I can’t tell if Taylor answers before she flips around and flicks her gaze around the room as she bulldozes the crowd. While her back is to us, I hurry behind Nate and tug on his elbow.

“Hey,” he says, looking relieved to see me. “Where you been?”

My head is buzzing too loud to verbalize what happened upstairs. I don’t know if I should tell anyone what I heard, even Nate.

“Been trying to find you,” I say, playing it as cool as I can. “God, this place is so huge.”

He leans in, his lips grazing my ear. “Did you find a spot?”

It takes a few moments for me to process his question, to realize he’s asking if I’ve found a place where we can hook up, and my mouth parts to respond, but before I get any words out, I see her. Hawking me from across the room. And then she’s heading back our way, swerving around people like a storm.

I shake my head and blink back into the moment. “What?”

“Upstairs,” Nate says, grinning. “Did you find anywhere we could—”

“Let’s just get out of here,” I say. Taylor is within arm’s length, held up by a dramatic five-foot fuchsia train dragging behind a petite girl. “I’m not feeling that well.”

That takes away the hungry grin. He morphs into rescue mode and takes my hand. Just as I think he’s about to make a beeline for the exit, Taylor hooks her body around us.

“I’ve been looking for you,” she says with a sweet smile. All I can think about is what she said to her friends upstairs.

I look to Nate, hoping he’ll save me. Then I remember he has no idea what’s going on beneath the surface.

“Oh,” I say clumsily, barely able to look Taylor in the eye. “Your dad and I had a nice chat, then I’ve just been mingling while Nate got mobbed by fans as usual.”

“Really?” Taylor asks, her smile not faltering a bit. “You made friends? With who?”

I try to come up with a couple of fake names off the top of my head, but stop myself, figuring she probably knows everyone who was invited. This is a test.

“Was that before or after you went upstairs?” Taylor asks, but it’s less of a question and more of an accusation.

Shit. “Yeah, I just felt a little nauseous. Couldn’t find the bathroom down here. Sorry. Hope that was okay.”

“B isn’t feeling well,” Nate says, and I’m glad he’s finally jumping in. “We’re actually about to head out.”

“Already?” Taylor says, pouting as if she is actually sad he’s leaving.

“Feeling kinda light-headed now. Need to lie down.”