Her phone rang while they were driving.

“That’s probably one of the girls wondering where we are,” Karoline said.

Harper was almost afraid to look at her screen. If by chance it was Tobias, she wouldn’t want her sister to know. But he hadn’t contacted her since asking that one question, so she figured she didn’t have much to worry about. “It’s Matt,” she said, surprised to see his picture.

“From the band?”

“Yeah.”

“What could he want?”

“I don’t know.” She felt a moment’s panic. “I hope there’s nothing wrong with Axel.” She answered before Karoline could say anything else. “Hello?”

“Harper, do you have a minute?”

“Is everything okay?” she asked instead of answering.

“With…”

“The band? The tour? Axel?”

“Everything’s fine. Except…”

Karoline stopped at a red light, watching Harper curiously.

“Except…” Harper prompted.

“It’s Axel. He isn’t the same. We can’t get him to focus, and we need him to be on top of his game, you know? This is a big tour, a huge opportunity for us—and he’s the front man.”

“I don’t understand,” she said. “What’s wrong with him?”

“You’re driving him crazy, cutting him off the way you have!”

Harper stiffened at the accusation in his voice. “I haven’t ‘cut him off.’ We’re divorced.”

“He’s losing his mind thinking you’re with this other guy.”

“I’m not with anyone.”

“You and I both know what I’m referring to.”

Harper was relieved that he didn’t get specific. On the one hand, what she did, especially now, was none of his business. But on the other hand… Well, Axel had involved him.

“That phone call crushed him,” he went on. “He can’t concentrate, doesn’t want to sing. He keeps asking to return to the States, is missing his kids.”

It was about time he missed his kids. Harper had begun to wonder if that was ever going to happen. “The world won’t end if he cuts the tour short and comes back to see them.”

“What are you talking about? He can’t cut the tour short! People have bought tickets. The promoters will never work with us again.”

“Then I don’t know what to say. I wasn’t the one who planned the tour over Christmas, and it wasn’t my idea to get the divorce.”

“I understand that. But…can’t you talk to him? Reassure him? Figure out some way to keep him going so we can finish this thing?”

“How am I supposed to do that?” she asked.

“Just let him know you’re not really with that guy you were…with.”

“I’ve told him that!”

“Then be more convincing!”