I see him pull a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket.

Don’t do it, I plead with him in my head. Don’t. Do. It.

He’s doing it … He. Is. Doing. It.

As he lights up and inhales deeply, I scan the stage for the security men and see them walking up to the stage. However, Xavier shakes his head at them, giving them a look that is without a doubt meant to intimidate, and they step back.

The band goes right into another song. Memphis is singing; Finn’s jamming; Billy is trying his best not to look annoyed by Finn with his cigarette hanging out of his mouth; and River has a look of mischief as he looks toward the security officers.

The song ends, and I see River reach in his pocket and pull out … Oh, hell.

Don’t do it, I plead with him in my head. Don’t. Do. It.

He’s doing it … He. Is. Doing. It.

The entire song, River is beating on the drum with what I am one hundred ten percent sure is a joint hanging from the corner of his mouth.

By the time the song ends, the security guard force has increased, and Nick, Taelyn, and Xavier are arguing with them.

I look at my tablet as I walk over.

“They have one more song,” I say as loudly as I can. No one hears me, so I scream, “They just have one more song!”

All eyes fly to me.

“They are breaking laws,” the man who seems to be in charge says to me.

“They’re not, really—” I stop, because what’s not really? Pot is illegal in Texas, and Finn has already been warned that no smoking is allowed at the arena.

Think, think, I tell myself.

“They’re props.” I nod, content at my lame-ass excuse, hoping it buys them time.

Security storming the stage would not be good, not with a hundred thousand cameras in the audience.

“Props?” one says, and Xavier smirks like this is funny.

I scowl at him, and his eyebrows rise. Then I sigh and shrug, throwing my hands in the air as I walk away. I tried, dammit.

The band is saying their thank yous and goodnights when I see River stand.

“Thank you, Texas! But, hey, there is a whole shit-load of security standing off stage. I think I’m in trouble. I just want to say one thing to them … I didn’t do shit!” He takes the joint from behind his ear and shoves it in his mouth. “I didn’t do shit!” The crowd roars as he raises his hands in the air. “Rockers fucking rock and cops eat fucking donuts! Rockers rock and cops eat donuts! Rockers rock and cops eat donuts!”

When the crowd starts chanting with him, Xavier throws his notebook on the ground and his hands in the air, turns, and walks away.

Security storms the stage, the lights go out, and the crowd goes mad. Once River is cuffed and off stage, the lights come up.

Memphis steps to the mic. “Hope you enjoyed the show. River’s just fucking with you. He just had to piss. Not all cops eat donuts; some just like the coffee.”

Tally laughs, then covers her mouth. Taelyn looks relieved. Xavier is with River and the security crew.

“Go in peace, drink responsibly, don’t fucking smoke on stage”—he laughs, pointing at Finn who holds his hands up as if to say ‘not me,’—“and when you get rocked tonight, fuck like you’ve never fucked before. I know I will.” The crowd freaks out again as he waves. “Goodnight, everyone.”

When Finn comes off stage, his eyes are murky, hazy, and still beautiful as they seek me out. The hair on the back of my neck immediately stands on end, and I know I need to find a corner and hide from the hurricane that appears to be coming … for me.

Quickly, I turn and head for the backdoor. I open it, the wind pricking my skin as I walk down the cement path toward the parking lot. Then I hear the door open, then boots thudding toward me.

I just need time to regroup, but apparently, he isn’t going to allow it.

“Sonya, stop,” he growls.

I don’t want to run after her, spook her, but if she doesn’t turn the fuck around, I will have no other choice.

I reach in my pocket for a cigarette, fucking anxious as all hell, as she stops yet doesn’t turn around. I light it up and wait.

Finally, she turns around. “Do you really need that?”

“Yeah,” I say on an exhale.

“Why?’

“It calms me down,” I answer before taking another drag.

She crosses her arms. “And the pot?”

I exhale. “Relaxes me.”

“You didn’t need it in Houston,” she states.

I nod. “Different times.”

“How so?”

I shake my head and take another drag. You weren’t running, I think to myself.

“You need to stop smoking. It’s a disgusting habit.”

I just look at for a moment. “It’s not a habit.”

“No? Then what is it?”

“Come closer, and I’ll tell you,” I say as I inhale the last drag, toss it down, then stomp it out with my boot.

“You come here,” she says as she looks down at her feet.

Good plan, I think to myself.

It takes three long strides to get to her, and then two eyes gazes up at me, telling me she wants me, one kiss to make the fear go away.

I grip her hips and pull her close, and she relaxes into me immediately. I then take my hands from her hips and hold her face, tilting it to the side before pushing my tongue in deeper. Her thumbs hook into my belt loops, and then she pulls me even closer as her tongue begins stroking mine in return.

I slowly pull my mouth away, leaving one hand on her face and rubbing up her back with the other.

“Tell me,” she says quietly.

“A replacement for that.”

She leans forward and rests her head on my chest. “Didn’t I scare you away last night?”

“Scare me away?” I tilt her chin so I am looking in her eyes again. “Not a chance, Yaya. I was just waiting for you to give me the green light. Took you long enough.”

“How was me being pissed at you the green light?” she asks, tugging down on my loops.

“You were looking at me. You were showing some sort of emotion. You let loose the badass you’ve been lugging around all day.”

She looks up at me, her eyebrows slightly arched.

“There she is again.”

“Then you should run,” she says, shaking her head. “I need a little badass to continue on the path I am choosing to follow.”

“Is there room on that path for someone to stand in the shadows and help you out once in a while?”

She takes a deep breath and shakes her head. “I need to take this time to become strong. You should do the same.”

“I’m strong. I’m really fucking strong.” I pull her closer, afraid if I don’t, she’ll walk away when I know damn well she can be stronger with me.

“Prove it?”

“Are we twelve?”

“No, Finn. We are much older than twelve, and look at the time we’ve both wasted being drawn down by our demons.” She looks to the side. “I want you to be happy. I want you to—” She pauses, and then her hand touches the side of my face, her fingers stroking my beard. “I want you to see. Like the song, Finn. I want you to see.”

“I see you. I see the parts of you that you hide, the parts of you that you don’t let anyone else see. Make no mistake about that. I see you.”

“And when I am where I want to be, where I know I can be, what will you see then?”

I look at her, certain she’s pushing me away, but she hasn’t let go, even if she’s telling herself she has. “I see me taking you on a date.”

She looks completely shocked. “A date?”

“Yes, because my demons don’t drive me, Yaya. They make me stronger, but they don’t drive me.”

“Prove it,” she says, trying not to smile.

“Will do.”

“Finn,” she sighs and shakes her head again. “Smart girls don’t date rock stars.”

“No, lucky ones date men who create music.” As she bites her lip, I lean in and whisper, “On and in between the sheets.”