise and scanned the names by the door, noticing one of them was Fielding Management & PR. That was the same company that managed Trev and his co-stars and explained the location.

My palms grew a little sweaty as I made my way inside. After exchanging a few words with a friendly receptionist, she directed me to a room on the 15^th floor. When I arrived, a handful of smartly dressed men and women sat on chairs in the waiting area. I could tell they were vying for the PA job by the résumés they held in their laps; some seemed more nervous than others.

A twist of guilt coiled in my belly to think I’d be taking a job from someone who needed it, but I needed it, too. It wasn’t until Trev presented me with the opportunity that I realised just how much. The idea of playing for new audiences, in cities I’d never get the chance to visit otherwise, made me feel alive again after months of feeling stale. I wanted this so badly it terrified me, because I was still working my head around the whole Trevor part of the deal.

If I said yes to this, he’d be back in my life. There was no going around, under or over it.

I saw James poke his head out of one of the rooms. He was the eldest of the Running on Air cast and had a kind yet handsome face. His coffee complexion was flawless, his brown eyes soulful and deep, and he always held himself with a sort of dignified calm I wished I could emulate. He was also an incredible free runner. He and Callum were the only two members of the cast I’d met before, besides Trev, and I knew he recognised me when our gazes clashed.

“Reya,” he said, coming towards me, his arms open for a hug. “Trev said you might be popping by.”

“Yeah, he invited me over. I hope that’s okay,” I replied as we exchanged a quick but warm embrace.

“Of course it is. Come on in,” he said and ushered me inside the room.

Music was playing when I stepped into the large office space. There was a heavily pregnant woman by the window on a phone call, and a dark-haired man working on a laptop at the desk. Trev and Callum were tossing a basketball back and forth to each other from opposite ends of the room, while Leanne sat on a couch scrolling through a tablet.

Paul came towards us with a smile and my heart skipped a beat. He was even cuter in real life, all red hair and azure blue eyes.

“Who’s this?” he asked, his voice friendly.

“This is Reya,” James said. “She’s an old friend of Trev’s.”

“Oh, the one who might be filling in for Jo?” Paul asked, looking even happier as his attention rested on me. “Please take the job. I’m begging you. I’ll die if I have to sit through another interview.”

“Don’t be so melodramatic,” James chided. That was when Trev noticed I was there. He threw the ball to Callum so hard he winded him and strode across the room.

“Reya, you came,” he said, beaming, and pulled me into a hug. Wasn’t I getting all the hugs today? I pulled back, a little overwhelmed by the attention, as Trev guided me to Leanne.

“Leanne, this is my friend, Reya. The one I was telling you about.”

She put down her tablet and glanced up at me. She was a petite little thing with short black hair, bright blue eyes, and a pretty face that was at odds with the toughness she exuded. She stood and held out her hand, all casual.

“Good to meet you, Reya,” she said as we shook.

“What? Don’t I get an introduction?” Callum interrupted and Leanne rolled her eyes.

I guessed things still weren’t so rosy between those two, not that they ever had been. Like Karla, I was fascinated by their antagonistic, love-hate relationship on TV. I had to admit, it was a little exciting to be witnessing it in real life. Leanne didn’t wear make-up and was usually found in a uniform of black jeans, white T-shirt and leather boots.

Conversely, Callum was a pretty boy heart-throb, with a body of muscle and ink, and a face made to be on billboards. He was the kind of man you saw with a glamour model on his arm, not an androgynous tomboy who didn’t have a glamorous bone in her body. I guessed that was where the antagonism came in. Maybe they both resented the fact they were attracted to one another.

“Hi, Callum,” I said. “I’m Reya. We’ve met a few times before.” He was by far the prettiest member of the cast, and that was saying something because they were all incredibly good looking. Callum had light brown hair, piercing green eyes, and like I said, tattoos covering every inch of his perfectly toned body.

“Right, yeah, I remember,” he said, giving me the once-over. “You’re the piano chick. Haven’t seen you around in a while. How’ve you been keeping?”

“As well as can be expected.”

Next Trev guided me over to introduce me to the pregnant lady, who was Jo, the PA I might be filling in for, and then Neil, the other assistant I’d be working alongside.

“Can I talk to you in private for a minute?” I asked Trev, and he nodded then led me through a door into a smaller, empty office. He closed the door and folded his arms.

“What’s up?”

Being alone with him was unexpectedly heady. His eyes travelled down my outfit and back up to my face. I self-consciously dragged a hand through my curls and took a deep breath. “This is all moving very fast.”

He frowned. “You didn’t come for the job?”

“No, I did. Well, I’m considering it at least. My interviews went horribly, which is mostly the reason why I’m here,” I confessed.

A flicker of amusement claimed his features. “So, it’s a last resort, huh? Colour me flattered.”

I gave him a light slap on the arm. “That’s not it. You know I’d be a fool to turn this down, I’m just a little wary of what it means for us.”

Trev studied me a moment, weighing his response. “I told you I’d like us to be friends again.”

I eyed him warily. “And that’s all?”

He was silent for longer than the question warranted, his throat bobbing as he swallowed. “That’s all.”

