I look down at my water and twist off the top, shaking my head. “You inspire me to get tested but not much else, my brother.”

Colt rolls his eyes as Remi laughs. My lips twitch at the sound, and my gaze follows it.

Build the walls. Fight the siren’s call.

“At least you’re creative with the insults.” Colt rotates to leave. “Channel that into something useful, and you might have a chance out there, kid.” He condescendingly slaps my cheek while I drink and whispers, “Be nice, asshole,” before he disappears around the corner.

Then it’s just me and her. Alone for the first time since San Francisco, when I lost the shred of control I have and had every intention of finger-fucking her by the stage.

Every second’s a betrayal, every touch a threat.

Fuck, I need to find a way to survive this tour with her. Or at least try.

She lowers her arms and starts to follow Colt out, but I rip off a scab for the sake of my sanity the next few months.

“You went to Sound Clash.” I spare myself the two years ago part. No intention of bleeding for her too.

When I spin around, Remi’s frozen, still facing away. Her shoulders rise in a deep breath, and then she slowly turns around. She hesitates, likely wondering how long before this turns.

I couldn’t tell her, but I’m fucking trying.

She steps closer when I wait expectantly, and the tension eases from her shoulders.

“I went to Sound Clash. A few years ago,” she says, but it was two. “It was amazing—everything you said it would be.”

I nod and repeat what I told her about the battle of the bands, “Wasted college kids, shitty riffs, and pure magic.”

She laughs, nodding back. “The magic part’s addicting. The atmosphere and crowd and … I don’t think anyone can really understand without being there.”

Without truly seeing it.

“You nailed it in your documentary. Maybe not as exhilarating as being on the stage yourself, but as close as you can get.”

“I can’t believe you watched it,” she says.

I could tell her the band watched everything when the label brought her on. Tell her Dev and Felix loved it too. Instead, I drop the veil fully. I speak to Remi Sinner but ask Remi Saint what I’ve really wanted to know.

“How far into the park did you go?”

Remi slams me with the emerald eyes. The mask hiding the sadness in them slips, yet she has the tiniest upturn to her mouth.

I half-smile, question answered. “You saw the fountain.”

“Really saw it,” she almost whispers.