He busts up laughing but then grows solemn. “I’m not going to be there the entire time. Well, I will for most of the performances, but I’m going to fly and drive back home whenever I can so I can spend time with Sadie.”

“That’s okay. You should spend time with her.” Unable to contain my excitement, I jump onto his lap. “I’m just glad you’re going.”

“I am too.” His hand slips around my back and urges me closer.

“You’re doing this because you want to, though, right?” I ask. “Not just to make me happy. I know I’ve been a little whiney about you not going, but I never want you to do something you don’t want to do.”

“I want to go. I love playing my guitar. Plus, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity I don’t want to miss out on,” he says. “But I’d be lying if I didn’t say that part of the reason I want to go so badly is because of you. I can’t be away from you for that long. And I want to be there for you, like all the times you’ve been there for me.”

I lean back, looking him in the eyes. “I can totally accept that answer.”

“Good,” he says, then casts a glance over his shoulder toward the dance floor where Sage is jumping up around and failing his hands in the air. Then he looks over at Nolan just down the bar from us, chatting with a couple of girls. “I should probably go ask Sage and Nolan if they’re cool with this. You guys did find a replacement, right?”

“But we never promised him he could go on the tour with us. Tonight was like a try out.” I hop off his lap and tug him to his feet. “Trust me. They’re going to be stoked you’re coming.” I pause before I drag him over to Sage. “Everything was okay with Sadie, though, right? I mean, as okay as anything can be in that kind of situation.”

He wavers, biting on his bottom lip. “I think she’s okay. Not great. I mean, I talked to her for hours, which has to mean something. But I could see the fear in her eyes, and she was really nervous around other people.” He massages his chest with his hand like his heart literally aches for her. “She reminds me a lot of myself three or four years ago . . . And she refused to talk about anything other than me and my life . . . I worry she won’t be able to recover from this if she doesn’t deal with stuff.”

“Ayden, I’m so sorry. I know it has to be hard for you to see her like that.” And poor Sadie for having to go through what she has. It’s such a horrible thing and I want to help her so much. Maybe I can. Maybe Ayden and I can help her get through this. “But look at you. You’ve changed so much since you first showed up at the Gregorys’ house. If you can overcome it, I think she might be able to also.”

“I just wish she didn’t have such a difficult time ahead of her,” he whispers, his beautiful eyes glossy with impending tears. “I think that’s what makes this so hard. Me knowing how difficult it’s going to be for her to heal. “

“I know . . . But we can be there for her. You and I . . . I want to help.”

“I know you do, and I want you to help. She could use a friend like you even if she might not act like she does.”

A smile tugs at my lips. “You mean like how you needed me?”

He nods, smoothing his thumb across my skin before he cups my cheek. “Lyric, there aren’t even words to describe how lucky I am to have you in my life . . . If it wouldn’t have been for you and your insane need to make me happy . . . I’m not sure I would even be here.” He crushes me against his chest, hugging me tightly.

We stay that way for at least a full song, hugging each other, savoring the moment we could’ve very well never had. It’s such a simple thing, a hug, just arms around each other, lungs breathing, hearts beating, two people standing in the middle of tons of other people all having their own experiences. But the moment feels so epically important to me, like this is the start to something bigger—a starting point to a long, twisty, but very exciting road.

I tip my head back to meet his eyes. “How about we go celebrate this ever so amazing time we have together by telling Sage and Nolan that you’re back in the band? And then we can all celebrate.”

“I’m just crossing my fingers they’ll want to celebrate,” he says as he follows me toward the dance floor.

I end up being right. Sage and Nolan are more than thrilled to have Ayden back in the band. Sage even does his celebration dance, which basically means he makes an ass of himself by attempting to break dance.