Relief flooded me, even if I did feel that familiar tinge of disappointment. There was once a time when he looked at me like I was everything he ever wanted, but that time had passed and I needed to accept it. At least this way I knew he’d keep his distance if I did decide to take the job. The ‘friendship’ label would make things easier for me, like a wall of safety I knew not to pass.

“Okay, well, I still need some time to think about it.”

Trev gave me a tender smile and reached forward to squeeze my upper arm for a second. Worrying butterflies flooded my belly at the momentary contact, but I ignored them. “Let’s go talk to the others then, yeah? Maybe they’ll help you make a decision.”

He led me back out, calling, “I need you for a minute, guys.”

The assistants, Jo and Neil, continued working, while the others congregated on the couch. I sat down on the single armchair across from them and tried not to let my nerves get the better of me. I rubbed my palms discreetly on my skirt. Trev was still wearing the same outfit from this morning and it was having a weird effect on me. When I glanced at him his eyes traced the curve of my hips then rose to my face. He shifted in his seat then turned to address his friends.

“So, you all know how difficult it’s been finding someone to fill in for Jo? Reya is a friend of the family and I’ll vouch for her. I think we should give her the position, at least while we’re filming.”

“She has my vote,” said James right away.

“Mine, too,” Paul added with a boyish grin that made my chest flutter. It was nothing like what Trev did to me, but it was still pleasant. I hadn’t had that feeling of being appreciated since I broke up with David. Still, I needed to get a hold over my crush on him because it made me feel like a perv. Paul was five years my junior.

“And mine,” said Leanne, which surprised me because she seemed a little standoffish before. Then again, from what I’d observed on the show, that was how she was with most people.

“Hold up,” said Callum. “I want to know a little more about her before we just hand over the job.”

Leanne narrowed her gaze at him. “She’s Trev’s friend. Why do you always have to be such a dick?”

“Because you love my dick,” Callum shot back crassly and I stiffened.

“Oh, hon, are you confusing love with sympathy again?” Leanne crooned. “I don’t love your dick. I feel sorry for it because it’s so tiny, remember?”

“Leanne,” Jo called warningly, having overheard the comment, though she was still on the phone. “Enough of that.”

“Whatever. He started it,” Leanne grumped and folded her arms while Callum shot her a triumphant grin. I was surprised Jo spoke with such authority, given she was only a PA. Then again, she was in her thirties, a good few years older than the group, and she had a natural air of bossiness about her. Would I have to be like her if I took over her role? I wasn’t sure I could handle that.

“Do you watch the show?” Callum asked, his attention returning to me.

“Yes,” I answered, lacing my fingers together in my lap. “Like Trev said, I’m a close friend of his family. We watch the show together all the time.”

“You think it’s good?” he went on, and Trev shot him a disgruntled look.

“Of course,” I said politely. “I think you’re all very talented. I know I couldn’t do what you do. Some of your stunts are downright terrifying.”

That seemed to assuage him a little, and I knew Callum was the one I was going to have to win over. Most people considered him the leader of the group, which he was, sort of, but it was more complicated than that. By all accounts, Callum and Trev held the most power, with Callum appearing to be the top dog. However, if Callum was the king, then Trev was the kingmaker, the one who pushed him forward and pulled his strings, whispered in his ear.

And everyone knew kingmakers held far more power than kings.

Obviously, I’d spent way too much time thinking about all this, watching the show and analysing the mechanics of the group.

“Oh yeah, and what’s been your favourite so far?”

I considered my answer. “When Paul dove off the roof of that office building to land on the window-cleaning scaffold. My heart was literally in my throat the entire time I was watching it.”

Paul made a little flourish and shot me another smile. “I aim to please.”

“Mission accomplished,” I said and smiled back.

When I glanced at Trev, his expression was slightly pinched. He didn’t like the natural rapport between us, that much was clear. I could tell he still remembered me claiming Paul was my favourite, but I was glad he didn’t mention it. That would’ve been awkward.

“Okay, I guess you can’t be any worse than some of the others we’ve seen,” Callum finally allowed, and Trev’s irritation visibly increased.

“I’m gonna have to echo Leanne’s sentiments, Cal. Don’t be a dick.”

He shrugged and rose from the couch, going to grab the basketball again.

“I better go inform those waiting that the position’s been filled,” said James as he headed for the door.

“He needs a fucking reality check,” said Leanne quietly, speaking of Callum. “I’m sick of his attitude. It’s like he thinks he’s better than the rest of us.”

“You know he’s always been like that, even before we were on TV,” said Paul as he threw his arm around her petite shoulders.

“Mm-hmm,” she mumbled, but she still seemed unhappy. I didn’t know it was possible for such a tiny person to hold so much tension in their body. She practically hummed with it, and I was suddenly curious to know the whole story behind her animosity towards Callum, and vice versa.

When I glanced up, Trev was standing over me, his hand outstretched. I let him pull me up to stand and we stared at each other for a second.

“Made up your mind yet?” he asked.

My throat ran dry, but my gut still twisted with indecision. “Not yet.”

His eyes sparkled a little at the challenge. “Guess I’ll have to up my game then.”