He lowered his voice. “Please, you’re the only person who can help us. You’re an amazing guitarist, and you already know our songs. We need you.”

I shook my head, looking anywhere but at him. Hearing him say he needed me with his whiskey-chocolate-sex voice made my legs a bit shaky, but what he was asking for? It was too much.

Jared got down on his knees, right in the middle of the hallway, and everyone stopped to watch us. He raised his hands like he was begging. “Please, this is our one chance, but without a fourth member, we can’t do it. You’re perfect and it’ll only be for a day, and then I’ll owe you. I’ll do anything you want.” He topped it off with a grin. “Help me, Maddie Taylor, you’re my only hope.”

Damn. How could I say no to a Star Wars reference from a hot guy on his knees? The word slipped out before I could stop it. “Okay.”

“Yes!” He jumped to his feet and hugged me, making my head spin. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. I really owe you one.”

The students around us clapped, like he’d just proposed to me or something. I gave the crowd a faint smile, feeling sick to my stomach. Jared quickly rattled off all the details about the audition tomorrow and told me to meet the band for practice in a few hours. And then he left, before I could come to my senses and change my mind.

Julie and Carla were watching House Hunters International when I walked into the apartment we all shared.

“You can just repaint the stupid room!” Julie yelled at the TV.

I collapsed on the sofa beside them and threw my head back with a groan. Now that Jared was no longer in front of me and the glow of his smile had worn off, the reality of what I’d agreed to do was sinking in. I couldn’t go on the show with the band, but I seemed to be physically unable to say no to Jared either. Maybe I could pretend I was sick. Or break my arm. Yes, I had to injure myself. That was the only way to get out of this mess.

“Was your final that bad?” Carla asked.

“Maybe she needs to eat.” Julie handed me a box of crackers, which I waved away. Eating was the last thing on my mind right now.

“My final was fine, except Jared was waiting for me outside my class.”

Julie dropped the box, spilling crackers across the hardwood floor. “He what?”

“Was he mad about last night?” Carla asked.

I’d told both girls the entire embarrassing story on the drive home from the party. They’d thought it was hilarious naturally. “No, he wasn’t mad. Even worse—he asked me to join his band.”

“WHAT?” Julie and Carla both blurted out together.