Sunday, Meg, Kara, and I hit half a dozen stores in search of the perfect dress. Meg settles on a short, hot pink number with matching wedges. She'll be taller than everyone in attendance, including her boyfriend, but she doesn't seem to mind. Kara is perfectly demure in a clingy navy dress that hugs every one of her enviable curves.

And I end up in a long, chiffon, pastel purple gown. It's the kind of girly thing I would have skipped to avoid one of Nathan's not quite kidding why don't you dress like a grown up taunts.

Fuck him. I like it.

When I get home, dinner is waiting. Take out Thai food. And, better yet, Pete has the entire collection of The Hunger Games movies ready.

I melt into the couch all night, wake up in his bed, in his arms. I have to hustle to get to class on time, but I don't mind rushing. I don't mind squeezing in my homework when he's busy with wedding prep. It feels amazing being with him. Like we're a normal couple.

It feels amazing enough that I let myself forget about my dad, about next week, about everything but being with Pete.

* * *

I meet Kara at the airport Friday afternoon. Everyone else flew to Maui yesterday. The guys are rock stars—they can keep to whatever schedule they want. Meg skipped her Thursday classes. Willow took the entire week off. She is the bride to be.

Kara and I weren't willing to skip class. I'm not sure if that makes us admirably devoted or tragically workaholic.

She waits until we're settled in our first class—Tom insisted—seats to launch into real discussion.

"Are you excited?" she asks.

I nod. "Tom seems like a great guy. And Willow too. She almost cried over how happy she was that Pete was happy with me."

She smiles. "I almost cried. Pete's a great guy. And you two are adorable. Not just because you're all blond and blue-eyed and he's all tall, dark, and handsome. He lights up around you. He's gaga."

"I don't know about that."

"Trust me. He is."

How is it everyone knows my relationship better than I do?

"Thanks." I find my Kindle in my purse and pick out a YA novel about a princess finding love. "I hope you're right."

"Do you have any doubts?"

Shit. Not going there. But I don't want to lie either. I'm tired of tip toeing around things. "We haven't talked much about the future."

"You know musicians. They live in the moment. He'll figure it out. And if he doesn't—" She shows off her thick wedge shoe.

"I'm not sure you could take Pete."

She laughs. "No, I'm sure I couldn't." She shifts back into her seat. "Guys, they can be damn stupid sometimes. Don't let him run away from what he wants."

I nod. But she has it all wrong. Pete isn't a gentleman. He doesn't walk away when he wants something.

If he walks, it will be because he doesn't want me.

* * *

The Hawaiian air is sweet and sticky. It's late. Very late. But the warm air has me wide awake.

Even the airport parking lot is beautiful. The sky is a glorious shade of blue and there are tall, tropical trees everywhere.

We take a cab to the hotel and go directly to room 3045, Drew's room, for a combined bachelor/bachelorette party.

The massive room is mostly dark except for the light coming from the TV. Everyone in the band, plus Meg and Willow, is sitting on a couch or on the floor. The bride and groom to be are fawning all over each other. It's not very bachelor party. But it is cute.

There's a karaoke machine hooked up to the TV.

Meg stands to take her turn. She waves hello to us then waves us over. "Join me!"

"Water first," I say.

Kara nods. But before she can make it to the bathroom, Drew has her in a tight embrace. She's on her tip toes. He's leaning down. They have quite the height difference.

"Missed you, baby. It's been too long," she purrs.

"It's been a day." Tom shakes his head. "He's trying to upstage me."

"You're about to spend the week banging his sister. Let him have a moment," Miles says.

"Come on, Jess." Meg motions come here. "You must know this one. It's Lady Gaga."

"Then I know it." I take the other mic and join her in the sexy pop song.

When we're finished, we bow. Everyone claps.

Pete is still on the opposite couch, watching me with affection in his eyes. I swallow hard. Even if we're closer to a couple than to nothing, I need to keep attention off us and on the bride and groom to be. It's their day. I'm not stealing the spotlight.

I move to the couch. He looks up at me, sliding his arms around my hips then pulling me into his lap. My legs have a mind of their own. My knees plant outside his thighs. My hands go to his shoulders.

"Flight okay?" He finds the tie holding my French braid together and pulls it out.

My sex clenches. Usually, he does that before he touches me. "About as good as a flight can be. I'm exhausted."

