“I’m good.” His gaze skimmed the map grid until he found what he was looking for, a two-hour drive from where they currently were. It would then take them another six to get to Albuquerque, assuming they could do what he had in mind before sunset. Still, they wouldn’t roll into town until somewhere between midnight and dawn.

Dylan refolded the map and set it aside. “I want to take a side trip.”

“Now?”

“Now.”

She glanced at her phone. “Where? We have to get to Albuquerque.”

He opened his mouth and closed it. He wanted to surprise her. He also didn’t want to give her the chance to back out. After all, they’d only met yesterday and what he had in mind involved some risk. Fingers crossed he could pull it off.

“Do you trust me?” he asked.

She balked. “I barely know you.”

“Hey, aren’t we friends?”

“Not that close of friends.”

“But we’re getting there. Give me a chance. I have an idea.” He reached across the table. “May I borrow your phone?”

Joy’s mouth parted like she had something to say, but whatever it was, she kept it to herself. She gave him her phone. He gave her his credit card. “For lunch. My treat. I’ll be back shortly.” He stood.

“Where’re you going?” Panic slashed across her face.

He gently laid a hand on her shoulder. “Trust me.” He then went outside to make his calls.

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 9

AFTER

Dylan

Normally, Dylan thrives off the energy of an immersive weekend-long festival with people looking ridiculous in their radical bohemian attire and sharing their fanatical love of music. It’s why Dylan loves to do what he does: discover new artists and revel in the familiar sounds of seasoned performers. He can spend hours watching how a crowd reacts to their favorite band, and he’s done so since the days he and Chase traveled with the Westfield Brothers. An audience enraptured, engulfed by the spell of lyrics and notes, made those long bus hauls between festivals and endless nights sleeping in narrow bunks totally worth it.

But the vibe is different tonight, and he can’t figure if it’s him or something else. The event? The venue? Too many days eating rich and fattening hotel food? He’s been making a point to run more miles and lift more poundage. But still, he can’t shake . . . something.

What is his deal?

It’s been several months since he last saw Joy. Dylan sits beside Chase at one of the pop-up bars at the Boomtown Fair in Winchester, England. Chase negotiates with a budding artist and her manager and Dylan’s mind drifts. He presses his mouth into a flat line and his knee bounces as he scrolls through his text messages. He feels on edge.