I pace the floor of my living room, calling my brother again. After I dried off from my unexpected shower, I made breakfast for Dad and me and talked about my place with the company. Nicky's been doing my job since I left The Remnants's tour. Tonight is their last concert, and it will be months until they tour again, so my first pick is out. Dad and I decided not to finalize anything today, leaving me with a couple of alternatives to mill over—I can go back to school for a semester or tour with another act. But I can't pick until I talk with Kade.

What happens between us could change everything.

I try my brother's number one more time, and again, it goes to voicemail. I hang up without leaving a message, toss my phone on the couch, and run my hands through my hair. Until Kade and I are face to face, I'm going to be a disaster.

I wish it were as easy as getting on a plane, but it's not. I'm not part of the staff anymore, and my chances of getting close to Kade are just as good as any fans. If my brother doesn't call me back soon, I'm forced to come up with another option to see Kade. The rational thing to do in this situation would be to call him, but I don't want to have this conversation with him over the phone. It has to be done in person. I mean, I am telling him I'm in love him and all I want is him, hoping to make it official. Besides, my relationship with Kade has been anything but conventional, and there is no reason to change now.

It might be a stupid romantic notion that I need to say all this to him in person. But it's the last item on my list, and I want to finish it with a grand gesture.

A funny feeling comes with my epiphany. It's a wildfire burning within me. Everything that was dead is being consumed and erased to make room for something new. It's now an empty plot of land, and I get to plant it with the things I want to see grow. The past is not forgotten, but a guide showing me how to improve my future and where to plant each new seedling.

Ring. Ring.

I dive over the back of the couch and turn giddy at the sight of Nicky's name on the screen. "Hey," I yell into the phone before I have it to my ear.

"What the hell, A.J.? Why are you blowing up my phone? You know I'm working."

"Stop being an ass for a second and listen."

"God, you're a fucking twat. What do you need?"

"Where are you?"

"On vacation, where do you think I am?" I sigh and he gives in. "Miami. Why?"

I pace the room. "If I get on a plane in the next couple of hours, do you think I can make it before they leave?"

"You're cutting it really close; they're going to London to finish recording tonight. Maybe you shouldn't come."

The thought of missing Kade makes my stomach turn. "I'll leave on the next flight out. I can't wait, Nicky."

I can hear the smile in his voice as he asks, "Does Kade know you're coming?"

Nicky has always had a soft spot for Kade, but ever since the night Asher assaulted me, it's blossomed into admiration. Kade stayed behind and nursed my wounds, and his actions tugged at my brother's heartstrings. His respect for him grew tenfold, and as his brotherly duty, he gave Kade a hard time. Kade stood his ground and therefore has won Nicky over. It's nice to finally have my family's approval for the person I love.

"No, and please don't tell him," I beg.

"I won't."

"Can you leave me a pass at the will-call window?"

"Yeah, and good luck, sis."

I smile. "I'll see you in Miami."

*****

Before my plane touches down in Florida, I search the airline websites trying to line up a Plan B if this doesn't work, but I'm at a loss. If I don't catch up with Kade tonight, I'll have to spend the night in Miami and take an early morning flight to England. I hate the idea.

I check the time on my phone again and note that we are scheduled to land fifteen minutes late. Cutting it close is rapidly becoming a vast understatement. My legs bounce up and down as if the movement will make the plane land faster and alert everyone that I'm on a time crunch. Again, I look at the clock and shift in my seat. I have a sinking feeling that I'm not going to make it.

It seems like hours pass before the plane jolts as the wheels meet the tarmac. My heart beats fast in anticipation and my muscles coil with the intention of bolting off the plane. We taxi to the gate, and I'm on my feet before we stop. I gather my bag and lose all common courtesy when the door opens, pushing past the other passengers as they voice their discontent for my rudeness. I apologize out of habit more than remorse and exit the craft.

Once in the terminal, I grab the first cab I see and direct the driver to the stadium. My GPS reads that the ride should only be ten minutes, but blue flashing lights from a police cruiser ahead has traffic at a slow creep. I curse all the cars before us and their curiosity over a vehicle with a flat tire. My cabbie looks at me through the rearview mirror and asks if I'm all right; my anxiety is clearly not sitting well with him.

By the time we get to the stadium, people are filing out. This is bad. The buses are usually one of the first vehicles to leave the parking lot. It's most likely too late, but I still have to try. I throw more than enough money at the cab driver and run up to the will-call window.

The lady behind the glass is pulling down the shade when I reach the counter. "Sorry, we're closed," she says through the speaker in the glass separating us.

"I know, but I'm with the band, and you have my pass." I shift from foot to foot, glancing at the exit doors.

"Well, you'll just have to come back tomorrow and get it," she says cocking a perfectly manicured eyebrow and brushing her two-inch gold fingernails over her black bouffant hairdo.

"Please," I lean on the window seal and take a deep breath. "The boy I love is in there, and you have my pass." I smile and slide my I.D. through the slot.

She glares at me, huffs, and types in my information. Handing back my driver's license, she shuffles through a small file on her desk. "You know, all these girls here think they're in love with that band. I really don't get what they see in them." She finally pulls out the pass and slides it to me.

"Ma'am, do me a favor and search The Remnants. Then tell me you don't understand why all these people love them." I snatch up my backstage pass and run for the entrance.