The emotion in her eyes made me frown. “Hey, I didn’t tell you that to make you feel sorry for me.” I cupped her cheek. “I’m okay, Kiera.” Perfectly okay. Kiera nodded, but a tear spilled from her eye anyway. Brushing it away, I gave her an encouraging smile. “I just wanted to let you know what it meant to me. To…thank you for letting me have this experience with you and your family. It means more than you’ll ever really understand.”

She shook her head, her face still full of hurt for me. “No, I think I get it,” she said, and I supposed she did. Somewhat. She gave me a light kiss, then pulled back and took a deep, cleansing breath. “I could use some eggnog. You?”

I shook my head at her, nothing but warmth in my heart. “No, I don’t need anything.” I already had it all.

Kiera practically fled to the kitchen, and I could tell she needed a minute to compose herself. A part of me wanted to feel bad for emotionally waterlogging her like that, but I was too at peace to feel anything but a mellow buzz of contentment. She didn’t need to worry about me. Not today. Today, I was perfect.

Anna sat beside me a moment later, glee on her face. “Did you check out my month?”

When we’d first sat down, Anna had given us all a copy of the Hooters calendar she’d been photographed for earlier this summer. She’d made the cover, which was huge. Griffin was going to die when he saw it. I had a feeling Anna’s calendar would be in the hands of every band member on the tour soon. It wouldn’t surprise me if he started signing them for fans backstage. Autographing his conquest. Jackass.

“Not yet,” I told her. I’d seen the look on Kiera’s face when she’d glanced at it, the sadness, like somehow that photo had confirmed something for her. I hadn’t wanted to add to whatever insecurity she’d been feeling, so I’d set it aside without looking. But now Anna looked insecure.

“Why not?” she asked, a slight pout on her face.

Not wanting to hurt her feelings now, I shrugged. “I was waiting for you. Show me.”