"So, what exactly are you looking for?" I ask. "I mean, is it like, screws? Could one missing screw make the whole thing fall? Are there warning signs that something disastrous is going to happen? Would there be time to move people out of the way?"

"A.J., slow your fucking roll, would ya?" Nicky kneels and studies the stage's foundation. "I'm making sure all the bars are straight, and no one damaged anything forcing it together. No, one screw is not the end of the world, but we don't want to encourage the crew to cut corners. If the stage looks like it's tilting, then something is off, and we need to correct it. And we wouldn't let anyone in the stadium if we thought for one second the stage was not safe."

I finish writing his answer into my notebook. In the past ten days, I've become confident with the processes of setting up and taking down the stage. Pete and Nicky even gave me a small team to manage during our last stint. I'm eager to learn something new.

"What else do you think I should know?"

Nicky stands, brushing the grass from his knees. "That most of this is common sense, and you don't need to jot it all down."

"You're an ass." I punch him in the arm.

"It looks like we are ahead of schedule and could actually be out of here at a decent time tonight." He wiggles his eyebrows at me. "Also, Eagin invited us to go out to a club with him, do you want to come?"

"Sure."

Not only am I making the best of my job, but I've also formed friendships with the band; minus Kade. Oscar and I eat dinner together every couple of nights and talk about how much we miss our significant others. I could spend hours listening to him talk about his girlfriend; there is something so sweet about his admiration for her. Seb and I have started our own tiny music exchange, where we give each other a new song to listen to every day. And last night, Ridley invited me to girls' night in her hotel room. Eagin is the only member I haven't had the chance to hang out with, and I'm looking forward to it.

*****

We walk to the front of the line forming at the club's entrance, and Nicky's voice booms from behind me. "Hey man, keep your eyes to yourself."

I look over my shoulder to see my brother step up to a guy who cowers back into the line. "Nicky!" I say, drawing him away before things get out of hand.

He jogs to catch up with me. "Shit, A.J., did you have to wear that shirt? I'm going to spend the entire night beating the crap out of douche bags who try to hit on you."

I frown at my sheer blouse. "There's nothing wrong with my top and even if there was, it's too late now."

"Such a pain in my ass," he mumbles, walking to the bouncer at the entrance and giving him our names. The massive man moves the velvet rope to the side, letting us pass.

Multicolored lights illuminate the open space and the beat of the music thumps through my body. People pack the dance floor, their hands raised in the air and bodies brushing against one another. The atmosphere is carefree and exciting, and I'm ready to partake in it.

Eagin stands on a chair next to a VIP table and motions us over. He shakes Nicky's hand, saying, "Order whatever you want; I got the tab tonight." Taking my hand, Eagin spins me around. "Who knew if we got you out of those old band shirts and jeans you would end up looking stunning. I expect a dance tonight."

The smell of alcohol is strong on his breath, and I question if it's him or the liquor speaking. Either way, I blush at the compliment and say, "Only one. I've seen you dance, and I'm intimidated."

"Guess I'll have to get you a little shit-faced to get my dance." He picks a full drink up from the table and hands it to me. It's sweet, goes down easily, and gets me feeling buzzed.

I sit at the table and divide my attention between the people asking Eagin for pictures and autographs and the dance floor. A group of girls surrounds my brother. He holds a beer in one hand and the other is on the hip of a brunette. She presses against him like a parasite feeding off his body. Nicky's never had a problem with finding a date, and he enjoys not being tied down. He's happy so I don't question him.

"Your brother's quite the charmer." Ridley shimmies in her skintight dress into the chair next to mine. I wasn't expecting to see her here, but I'm happy that she's a familiar face.

"Yeah, tall, dark, and handsome seems to be his curse. Just give him a bit and he'll start speaking Italian and that will get them—hook, line, and sinker."

Ridley laughs—a boisterous sound that rings out over the music. She takes the slim black straw in her glass and stirs her drink. "What do you think of the tour so far? Your dad and brother have outdone themselves and the fans have been crazy. Have you ever seen anything like it?"

"Actually, I have. My boyfriend is in the industry. I have gotten to watch as his fan base has grown, and they're pretty wild too." I feel compelled to drop little tidbits about my life just so she knows Kade's concerns about me are unfounded.

"Really, do you mind me asking who you're dating?"

"I have been dating Asher Prescott for the past two years." I glance at her from the corner of my eye and catch her shifting in her chair.

We remain quiet for a moment, and Ridley does a once-over around the room before she turns back to me. "Asher Prescott; that must be hard for you with all the girls and him away so much."

I exhale, glad that she didn't disengage from our conversation. "It is, but we make it work."

A popular hip-hop song plays through the speakers, and the whole club cheers. A hand rests on my shoulder and I look up at Eagin.

"This is the song, A.J. Let's go."

There's no time to protest; he grabs my hand from the tabletop and drags me out to the center of the dance floor. Hot sweaty bodies pack in around us, and he pulls me in close. I hesitate for a moment before placing my hand on his shoulder. My hips move in time with his, and we fit right in with those around us as they grind and sway to the beat.

In a more lucid state of mind, I might not dance so close to Eagin, but my fuzzy conscience justifies my actions. He's handsome and sweet, but I don't have any romantic feelings for him. And it's not like I'm grinding up on his leg or something.

I'm having so much fun, and I don't let him leave after the song is over. We continue to dance in a large group, getting lost in the rhythm of one song after another. By the time I step away, I'm thirsty and a thin layer of sweat covers my skin. I stand to the side of the dance floor and watch the sea of people.

A drink is placed in my hand, and without thinking, I gulp it down. It's a stupid move, but before I can rectify my clubbing blunder, a raspy male voice says in my ear, "You think your boyfriend would approve of you dry humping Eagin in the middle of a club?"

The warm breath and deep vibration of his tone send a chill down my spine and goosebumps appear on my arms. I forget that I shouldn't have accepted the drink and turn to face Kade.

He's at least an entire head taller than me and all black clothes his lean frame. His hair is a disheveled mess like he has run his fingers through it numerous times tonight, and he focuses on me with a stone-like expression.

After several uncomfortable seconds, my anger rages through me and pushes me to stand up for myself. "I was just dancing, and we were not dry humping," I yell over the pulsating music. Taking one of the ice cubes from the tumbler in my hand, I place it in my mouth. I need a distraction to regain my composure.

Kade cocks an eyebrow at me and the muscles in his jaw clench. He leans down, presses his cheek to mine, and hisses, "Don't fuck with my friends."

The heat of his skin against mine is gone, and I'm left alone and bewildered.

I rub my arms, smoothing out the raised flesh. Damn Kade for having this effect on me, and damn him for making me question what I was doing with Eagin. What the hell is wrong with him, and how pompous of him to even assume I would cheat on Asher? There's absolutely nothing about Kade Slone that I like at this moment. Not one thing.

For the rest of the night, I'm careful with every move I make. I periodically skim the crowd to see if Kade is around, keeping an eye on me. I don't want to give him any more ammo to use against me.

If I can just steer clear of Kade, everything about this tour will be awesome. I'm making friends, and I like my job a lot. My homesickness is finally subsiding, and every morning, I look forward to a new challenge. That is, as long as what the day brings is not an encounter with Kade. I know what I must do, and I plan on not letting him get the best of me. I just hope I don't have to fight through too many more terrible run-ins with him in the meantime.