When I returned to the sleeping area, the guys resting there were still laughing. Kurt held out his fist. “Dude…that was the best thing…I’ve ever seen.” He was laughing so hard his eyes were watering.

I bumped fists with him, then quickly made sure the girl hadn’t left anything…or stolen anything. Thankfully, everything was as it should be. Smiling up at Kurt, I said, “Griffin does have his uses.”

After taking off my boots, I laid down on my bed and pulled out my phone. Holding it in my hand, I closed my eyes. Just to rest for a second before I called Kiera. When I opened my eyes, the bus was moving. Damn it. I must have fallen asleep. A stab of guilt washed through me. We were supposed to help with the tear down. There were enough of us that it could be done minus a few slackers, but I didn’t like being one of the slackers—not without good cause. I supposed needing sleep was a good cause though. Odd. The rush of performing used to keep me up for hours. I was slipping.

My phone was still clenched in my hand, and I rolled my eyes. I’d wanted to talk to Kiera before passing out. I knew it was way too early to call her, so I decided to text her instead. I noticed several missed messages, all from Gavin. Maybe I should ask Matt how to block people—there had to be a way. But Matt would want to know why, and I was too tired to think of a good lie. I’d just…keep dealing with it. At this point it didn’t really matter anyway; my brain would still feel the messages, even if my eyes couldn’t see them.

Ignoring Gavin, I texted Kiera. ‘I love you. And I cannot stop thinking about the other night. You were amazing.’ Just typing that made me grin. Making love to her again, even if it was over the phone, had been incredible.

She didn’t respond, but I wasn’t surprised. It was really early. I sent another message. ‘I hope you’re enjoying your flowers.’ After our heated phone call, I’d called in a few favors. Okay, I’d called in a shitload of favors from just about everyone I knew back home. Well, everyone I knew whose phone number I remembered. It had taken some convincing, but I’d talked them all into finding Kiera and handing her a single rose.

“Won’t she think that’s creepy, Kellan?” They’d told me.

“No, she’ll know it’s from me,” I’d replied. At least, I’d hoped she’d make that realization. And she had. Thankfully. I just didn’t want her to feel distant from me again. I needed to keep me in her thoughts. I needed us to be okay.