Hypnagogic pop vibrated through the walls of Eden’s dressing room, making her teacup rattle and her hands shake as she glued diamantés to her cheeks. DewwFloral was tearing up the main stage. Eden had panicked when she first heard her play, the girl had such power, such control in her music that she was sure it heralded her downfall. Then she remembered there were allowed to be more than two female DJs. After that set, she’d gone to congratulate Deww and she’d hugged her and said she loved Milkmaid. Eden wished she and Deww were going on tour together. Maybe in the future. They could bring on another woman and play an all-female show.

With difficulty, she fixed the last diamanté to her cheek. She’d done them like freckles hoping to look more like a country girl than a bride. Her wedding dress hung on the back of the dressing room door, flapping accusingly in the air conditioning.

She and Kieran had already had a fight about the dress. Eden hadn’t wanted to wear it, Kieran had warned her now wasn’t time to change her style. She had a massive tour looming and social media had to show her at her peak. They had a point, but how long could she perform in a costume designed as a fuck you to her family? She’d left the house on Hudson Hill. Wasn’t it time to get a new gimmick?

As she studied the wedding dress, a bone caught in her throat. She imagined putting it on and her fingers itched to tear the cheap material into strips.

There was a gentle knock at the door and Eden moaned. She was still barefoot and in her underwear. “Andy, I need a minute.”

“What if it’s not Andy?”

Her heart stopped. She knew that voice. She loved that voice. “Willow…?”

A warm laugh. “It’s me, pretty girl. Can I come in?”

She ran to the door, hands shaking as she turned the lock. “Yes, come in! Come in!”

Seeing him was like the sun emerging from heavy clouds, but she stepped back, determined to memorise the way he looked, big and broad, his red hair shining even in the dim light.

“Hi, baby.” His gaze fell to her chest. “Whoa. I’ve missed your body.”

“I’ve missed yours, too.”

“So why aren’t we hugging?” He opened his arms and she skipped into them like a schoolgirl, moaning when she caught his scent.

Willow cackled. “What the hell was that?”

“Shut up.” Eden jumped, wrapping her legs around his waist. He hoisted her higher, stroking her back and shoulders. “You’re going on stage soon, aren’t you?”

“Who cares?” She buried her face in his neck. “I can’t believe how much I need you.”

“I guess that’s been kind of our problem, hey?”

“A bit. Sorry, I couldn’t get with the program.”