“Love you, too, Tally,” she says before hanging up.

I grab an apple off the counter and a bottle of water, yawning. Exhausted, that’s what I am. Totally exhausted. I decide to go back in the guest room and message Madison to see when she’ll be in, and then I need to search online to see what tomorrow holds for me.

I eat the apple as I sit down on the bed and grab my phone, and it’s … dead. Of course it’s dead. I shove the charger plug into the wall, throw the now eaten apple in the wastebasket, and give it ten minutes. My phone is shot. The battery life is horrible, but I don’t have the money to spend to get a new one, not now.

I lie down so I can use it while it’s plugged in then send Madison a message.

When will you be here?

She replies immediately.

Tomorrow at ten a.m. Make sure you and my brother pick me up at ten on the nose. I am so fucking excited to see you!

It’s followed up by a bunch of emojis.

Can’t wait to see you, either!

I follow that up with the smiley face and tears emoji.

I click on the Internet browser on my phone and search jobs for dancers in New York City. I enjoyed living in New York. It was busy; there was always something to do; and you were never alone, even if you were alone.

There are plenty of auditions available and a lot of instructor jobs. I screenshot the ones I think look the most promising. Heck, they all look promising when you need a job.

I then spend an hour or more reading, taking more screenshots, and then I Google the nearest public library because I don’t have access to a computer, and I want this task completed. I want to know that, when I tell Madison the secret I have been keeping from her, she doesn’t go all Mads on me and try to help.

I am an adult now, and I need to take care of myself.

***

When I return from the library, I am hot and ready for a shower, then maybe a nap. I am exhausted from the walk, the heat, the emotions, and the lack of sleep I got last night while I lay next to Memphis.

As I walk down the brick drive, my breath is taken away by the place. It’s like a dream. Heck, it’s nothing I ever even dreamed of. The three buildings connected by lanais are beyond luxurious.

I round the corner, hoping the back door is unlocked because my phone has died again, of course, and I forgot the code. I walk past the marble infinity pool that seemingly spills into the bay to the door, and of course, it is locked.

I knock, hoping someone will answer, but when no one does, I look toward the dock to see if the boat Memphis said would be back is there. My fingers cross, hoping the man driving the boat knows the code.

He isn’t here. The boat isn’t even back. I kick off my shorts and pull my tank top over my head, deciding to dive into the pool and hoping I won’t feel as disgusting as I do right now when I come out.

Once in, I carefully watch for the boat. I don’t want to be in the pool when they come back. I don’t want to be in this stupid, teeny bikini that Madison sent me, either, but it’s the only one I have.

The water feels like silk, and it’s warm, almost to the point that it’s not refreshing, but it’s not quite as warm as I’m sure it will be by evening.

Once I swim a bit and feel better, I walk out and wring out my hair, grab a towel, dry off as best I can, and then pull my shorts and tank back on.

I lie down under one of the lanais and decide to let the sun dry me off. The chaise lounge is so incredibly comfortable I drift off, knowing the loud motor from the boat, or the even louder band members from STD, will wake me as soon as they return.

“You’re right; she has a really nice ass,” I hear River and quickly roll to my side, keeping my eyes closed.

“Careful. Don’t let Memphis hear you talk like that.” It’s Finn. I can tell by the deep baritone in his voice.

“Memphis is busy.” River chuckles.

“Uh-huh,” Finn says. Then I hear them walk away.

I hear girls giggling, and then I hear him laugh.

“Nuh-uh. I invited you here for a party, not to get grabby there, girls.”

Girls, as in plural. So the stories I have read online are true. Memphis is a man-whore.

“Why?” one whines. “Come on, we really want an STD.”

I can’t sit here and listen anymore, so I open my eyes, taking in my surroundings, and then find the quickest escape to the house.

There are tons of people around. It’s sick that my ears are tuned in on his conversation when there are dozens of others surrounding me.

I stand quickly after my route is planned and start walking toward the glass doors.

“Where do you think you’re going, gorgeous?” I hear a stranger’s voice before someone grabs my elbow.

I don’t look back. I look straight ahead and see Billy walking quickly toward me.

“Dude, I’d let go of that one if I were you,” he says, reaching out to me.

“It’s Wolf, and I don’t think that’s any of your concern.”

“No, man, he’s serious,” River says, grabbing my hand. “Come on, little one.”

I look up at the man, Wolf. He is tall with copper hair and blue eyes, and he is smiling at me. It’s a smile that would send you running for the woods if his name wasn’t Wolf, and you hadn’t been raised having the bejeepers scared out of you by those fairytales. Nope, no woods for me. I’ll take my chances with River.

“What’s going on here?” Memphis asks, standing in front of me, his arms crossed over his shirtless chest.

I feel immediately at ease.

“The little one and I are going inside,” River says in a tone meant to egg him on.

Memphis grabs my free hand and holds it up. “Fingers straight up.” His whisper in my ear makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up as I do what he asks. He looks at River as he turns my wrist from side to side. “If you like it, you better put a ring on it. She’s a good kid and deserves better than anyone of us, so back off.”

“Oh, my God, man.” River laughs. “You’re serious.”

“Serious as a bona fide STD. If you touch her, you better plan on wife-ing it, and you better be fucking sober when you do it.”

I cover my mouth when he says fucking and try not to giggle.

He shakes his head and rolls his eyes that are sparkling. “On second thought, if you touch her, I’ll kill you.”

“You staking claim to that?” Finn asks as he walks out of the house, trying not to smirk.

“She’s off limits, you feel me?” He finally lets go of my hand, turns his head, and looks into my eyes. “Anyone of these bastar—” I cover my mouth, and his angry glare threatens to turn into a smile. “Tales, you have no business being here.”

It stings a little. I don’t want it to, but it does.

“I tried to leave earlier.”

His eyes narrow a bit. Then he takes in a deep breath and runs his hand through his hair. “I don’t need Mads pissed off.”

“But with me”—I swallow—“pissed off is fine?”

He looks around, and I do, too. Everyone is staring at us.

Apparently, when he speaks, they listen, too.

“You pissed off at me for trying to save your virtue?” He looks at me like I’m crazy.

Maybe I am because I say, “I already told you there is nothing there to save.”

“Ooooooh,” echoes around us.

He throws his hands up in the air. “Fine. Have at it. But, when one of these fucks puts their hands on you and I bust it, don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He looks around. “All of you.” Then he looks back at me and points. “And, when I fuck them up, Tales, it’s on your conscious.”

With that, I storm into the house, but before I can shut the door behind me, Billy walks in.

“You okay?”

“I’m fine!” I yell at him, then realize it’s not him I am angry at. “Sorry.”

“Need a drink?” River asks.

“Yes, please,” I say, surprising myself.

“You eat today?” Billy asks.