My eyes narrowed as irritation shot up my spine. I don’t want to hear about him. Seeing my expression, Hailey quickly said, “And Riley. He’s 9, almost 10.”

I took a moment to process that, and when I did, I was startled. “You have a brother? We have a brother?”

Grinning, she nodded. “He loves music too. He would die to be here, but Dad would have a coronary. He doesn’t even know I’m—”

With a frustrated sigh, I turned my head and looked away from her. She stopped speaking. How can I talk to her when she keeps talking about him?

“Can I ask you a question?” she said, after a long quiet moment.

Feeling wary, I slowly looked back at her. Maybe. It depends on what you want to know.

Hailey studied my face for a second, then said, “Why do you hate him so much?”

I dropped my head, my gaze shifting to the floor. “It’s complicated. I’d rather not talk about it.”

“I know he left you, and I know that must have hurt, but he really didn’t have a—”

My eyes snapped to hers as rage filled my stomach. “I said I don’t want to talk about it.”

She swallowed, a little nervously, and I made my face relax. I didn’t want to scare her; I just didn’t want to hear anything about Gavin. I was about to ask her something that would shift the conversation when a fan approached us. “Hi, I’m sorry to interrupt, but are you with one of the bands?”

I looked up to see a girl brightly smiling at me. And trembling. I threw on a casual smile, hoping to relax her. “Yeah…I’m with the D-Bags.”

She giggled. “D-Bags…got it. Can you sign this?” She handed me a poster. I signed it then returned it to her. She hugged it to her chest, then looked over at Hailey. “Could you take our picture?”

Hailey shrugged, then stood up. “Sure.”

The girl passed Hailey her phone, and then took her place on the couch, snuggling into my side. I laughed at her eagerness, then smiled at the phone and waited for the photo op to be over. The girl scurried off once it was. I started apologizing to Hailey, but then I noticed three more girls with their phones out, waiting for their chance to sit with me. Maybe I shouldn’t have sat on a small couch. Too inviting. Hailey laughed, but took photos for all the girls in line.

Once they were gone, I cringed and turned to her as she sat down. “Sorry. Occupational hazard.”

She laughed, then pulled her phone out and leaned in to take our photo. “Guess I’ll get one too.” She was still laughing when she pulled away. “You’re kind of a girl magnet, aren’t you?”