‘Um … I think you might want to stop for a minute.’ Dee opened the bedroom door and peered around it. ‘There’s someone here to see you.’

I untwisted my legs. ‘Who?’ I asked.

‘You’re not going to believe this.’

‘What?’

‘It’s Michael Reyji Ray.’

‘You’re kidding me.’ My heart began to pound. ‘No way. If this is a joke … this is a joke, isn’t it? I didn’t tell him where I lived.’

‘His driver took you home, right?’ said Dee.

‘Michael’s here? He’s really here?’ The words were almost a squeal.

‘He’s really here. But Lorna, don’t go doing anything silly now.’

‘I … hang on.’ I checked my reflection in the mirror, pulling fingers through my hair to give it more volume, then drew on the same kohl eyes I’d worn last night.

‘Lorna.’ Dee stepped into the bedroom and closed the door. ‘If he asks you to go on tour, you won’t go, will you?’

My hand hesitated as I drew on kohl. ‘Of course not. I’m not running off and leaving you alone.’

‘Be careful. I don’t have a good feeling about this.’

‘You know, he said he and his wife are sort of separated. Good friends, nothing more.’

‘Isn’t that what they all say? You’re not yourself. You’ve got like … crazy cult-victim eyes.’

‘We had this amazing connection. We both felt it, I swear to you.’

A seed of denial lies in all of us. Michael was just a gardener. I know that now.

I checked my reflection in the mirror again and threw on the denim jacket with Michael’s picture on it.

Okay, okay.

Breathe.

The front door was slightly ajar. Michael’s low voice came through the gap: ‘Is my punk princess in there?’

Oh my God, oh my God. It really was him. He was here at my apartment.

I ripped open the door, heart pounding, legs weak. And there he was: Michael Reyji Ray on my doorstep.

Michael wore black jeans and a black T-shirt. His hair was dazzling white-blond and his eyes still shone with dark, mesmerizing light.

I started to giggle then and couldn’t stop.

Michael managed a smile. ‘Something funny?’

‘It’s weird,’ I said. ‘Seeing you here outside my apartment, Michael Reyji Ray. In all your rock and roll gear.’

‘Danny told me where you lived,’ said Michael. ‘I couldn’t leave without you. You’ve got in my head. And my heart. The tour bus is ready to go. Come with us. You’ll break me if you say no.’

‘I can’t. I can’t just up and leave my sister.’

‘What is it?’ said Michael. ‘You have bills to pay here? I’ll pay them.’

‘It’s not that. Dee has been there for me my whole life. I can’t just up and leave her alone.’