“You realize this is an open mic thingy, right?” I said. “How much ‘good’ do you think you’re really going to miss?”

Keith laughed, which made me feel a little better. I was still walking to my own execution, but at least I had my sense of humor.

A tall man with a goatee and dark sunglasses was finishing his poem on a makeshift stage when Keith opened the door to let Ally and me in.

“Rage against the corporate greed,” the man on the stage said, emphasizing each word as he spoke. “Rise up against the lies. For only when we take back what’s ours will we truly be satisfied.”

“I’m sure you missed something riveting,” I said to Ally when the man bowed to a light smattering of polite golf claps.

She flashed me a dirty look as she led Keith and me to a long table near the front of the stage where Bianca and Tim sat with Clover. Jake was in deep conversation with a guy I’d never met before. He looked super familiar, though.

“We’ve arrived!” Ally said dramatically, her arms raised. She lowered herself into the seat beside Bianca and hooked a thumb in my direction. “You have no idea how hard it was to get this one out of the house.”

Clover smiled and jumped from her seat to greet me. “Talia, I’m so glad you made it.” She took my hand and whisked me away from my friends to meet the stranger at the table. “Gavin,” she said, tapping him on the shoulder, “this is Talia.”

Gavin Leeds, I said to myself as I remembered where I’d seen him before. Of course.

Greenish-gray eyes met mine as he turned to look at me. Gavin wasn’t as cute in person as he was in pictures or on TV, but he still commanded attention. Black curls topped his head in an artfully messy fashion, like he hadn’t bothered to touch his hair for weeks, yet every curl was perfectly placed. He had dark stubble along his jaw, making him look way older than nineteen. Dressed in a black T-shirt and leather jacket with a silver chain around his neck, everything about his image screamed rock star.

He rose from his seat and smiled down at me. “So you’re Talia,” he said, shaking my hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you.” He glanced at Jake, whose attention was elsewhere, and gestured to the seat that materialized between him and Clover.

“Hey, Jake,” I said.

He raised his hand to wave but didn’t look at me.

And everyone seems to think I’ll have no problem cornering him for a chat, I thought as my heart cracked and splintered. Yeah, good luck with that.

I sat down as a girl unfolded a piece of paper and began reading it onstage.

“I hear you’re an artist,” Gavin said, touching my hand to get my attention.

“What?” I said. “Oh, yeah.” I pulled back my hands and kept them in my lap.

“She’s really good,” Clover said. “I’ve seen some of her work.”

My face flushed.

Gavin nodded. “Cool, cool,” he said. “I have some serious admiration for people who can create in a vacuum, you know?” He put his elbows on the table, steepled his fingers, and gazed intently at me, like I was an odd specimen. “With music,” he said, “you need other people. It’s like being on a team.”

Clover rolled her eyes, and I guessed she’d heard him say that several times before.

“But art,” he continued, “art like painting and drawing and the kind of stuff you do. It’s just you and the empty canvas.” He shook his head and leaned back in his chair. “It’s solitary. And it’s real.”

I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. I wasn’t even sure he was sober. Fortunately, the girl onstage finished, and I could break eye contact to watch her bow and exit.

“He’s a little out there,” Clover said quietly. “But he’s so brilliant.”

“Is he stoned?” I said.

She frowned. “Um, I don’t think so.” It sounded more like a question than a statement. “He’s always kind of spacey like that,” she said with a shrug. “Besides, there’s some stipulation in Gavin’s contract that would let my dad cancel it if there’s any, um, questionable behavior or whatever.”

“That’s pretty smart,” I said.

“I guess, but there’s a clause in there, too, about who he can date.” She made a face and added, “Namely not me.”

I wasn’t sure which puzzled me more, the inclusion of a dating provision or Clover’s reaction to it.

A couple of belly dancers took the stage, and Clover searched the room as if looking for someone. She quickly faced forward with an annoyed sigh. “Great,” she said. “The Ego King is coming.”

I glanced over my shoulder to see who she was talking about and found Zack striding toward us. Jake got up to greet his former bandmate with an elaborate handshake and led Zack to the table.

“Gavin Leeds,” Zack said, his hand outstretched. “Good to meet you. Zack Montgomery.”

Gavin stood and shook his hand, a curious expression on his face.

“Your old lead guitarist?” he said to Jake. When Jake nodded, Gavin smiled. “I heard your demo, man. It’s tight.”

“Zack’s auditioning for Dad’s newest project,” Clover said as Zack pulled up a chair and the three of them began talking. I remembered Jake mentioning something about a new band, and nodded. “He’s so full of himself.” She shuddered.

I turned my attention back to the stage and watched the women dance, a colorful display of twirling scarves and undulating movements. After a few moments, I glanced at my companions. Gavin was still engrossed in conversation with Jake and Zack.

“I thought Jake said Gavin was a guest judge,” I said to Clover, tapping her on the arm. “But he’s not watching.”

She shook her head. “No, that’s a PR thing. My dad sent one of his scouts to judge. Gavin’s really just here to perform.”

My stomach twisted at her words, but I smiled to hide my anxiety.

I wasn’t sure how many acts I sat through while Clover and I made small talk. Every now and then I’d catch Ally’s attention from the other end of the table and glare at her, but she’d just smile and wave.

Finally, after three guys took the stage for a juggling act, I excused myself to use the restroom.

“Oh, don’t take too long,” Clover said as I stood. “Gavin’s up next.” She beamed. “He’s playing something Jake wrote, and you’re so going to want to hear it.”

I offered a tight-lipped smile and nodded before I made my way to the far corner of the coffee shop, silently cursing myself for not driving on my own. If I hadn’t pitched a fit about not wanting to go, I would’ve had my car there to escape. But instead, I was at the mercy of Keith and Ally who, judging by the way they were laughing with Bianca and Tim, had no desire to leave any time soon.

Gavin was stepping onto the stage when I got out of the bathroom. He sat on a stool holding an acoustic guitar and waved to the cheering crowd.

“So, uh, I guess you guys all know who I am,” he said into the microphone when the applause died down. A few people laughed, and some clapped, but Gavin held up his hand to silence them. “This is something my buddy Jake wrote for his girl, and you guys all get to hear it first.”

The crowd applauded again, but my stomach clenched. I didn’t need to hear any more. I started for the exit and was almost to the door when Gavin’s voice stopped me.

“Anyway, I don’t know where she went, but, uh, Talia, this is for you. It’s called ‘Never Say Goodbye.’”

The crowd cheered again, and I whirled around to face the stage. Gavin began a succession of chords I’d heard just the previous afternoon. It was a different arrangement, more upbeat and poppy just as Jake had said, but there was no mistaking it. That was Jake’s song.

I rushed back to the table as Gavin started to sing. Jake’s seat was empty.

“Where is he?” I said to Ally and Bianca as I knelt down between them. “Did you see him leave? Where did he go?”

Bianca peered around Clover and shook her head. “I don’t know.”

“Sorry.” Ally bit her lip. “We really weren’t paying attention.”