I let out a puff of air and half-smile. “I have a head start on one of those at least.”

My call with Smith finally happened, and what he said was so much better than I ever hoped for.

“Make a plan, Foster. Be the charming motherfucker I know you can be and then kick on the broody looks to guarantee results. She’ll be there when the tour ends, and you’ll realize she missed you as much as you’re missing her.” Then he shrugs. “They always say distance makes the dick grow harder and shit.”

There it is. The bro-spiration.

I snort, shaking my head. “You are the worst.”

“Yeah,” he sighs out as I kill the joint. “And you’re in love, brother. Again.”

Exhaling, I correct him, “Still.”

When I glance over, he claps me on the shoulder and grins. “Another thing that never ends, huh?”

Colton waltzes back over, looking put out. “She said she’d punish you in the morning. Ruined my night if I’m being honest.” He pulls the wicker chair so he’s facing me and Chase when he sits.

“You need to be done being petty, my brother,” I tell him.

He wrinkles his nose. “Give me a good reason, and I’ll consider it.”

I slump back in my chair, looking at the horizon beyond him. “We have stops to add on the tour for groveling.”

He sighs. “Fine. And we’re renegotiating my contract for more pay.”

Of course we are.

42

REMI

I am enamored with Adams North.

He’s perfected being a dick. He’s demanding. He’s rough around the edges, soft, compassionate, stubborn, sweet, and each one of those bits of him shows in the footage Xander has sent through in the last couple days.

And it’s not just him. Felix and Dev open up more, and the band’s cohesiveness and dynamic take center stage.

The band members are interviewing each other randomly. They pop on the glasses for candid moments between themselves, whether it’s in their pre-show huddle, showing their circled shoes, or sneaks behind the bunk curtain when one’s asleep.

All of the new stuff is amazing, raw, real.

Of course I know exactly who is responsible. The man behind it all.

Because Foster’s sending pictures and videos straight to me. Like he used to.

Between concerts and writing, which he also shares, he shows me forgotten places and accidental finds in different cities up the Eastern Coast.

And fountains. He seeks out a fountain in every city for me.

An annoyed Colt is a frequent flyer, accompanying Foster from place to place. But he looks annoyed at the activity, not the man, so at least he seems to have forgiven his best friend.