My heart cracked as I stared at her, fear slipping inside. To be honest, yes. “Can you blame me for thinking that?”

Her arms wrapped around me, and her head rested on her shoulder. “No, I guess not,” she murmured. Pure peace enveloped me, and I closed my eyes, savoring it. Even if our love wasn’t quite as strong as theirs had been…this was pretty amazing. I’d take it.

She was silent for a moment, as we held each other, then she said, “I didn’t love him more than I love you, Kellan.” She pulled back to look me in the eye. “I love you more. I love you enough to let you go and live your dream.” She shrugged. “Don’t you see…? I love you more.”

I didn’t entirely understand what she meant, but the sentiment eased the hole in my heart, and made me smile. She tenderly brushed some hair off my forehead, then stroked my cheek and whispered, “And, yes, I will miss you, more than you can possibly imagine, but I know that you have to do this, Kellan. And you know it too.”

Shaking my head in disagreement, I told her, “No, I know that I have to be with you. Everything else is just details.” Everything else paled in comparison. Everything.

She smiled as she kissed me. “This isn’t just your dream, though, remember.” With a sigh, she pointed back at the bar. “There’s Evan and Griffin and Matt. He’s worked so hard for this.”

I studied her finger, pointing toward the bandmates I was screwing over by being selfish. Again. “I know…”

Kiera laced her arms around my neck. “And that’s why you’ll do this. It’s their dream too, and you can’t take it away from them…for me, for us.”

She was right, and I knew that, but God…the thought of leaving her hurt so fucking bad. If only she could come with me. If only we could live out this dream together…then it wouldn’t feel so life-altering. So terrifying. “I know,” I whispered, wishing I could take the words back.

I held her for as long as I felt I could, then I pulled back. My voice morose, I told her, “I guess I should go tell Matt the good news.”

Her eyes moistened as she bit her lip; seeing the tears build up actually brightened my spirits a little. She was genuinely going to miss me. “When does the tour start?” she asked.

My gaze dropped to the ground, along with my heart. It starts too soon. “First part of November.”