I can’t love him. I don’t love him.

But she was inhaling his scent, and everything felt right.

“I missed you,” he growled in her ear. “I’m so fucking glad we’re together.”

Muscles she hadn’t known she was clenching relaxed. Nothing else mattered. Not her drinking, or her un-booked tour, or the thing she’d thought on the yacht. Willow was here. Everything was okay. “I missed you too.”

He grabbed her legs, hoisting her around his hips. “Good.”

They stared into each other’s eyes, and it occurred to her that she wasn’t scared. Anytime she’d had a boyfriend, thoughts of ‘is this the last person I’ll ever fuck?’ crept in, but she just didn’t have that with Willow.

He squeezed her tighter. “What, baby?”

Eden smiled. “I don’t feel trapped with you.”

“Good…?”

“No, like, I don’t feel trapped with you. Like, you don’t realise how crazy that is. Nothing about you freaks me out.”

He lowered his lips to hers, hovering just before a kiss. “Good.”

Then he kissed her, one of the slow, melting kisses that turned her brain around.

You’re going on tour. If you love him so much now, how are you gonna feel after months away?

Eden shoved the thought aside, kissing Willow with everything she had. For now, she was happy. Everything else could wait.

“Hey, guys!” It was Beth, hand-in-hand with her handsome boyfriend.

Willow beamed at her. “Ginger!”

Beth gave him a small salute. “Ginger. Eden, this is my boyfriend, Byron Thomas. Byron, this is Eden Jade… I don’t know your last name.”

“Cartwright,” Eden held out a hand and Byron shook it silently.

Beth elbowed him. “Smile, Aquarius.”

He gave her a small smile. “I’ve heard your music. It’s good.”

Thanks,” Eden said, surprised.

“God, man, do you ever shut up?” Willow jerked a thumb at Byron. “This guy never stops talking.”

Byron ignored him. “Does anyone want a drink?”

“Sure,” Beth and Eden said at the same time.

Willow clapped Byron on the shoulder. “Let’s go for a wander, chatterbox.”

As they waited for the boys to return, Eden and Beth danced to the Rozes song blaring over the speakers.

“Do you hate mainstream stuff?” Beth yelled.

“No way. Sometimes I play Ariana. Fuck the haters.”

Beth gave her a high-five as a gorgeous person in a leopard costume stalked past. “Lap dance?” they purred.

“Maybe later,” Beth said, holding her fingers like cat claws. The leopard hissed, and Beth cracked up. “This is the best party. Mara really knows her stuff.”

“She does. That being said, where are the bathrooms?”

Beth squinted. “I think there are some on the right. Want me to come?”