It has been a week since my run-in with Kade. I've done my best to avoid him, but it's next to impossible. I'm now part of the staff who travels with the group. Nicky handles the setup with the local workers before we arrive, Pete takes care of the post-concert cleanup, and I'm the liaison between The Remnants's tour management and our company. It's my responsibility to oversee everything from contacting the venues to dealing with the stage's technical issues. I meet with the road crew and Mike on concert days and update them on the stage schedule. From start to finish, I'm on the band's schedule.

I've thought about Kade a lot lately. I want to understand why he's so aggressive toward me. At first, it pissed me off that he had the nerve to say what he did, but if everyone is correct about him, there is a reason for his dislike. I have engaged those closest to him in conversations, hoping to get some insight. But my efforts have failed.

My latest botched attempt was with Ridley during girls' night. Everyone was laughing as Ridley gave an animated reenactment of when she first met her celebrity girl crush. The atmosphere was laid-back, and it was going to be so simple to ease in a question or two about Kade, but my phone vibrated, Asher's name appeared on the screen, and I excused myself to the other side of the room.

Asher's slurred his words, and I could hardly hear him over the noise in the background. He doesn't drink all the time, just when he gets really homesick; it helps to relax him so he can sleep. He wasn't himself, dropping explicit comments not only at me but those around him. The women in the room with me would look over in my direction as I quietly begged him to go to bed. I was in a foul mood after that, and when I got the chance to talk to Ridley, we ended up talking about Asher instead.

My best bet to solve the mystery of Kade Slone is to confront him. The thought petrifies me. He doesn't truly know me, so what is the driving factor? And am I going to like the answer I get? What if he tries to drive a wedge between Asher and me? I don't want to hear him talk bad about the man I love. Not that he would change my mind; I'm always team Asher.

"A.J.?"

I look up to the head of the table; Mike is leading today's status review for tonight's concert. He isn't callous like I first thought him to be. He's the band's father figure, and he cares about each member. The firm stance he took with me was out of concern for Kade.

"Sorry." I shake my head, clearing it of thoughts not related to the job at hand. "Nicky and I completed the safety inspection and operations test on the stage this morning. Everything is good to go. I scheduled the demolition crew to begin right after the show. After the break, our next stops are Switzerland and Germany. I've contacted them, and they know what to expect when we arrive for the stage setup."

I look up from my notes and around the table surrounded by half a dozen men. These guys are old enough to be my dad, yet they find value in what I contribute to these morning meetings. It's a powerful feeling.

"All right, team, the meeting is adjourned. Try to get in some rest and eat a ton of pasta in the next few days, and I'll see you in Zurich," Mike says.

After the meeting, I walk to the concourse wrapping around the stadium. Food vendors prepare for tonight's concert, filling the stadium with delicious smells. I stop at one of the many merchandise booths and admire the t-shirts with the faces of The Remnants plastered on them. It's incredible how in a few short hours this walkway will be jam-packed with tens of thousands of fans.

Wandering to a large window, I take in the outline of Rome on the horizon; it's breathtaking. Muffled chanting seeps through the glass, and I step closer. The parking lot is swarming with fans, standing in clusters with signs held up in the air. I've been to countless concerts, standing on the sidelines and watching the fans. There is something different about the ones who love Eagin, Ridley, Oscar, Seb, and Kade. They laugh and play together with a fierce energy that makes me long to be part of the crowd.

The clicking of footsteps echoes through the concourse, and I turn, taking a deep breath as Kade walks toward me. His shoulders roll under his t-shirt and he shoves his hands into the pockets of his tight jeans. The look is so simple, but the way he wears it makes me feel like I might as well be looking at him naked.

The wheels in my head turn at a rapid pace, one thought standing out above the rest—this might be my chance to get him to talk. His eyes shift to me and just as quickly, he looks away, flexing the muscles in his jaw.

With an ounce of courage, I step into his path. "Kade, can I..."

He breezes past me, and I wrap my hand around his bicep; my hand barely encompassing half of its mass. He stops, glances down at my grip on him, and I pull it away. His eyes meet mine.

"I just want to talk to you for a second," I say, my voice timid.

Kade crosses his arms over his chest and walks over to the window, looking down at his fans like some kind of god. A hint of light radiates from his features as he takes in the sight of his loyal worshippers.

I glance around the concourse and shift side to side. Now that I can talk to him, I'm not sure where to start. I brush down the hair that's come loose from my ponytail and stand next to him, leaving a couple of paces between us. I start with a safe icebreaker. "It's crazy how excited they are to see you guys."

He smiles, keeping his gaze on the people below. "I'm just as excited to see them."

The band says nice things to the audience at every concert. They express how thankful they are, and how much they love each fan. I've always taken it as part of the show—a way to get the crowd all hyped up. But the sincerity in his voice speaks volumes, and I'm in awe. Asher says he's excited about a show but not necessarily for the fans, so I appreciate the band's loyalty to their followers. It's an endearing trait.

"You're lucky to have each other...you guys and the fans." How can The Remnants ever feel lonely or homesick when so many people love them wherever they go?

He looks at me from the corner of his eye. "You stopped me to talk about our fans?"

My head whips in his direction. "No."

His gaze moves away from me, and we turn back to the fans outside. I focus on a group of girls with their arms around each other's shoulders; they sway side to side, singing a song. I bet if I asked them, they'd say Kade Slone is so sweet and charming.

I plan on putting their assumptions of him to the test.

"I'm tired of walking on eggshells around you. I'm not sure what happened between you and Asher, but I don't think I deserve to be your punching bag."

He stiffens at the mention of my boyfriend, shifting his weight to his other leg and moving further away from me. "Come on, Ariella, you seem to be an intelligent girl. You want me to believe you don't know what my issue is with him?"

We face each other, and my cheeks burn. "Right there, that's the point. It's your issue with him not with me."

"I'm assuming if he's your boyfriend then you know everything there is to know about him, correct?" he asks raising an eyebrow.

"Correct." He will not trip me up. I know Asher, and I will not falter in my resolve to support him.

"Then you know why I hate him, Ariella. Therefore, I'm sure you can piece together what my problem is with you."

He has no right implying I don't know my boyfriend. He does not know us and what we've been through together. Why would he for one minute try to make me question my relationship? The fading dislike I had for him is back full force, accompanied by a stifling fear—there is something about Asher that I don't know.

"I wouldn't ask you what the hell your problem is if I already knew, Kade. Despite what you think of me, I'm not playing a fucking game here." I cringe; the sound of my voice reverberates in the empty space, and a vendor peeks out at us.

I bite my lower lip a little too hard and the metallic taste of blood hits my tongue. I concentrate on it while running both hands through my hair and wait for the flavor to leave my mouth before I calmly continue. "Look, I'm not asking to be friends. I just want to be civil to one another. We both have a job to do here, and I don't want you pulling me into a dark room and propositioning like some kind of groupie. Understand, I'm not romantically interested in any of your friends, and I'm not standing by and being the target for your hatred of Asher. If you come after me, know I'll fight back going forward."

Kade steps away from me, running a hand through his hair. The worry lines on his forehead have me believing I've hit a nerve with him. With a deep breath, he says, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. It was just...it was inappropriate, hurtful, and I'm sorry."

"Thank you."

He nods with tight lips and turns to walk away.

"Hey, Kade."

He looks at me over his shoulder. "Yeah?"

"Good luck tonight."

A forced smile pulls at his lips, and he nods again before leaving.