Page 48 of After Midnight

When I don’t answer, she gasps.

“Oh my god, Remi! Who is he? Come on, you know I’m not going to tell anyone. I won’t even tell Mom and Dad. I swear on my life.”

“Don’t swear on your life,” I grumble as I grab one of the couch pillows and hold it to my chest. “And I’m not afraid of anyone knowing. It just feels . . . breakable right now, you know?”

Her face falls a little, and she nods. “I know.”

A stretch of silence passes between us. My AC kicks on, humming pleasantly in the background. Then I finally say, “He’s in Loaded God Complex.”

I’m pretty sure my sister almost falls off the kitchen stool. She’s been obsessed with LGC since she was in middle school, and right now, it looks like all her preteen dreams are coming to life.

“No. Fucking. Way. Which one?” She’s talking so fast that she doesn’t give me a chance to answer. “Not Dex, because he’s getting married to that violinist. And Lucas and Michael are in relationships, I think, so that leaves . . .” Her eyes go wide. “The drummer. Sebastian.”

My stomach flip-flops when she says his name, and I hesitate, feeling nervous to confirm this thing into existence, like it’s a wish on a star that’s never supposed to be spoken aloud. But I’m sure Riley can see it written all over my face, so I nod once.

“Oh my god. Oh my god. You’re dating a real-life rock star. I can’t believe it. I—”

“Can’t believe what?” Mom asks from somewhere off the camera.

Riley jerks around to face her. “Nothing, Mom.” Then she grabs her yogurt cup, and I hear her feet pounding up the stairs as she hurries to her room, where she closes the door and flings herself onto her bed. Looking into the phone, she says, “I won’t tell her. Your secret is safe with me.”

I smile. “I know it is. But I’ve got to get ready, okay?”

She nods excitedly. “Okay. Will you call me tomorrow?”

“Of course. Tell everyone hi for me.”

“I will. Bye, Rem. Love you.”

“Love you.” I blow her a kiss, and then she disconnects from the video call.

Sitting on the couch, I check the time. I’ve got two hours before I have to leave to pick Sebastian up, and there’s still so much to do.

So I push myself up from the couch and get back to work.

chapter 22

Sebastian

AS SOON AS I LAND and switch my cell out of airplane mode, a text comes in from Remi, telling me she’s here. I smile as a tingle of excitement goes through me. But then another text comes through, from Dad, asking me how I am, and that one takes the smile right off my face.

Dad doesn’t ever really care about how I am; it’s just how he worms his way into conversation before ultimately asking me for something. But I’ve been waiting for two weeks to see Remi again, and I’m not going to let him ruin my time here. He can wait; I’ll get back to him tomorrow. I swipe the text notification away and try to put it from my mind as I walk to baggage claim.

It’s early Monday evening, and more people are flying out of Vegas than are flying in. It only takes twenty minutes for me to get to baggage claim and grab my single bag, and then I’m heading for the pickup area, my heart already beating a bit faster at the thought of seeing Remi again.

My plan was to get an Uber to the hotel, but she offered to pick me up when I landed. And she wants to cook dinner tonight, which means I’m going to see her place for the first time . . .

The idea of it has me excited for multiple reasons. One, I didn’t expect her to invite me into her personal space. And two, I’m going to be in her house, where that tub is, where her bed is.

I give my head a small shake as I walk, trying to stay focused as I follow the airport signage to the pickup area.

As soon as the doors to outside slide open, I’m hit with a wall of stifling desert air. For a moment, it steals my breath away, and I blink against the dry grittiness stinging my eyes.

It’s hard to believe people live here. And it makes me want to scoop Remi up and carry her back to California, where the ocean breeze is cool and the surf is perfect.

Maybe I should invite her to my place, I think as I scan the cars parked in a long line, waiting to pick up passengers. I don’t see her Jeep there, so I cross the road to search the cars that’re parked in the shaded waiting area.

And that’s when I see her.