The last few days have been exhausting. Nicky went crazy the minute we stepped off the plane from Italy. He decided I needed to be involved with the staging process from start to finish for the next three concerts. I've hardly had enough time to eat and sleep between early morning setups, sitting through long meetings, and helping the crew with take-down after the shows.

My long days caught up with me halfway through last night's concert. I couldn't even see straight and went to sit on a couch backstage. I swore I was only going to rest for ten minutes, but the next thing I know, I'm waking up in a king-size bed and Nicky is nowhere to be found.

The clock on the nightstand reads two in the afternoon. I've wasted my first day off in over a week catching up on sleep. I wanted to do a little sightseeing in Spain, but it's a fair trade.

Scrolling through my phone, I find a missed text from Ridley, inviting me to hang out at the hotel pool. Soaking in the water sounds like heaven after the hellish week I've had, so I put on my bikini and an oversized t-shirt and rush from my room. Ridley and some other girls sit in a cabana with drinks in their hands, listen to Ridley tell a story. She's adorable with her vibrant hair, tattooed arms, and bright mismatched bikini. I wish I had just an ounce of the cool she emits.

I greet everyone and take a seat next to Ridley. She calls the pool server over and orders me a tropical drink with an umbrella in it.

"Slept through your first day off," Ridley says with a smile.

"I swear Nicky was trying to kill me. I didn't have time for anything since Italy. I'm surprised he didn't schedule each breath I'm allowed to take."

"Speaking of Italy, that was fun, wasn't it—the food, the wine, the dancing...the afternoon strolls through the citrus field?" Ridley wiggles her eyebrows at me.

My cheeks heat and I take a long sip from my drink.

If things have gone back to the way they were before, I wouldn't know. I've only laid eyes on Kade during soundchecks and concerts since we started touring again. It has to be a good sign that he told Ridley about our time together; he obviously enjoyed it as much as I did.

"Hey," Ridley yells. "Why don't you come over here?"

I pivot in my seat and catch Kade walking by with one of the security guards. He is wearing black swimming shorts, and the inked artwork on his skin and toned muscle of his body is on full display. With a handshake, he leaves his guard and meanders over, sitting in an empty chair across from me.

"Where were you all morning, Kade? I thought you were going to have a drink with me a few hours ago," Ridley asks.

"I just wanted to sleep," he answers in a monotone.

I duck my head and stare at my glass, praying that things haven't reverted to how they were. I don't want to be back at square one with him.

"I'm sure I wasn't the only one. Ari's been working like crazy the past few days," he says.

Lifting my head, I meet his gaze. There is something different between us. It's not quite what it was in Italy, but it's also not the same as it was before. I stifle my excitement and say, "It was the longest week of my life."

Kade sits forward with his hands folded in between his knees. "You had to be the hardest working person on the crew."

It's nice to know someone noticed that I was busting my ass. I play it cool and shrug. "It's my job."

Kade laughs. "No, you were doing the job of at least three people."

"What can I say, I'm Super Girl. No job's too big."

"It didn't look that way last—"

My phone rings with a sappy love song and I jump to my feet. "Hold that thought, I'll be right back."

I press the FaceTime button and hold the screen up. "Hey," I say moving to the other side of the pool deck.

"Hey, babe. How are you?"

Asher is lying in bed; the white pillow behind his head a nice complement to his brown hair and blue eyes.

"I'm great. I finally had time to catch up on some sleep. What are you doing up so early?"

"I have an interview in three hours, and I have to get ready soon. But I woke up thinking about you and had to see you even if it's only for a few minutes. Where are you at?"

"Sitting by the hotel pool with some of the girls."

His eyebrows shoot up. "What are you wearing?"

"A tee and my swimsuit," I whisper.

"Let me see."

"No way! There are people around, and they can hear you."

"So, you're my girlfriend who I haven't seen in a month. I miss you and want to see how hot you look in a bikini," he exclaims.

"Asher!"

I glance around again and pause. Kade stands up and walks away with a quick stride. I pull my attention from him and turn back to my phone. "You'll see me in four days, and the bikini is coming with me."

He places his arm behind his head in a sexy little move that sends my heart racing. "I know, and I can't wait to see you. Two weeks with just the two of us."

"Yeah, and security, and a road crew, and paparazzi."

"Not at night."

The suggestive tone of his voice makes me a little uncomfortable, and I just want to savor the minutes I have talking to him.

"So, I'm meeting you in Atlanta?" I ask.

"Yes." Asher looks away from the screen and rubs his forehead.

"Well, I can't wait to see you."

"Me too, babe," he halfheartedly smiles. "All right, I better go. I'll see you soon."

"I love you."

"Love you too."

I return to the cabana, pick up my drink, and chug it. As the warmth of the alcohol calms my nerves, my thoughts turn to Kade and his hasty departure. "Where did Kade go? Is he coming back?" I ask Ridley.

"He said something about being ready to go back inside."

I can connect the dots; he took off because I was talking to Asher. We're need to come to an understanding if our friendship is going to survive. I refuse to watch myself around him because he doesn't like an aspect of my life. It's all or nothing.