Kiera appeared a few seconds later, a soft smile on her face. “Thanks for trying,” she said, looping her arms around my waist. Her brows furrowed as she studied my face. “Are you okay? You don’t usually get so physical with him.”

Rubbing her arms, I considered what to tell her. I hate this seemed obvious. So did I’m going to miss you. So did Are you sure I need to do this? Kiera had already told me multiple times on multiple occasions that I needed to go, that it would be good for us, good for the band…good for everyone. Her continual support was one of the main reasons I was following through, but I kind of wanted her to waver…kind of wanted her to change her mind and beg me to stay. Would I stay if she asked? I honestly had no idea.

“I’m fine,” I told her. “He just…he crawls under my skin sometimes. And then makes a home there.”

Kiera snorted; it was adorable. “Yeah, I know the feeling…” Leaning her chin on my chest, she gazed up at me. “I really love you.”

Smiling, I squeezed her tight. “I really love you too.” So much it’s killing me.

Before I was emotionally ready, we were in my car, driving to the meeting spot for the tour buses. My stomach hurt, my head hurt…my heart hurt. Why did this feel so…permanent? Like nothing would be the same after this? Like Kiera and I wouldn’t be the same after this. I wanted to shake the feeling, wanted to pretend this wasn’t a life-altering moment, but I just couldn’t. There was something dark in the air…and it was scaring the shit out of me.

Kiera seemed affected too. She was quiet as she sat beside me, but with every block we traveled, her frown lines deepened, and she kept rolling her eyes and shaking her head. It was almost like she was having an argument with herself. Or she was trying to convince herself that everything would be fine. That was an argument I understood since I had it constantly.

Remembering her ridiculous concerns about me—about fame and what was heading my way, in her eyes—I could easily picture just what scenario she was dreading. “It won’t happen,” I told her, putting my hand on her thigh.

She seemed surprised as she twisted to look at me. With a smile, I explained. “Whatever bad scenario you’ve created in your head, where I become a rich and famous douche and leave you high and dry…it won’t happen that way.”

The way she frowned let me know I’d nailed it. “I thought you said you couldn’t read minds.”