"Sorry, Jess, but you're fucked tonight. You have to do whatever I say." Tom smirks. "Or whatever Willow says."

"What if I tell her to go to bed?" Willow asks.

"You'd really disrespect me like that, kid?"

She laughs.

On the other couch, Meg is in Miles's lap, cooing as he presses his lips against her neck. They look like they're about to fuck right here.

Meg pulls back with a sigh.

Miles adjusts her so they're in a less compromising position. "You gonna sing backup on the next single, babe?"

"No way in hell," she says.

He laughs. "A cover? You sure you can live up to the original. Hear that guy kills it."

She rolls her eyes but she's clearly enjoying his ribbing.

"A cover, you say." Tom pushes himself to his feet. He looks at Pete. "You want to take this one or should I?"

"You," Pete says. "I'll get the next one."

Miles groans, but there's a hint of delight in his voice. "It hurts Drew more than it hurts me—that polyphonic melody."

"I've heard the stories." Willow folds her arms. "No punching. Tom needs to be beautiful in pictures." She looks at Tom. "And don't punch Drew. He's my maid of honor. He needs to be even more beautiful."

Kara jumps in. "Oh, what do you say, baby? Will you wear some eyeliner tomorrow?" She runs her hand through his hair.

He looks at her like she's ridiculous.

Tom shakes his head. "Still can't accept he's in an emo band."

"Don't bait him!" Kara glares at Tom. "I want my baby in eyeliner."

Drew shakes his head but he's smiling. He looks to Kara then to Willow. "Whatever the bride wants."

Kara presses her hands together and throws Willow a pleading look. The girls giggle over Drew's obvious discomfort.

The giggles fade as Tom steps up to the mic. The man commands the attention of a room. It's easy to see why he's the closest thing the band has to a ring leader.

Tom winks at Willow. "This is for you, kid."

She laughs with glee. Her eyes get wide. That's true love. It's as clear as day.

Tom steps onto the coffee table. He does his best impression of Miles's throaty, breathy singing as he moves through the song. Come the second verse, he rips off his shirt and claws at his chest tattoo. It's a funny, and accurate, impression. By the time he's done, everyone is in stitches. Even Miles.

Pete turns to me. "You seduced?"

"What if I am?" I ask.

"Have to win you over." He plays with the bottom of my skirt.

"Ahem." Tom shakes his head with mock outrage. He nods to the mic as if to say your turn.

Pete smiles as he takes the mic. He programs in the next song, another Sinful Serenade number, and steps up on the table.

His eyes lock with mine. He motions to the mic. "Hold this for me for a sec."

I do.

He pulls his shirt over his head, stretching long and lean, showing off his chiseled torso.

"That's better." Pete takes the mic back. "Can't sing in a shirt. Where would all the pain in my soul go?" He winks at Miles. "Usually, I'd dedicate this to Mr. Webb, but this time, it's for the lovely Ms. James."

I take a seat and watch him perform. He's more animated than he was at Miles's place. He does a great job mocking Miles's breathy style, better than Tom did.

But there's more to the song than mocking.

I can feel the pain in his soul.

I fall back onto the couch.

He finishes the song to great applause. His eyes go to Willow. "Bride to be's request."

"Do another. Please!" She claps her hands together. "Pretty, pretty please."

"Anything for my adoring fans." He winks at Miles. Then at me.

Then he's back on the table, singing another Sinful Serenade song in a lovingly mocking way.

Every ounce of my attention is on him. The passion in his deep brown eyes. The exaggerated movements of his lips and tongue. The way he rakes his hand over his chest. It's an imitation of Miles but it's sexy in its own way.

When he's done, I'm thoroughly seduced.

"Oooo, my choice still?" Willow asks.

Everyone nods.

She claps her hands together in excitement. "Drew! Please!!!"

The guitarist groans.

"You're my favorite brother," she says. "This time tomorrow, Pete will be my brother-in-law, so you'll finally have competition."

"No competition. I win, hands down," Pete says.

Drew rolls his eyes but he's smiling. The guy isn't as uptight as he lets on.

Kara coos. "I'm going to have to drag you to the bedroom after this."

His eyes light up. He grabs the mic right out of Pete's hand.

Pete laughs, good natured. Happy.

It makes me all gooey, how happy he is.

He slides back onto the couch next to me. His arm goes around my waist. He leans in to whisper in my ear. "I'm glad you're here."