Eden considered it. She’d done a lot of things, but not that. Cake aside, the idea of blowing Willow’s mind was kind of hot. “I’d like to do something you’re into. Pay you back for the doctor thing.”

He smiled warmly at her. “Good to know.”

The prickly ‘need to run’ feeling re-emerged. Eden sipped her absinthe, hoping to kill it. “So, if you’re not a feeder, why are you so obsessed with me eating?”

Willow took a sip of beer. “Can I be honest?”

“Um… sure?”

“I mean it, do you like when people are honest? Or would you rather they kept things about you to themselves?”

She frowned. “I mean, if you think it’s important, I’d like you to be honest.”

“Cool.” Willow put down his beer. “Let me preface this by saying you are fucking stunning. Just the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

Eden flushed. “Okay…?”

“But you have massive shadows under your eyes and you’re so pale, you’re blue in places.”

The warm feeling that came over her at his compliment snuffed out like a candle flame. He was right. She looked rough. She’d played nine shows this week and barely slept. But she’d applied fuckloads of concealer and bronzer. No one was supposed to know.

This is the sun’s fault. I should only have to go out at night.

She picked up her drink.

“Hey,” Willow took her hand. “You’re beautiful. I’m not trying to neg you.”

“I know.” She sipped the absinthe. It burned her throat, but with Willow’s eyes on her, she kept drinking.

What had she eaten before yesterday? A bowl of the semi-stale Froot Loops and speckled, too-old almond milk. A watermelon lollypop. A box of chicken nuggets before the show. Her stomach sank. The day before. Surely, she’d eaten properly the day before? But, no. She’d woken at 5pm. She’d bummed a couple of cigarettes off Kieran before her show, then she’d eaten gummy bears in the green room. And the day before…

She stared at Willow in disbelief. “Holy fuck. How am I alive?”

He smiled. “You’re young and strong. And from what I’ve seen, you’re pumping yourself full of caffeine and booze. Not to mention...” He tapped his nose.

Eden smirked. “DJ, remember?”

“I remember.” He sighed heavily. “I’m not saying you have to get sober or anything, but your system’s taking a lot of knocks. You can’t party through all of them, or you’ll run down.”

Eden raised her drink to her lips but it was already empty. “Are you an actual doctor as well as a football-playing actor?”

“Nah, but when I was your age…” He let out a breath. “Fuck that makes me feel old, but yeah, when I was your age, I did kinda the same thing.”

“You weren’t eating?”