I felt a hand on my shoulder, shaking me from my dark thoughts. I looked up to see Evan watching me with concern on his face. “What’s wrong?” he asked, handing me my guitar case. He flicked a glance back at the door, probably searching for Kiera. I had no idea if she had followed me or not.

I swallowed the knot in my throat as I wondered what to tell him. All I ended up saying was, “Relationships are…hard.”

He sighed, then nodded. Lifting an eyebrow, he told me, “Our life is weird. And that makes it even harder. Whatever is going on, just try and remember that. It’s not the two of you…it’s the situation. It would test anyone’s faith…” He frowned after he said it, and I suddenly wondered if he and Jenny occasionally struggled with their own doubts and fears. Oddly, I found it reassuring to know I wasn’t alone. And he was right. It was a fucked-up life we led, but that didn’t mean it had to fuck us up, not if I didn’t let it. I couldn’t blame Kiera for doubting me. She wasn’t here, she didn’t see. All I could do was relentlessly reassure her. Every time I talked to her, if necessary.

Smiling at Evan, I nodded. “Thanks, man.”

I turned to see Kiera hesitantly approaching me. Warm smile on my face, I reached out for her hand, so she would know I wasn’t angry. Evan clapped my shoulder, then left to get on the bus. Kiera seemed disheartened when she realized we weren’t staying here. “Are you leaving?” she asked.

I told her that we were, and that our next stop was Reno. Matt had mentioned it earlier, and Griffin had been ecstatic. He couldn’t wait to visit little Las Vegas, as he called it. Not wanting to part ways with Kiera yet, not when things still felt so…raw, I said, “You could come with me? Catch a flight home from there?”

Slinging my guitar over my shoulder, I wrapped my arms around her. She slipped hers around me, a soft smile on her face. Then she frowned and started objecting, mainly about not wanting to lose her round-trip plane ticket. I knew she didn’t have my resources, and I knew she didn’t want my money, but really…in the grand scheme of things, what was more important? Time or money? It was a simple answer for me. I would happily buy her a new ticket to be with her longer. Hell, I would happily buy her ten more tickets if it meant I got to spend the night with her. Money was nothing. She was everything. You’re just going to have to let me do this for you.