“I’m free all night,” I lie, already calculating just how much shifting it’ll take to free up my night. “What time should I pick you up?”

“I get off a little early. Nine o’clock.”

“What do you wanna do?”

“Well, I’m still pretty tired from the double shift. I was thinking . . . well, before I called you, I was thinking I would just stay home and catch the Sex and the City marathon.”

Shit. That’s a boring bullet through the head.

“You know, I’ve wanted to see that,” I force myself to say. “I never saw it when it was on television.”

Kai’s knowing chuckle loosens the air between us.

“I call BS, Rhys.”

“Okay, it sounds about as good as Legally Blonde.”

“That’s more like it!” She laughs outright on the other end. “But just like Legally Blonde, you have no idea what you’re missing.”

“Mmmmm.” Let’s just leave it at that.

“I’ll make a deal with you.”

“This should be good.”

“We’ll watch a few episodes, and if you hate them, we’ll watch something you want to see.”

“That sounds fair.”

“It’s really fair.”

“Now, if I agree to watch this marathon of girlery, you have to do something I want to do tomorrow on your day off.”

“The optimal word being ‘my.’ You want to dictate what I do on my day off?”

“I promise it’ll be more fun than what you were planning to do.”

“You don’t know what I was planning to do.”

“Ah, let’s see. Did it involve cleaning your bathroom, doing laundry, and watching something like, I don’t know, Burlesque?”

Her momentary silence on the other end makes me appreciate all the long nights in her living room after work when I actually listened.

“Burlesque is another movie you should give a chance, by the way.”

“The hell I’ll watch Cher and Christina Aguilera grinding on chairs and singing show tunes.”

“Wow, talk about oversimplification of a plot.”

“I’m pretty sure the plot was already pretty simple.”

“You’re such a snob.”

“I think we both knew that.”

She chuckles on the other end, and I’d like to teleport wherever she is right now. In a matter of weeks this girl has twisted me into a Boy Scout knot. She invades my mind at inconvenient times, like when I’m supposed to be writing, during meetings for the tour, or in the middle of sessions.

First thing in the morning. Just before I fall sleep.

“Okay, snob,” she says. “What are we doing tomorrow?”

I want to fist pump, but I’ve matured beyond that. Also, I feel Marlon’s inquisitive eyes on me. He’s already going to ride me about this.

“I was thinking a short ride to Pismo Beach to ride dune buggies.”

“A short ride?” Her voice squeaks. “Isn’t that like two hours away?”

Almost three, but who’s counting?

“Something like that, but we’ll make a day of it.”

It’s the closest we’ve come to a date. Usually our time together consists of me picking her up from work, taking her home, eating leftover food from her job, and us talking or watching movies until San comes home and cock blocks. Not that there is any cocking to block, but still.

“So is San out tonight working?” I ask.

His work for that sleazy online rag has picked up significantly. If I weren’t positive he’s completely loyal to Kai, I’d worry. Me dating a girl whose best friend is basically a pap? Not that we’re dating. We’re . . . friending. Just ask my right hand. Every morning in the shower it sees how I’m handling all this friending.

“He’s in Vegas on assignment,” she says softly. “So I’ll be home alone.”

This time I do fist pump, and sure enough, Marlon gives a knowing grunt, which I ignore.

“Maybe I’ll just stay over then.” I say it like it’s not monumental. “I don’t want you home by yourself.”

One of the things I love about Kai is her brain.

“Wow. That’s big of you,” she says, words dipped in sarcasm. “I think I’ll be fine. We’ll see.”

“Yeah, sure. Whatever,” I agree. “We’ll play it by ear.”

I’m staying.

“Okay, see you around nine then. And don’t worry about a disguise.” I can hear the smile in her voice, and it makes me smile even though I can’t see her. Goofy shit like this keeps happening. “Just text me when you’re outside, and I’ll come to the parking lot.”

“Okay. See you at nine.”

As soon as we hang up, I dial my manager.

“What’s up, Rhys?”

New York probably won’t ever leave Bristol’s voice, no matter how long she lives on this coast. Her words are always like tiny pellets coming fast and hard at me. Managing me is probably the only thing that would have ripped her away.

“Hey, I need you to reschedule tonight’s session for me.”

If I leave it at that, maybe she won’t act like it’s a big deal.

“What the hell?”

Or not.

“Don’t give me shit on this, Bris. Just do it.”

“That’s what you said when you made me bring all these musicians from all over the freaking world for these damn sessions.” Bristol wraps her hard-edged voice around the words to full advantage, like a wire hanger.

“They’re here for another few days. I’ll pay them the same no matter what. No skin off their backs. Just tell them we’ll pick up on Sunday night.”

“But you leave for New York Wednesday. You don’t want to rush this.”

“I think I’m the musician here. I know what I’m doing, Bris.”

“I just want you making the best use of your time, Rhyson. You brought in a damn flutist from Budapest.”

“I think he prefers flautist.”

“And I prefer not to have all my hard work undone, for what? What is more important than laying these tracks for your next album, Rhys?”

Usually nothing, but there is nothing “usual” about what’s been going on with me since I met Kai. I haven’t introduced her to Marlon or Bristol or anyone in that other part of my life. I’ve roped my time with Kai off from everyone else because, well, it’s mine. Mine and hers.

I threw the friendship flag out as a way to get closer to her because I thought I might want more. Now I know for sure I want more, but getting to know her this way is fantastic, and in all honesty, I just want to keep her to myself as long as I can. Not have Bris or Marlon questioning her motives or soiling what has been the purest connection I’ve ever shared with anyone. She asks nothing of me. She’s not after anything, except to know me the way I want to know her. To talk about music and movies and the things that have hurt and helped us. I have close friends, great friends, but this is something I’ve never had before. She is something I’ve never had before, and I can’t get enough.

I’ve told her a lot about emancipating from my parents and coming to live here. Not everything, but more than anyone who doesn’t already know. She’s told me about her mom and the years she stayed in Georgia taking care of her. Her dedication, her sacrifice, challenges me. I’ve lived for myself all my life, and music and ambition have been the constant driving forces. It’s hard for me to imagine delaying my dreams for anyone. I’ve never had to.

“Rhys, are you still there?” My extended silence has pushed Bristol from irate to angry in seconds. “What do you expect me to tell these session players?”

“Tell them I had a last minute conflict, and like I said, we’ll pick up with the session Sunday night. It’ll be fine.”

“But I just don’t—”

“Bris, what’s your job?” She had to go and make me play the boss card.

Her heavy sigh huffs between us.

“To make your life easier.”

“Then do it.”

I slide my phone into my pocket and make my way back over to the couch where Marlon sits. I feel his eyes on me, but I just press the button to restart the game.

He pauses it.

“So this Pepper girl is worth cancelling a session that’s costing you thousands of dollars?”

God of the joystick, give me patience.