Cade: You know I have to work, Daph. You work, too. Doesn't have anything to do with our friendship.

Cade: Hello?

Cade: Sigh. Daph, I hope you're staying clean. Not for my sake, but for yours.

Monday Cade: Still thinking about it?

Kylie: It's a long, involved thought process. Truly.

Cade: What can I do to persuade you?

Kylie: Promise me that Daphne will not lose her shit if she finds out about it? Actually, just promise me she won't find out at all?

Cade: She won't find out.

Kylie: Uh-huh.

Cade: But we're still discussing it, which must mean that you want to go with me after all.

Kylie: It's not a question of want. It's a question of practicality. Like, is it practical for me to date the man that my rich and famous boss wants? Risk my job? I consulted my Magic 8 Ball this morning and all signs point to no.

Cade: Those things are liars. Mine told me that you would say yes.

Kylie: They ARE full of lies!

Cade: What if I offered to buy an orphanage in some third world country?

Kylie: Now you're not playing fair.

Cade: I don't have to. I have money.

Kylie: Fine, fine, we'll go out. If we must.

Cade: Excellent. I will see you Wednesday night.

Kylie: Just . . . I'll send you my hotel info, okay? Let's keep this out of Daphne's eye. I don't want her to even know you're in town.

Cade: That makes two of us. I won't say a thing. Looking forward to seeing you, then.

Kylie: Just FYI we're not sleeping together.

Cade: I'm fine with that. I just want to see you. Maybe kiss you.

Kylie: Maybe?

Cade: Well, I thought it might frighten you if I said that I intend to kiss every inch of you at least twice.

Kylie: Not frightened here.

Tuesday Daphne: U coming 2 the show tonight?

Cade: Can't. Busy schedule. How goes keeping clean?

Cade: Hello?

- Kylie was humming to herself as she mixed the foundation colors for Daphne's skin. It was ridiculous to be in such a good mood, but she was. She was going to see Cade tomorrow night, and they were going to talk for hours and have a wonderful time.

She wasn't even going to sleep with him. Just to prove to herself that she didn't have to. But she was definitely looking forward to those kisses.

And she might wear some sexy lingerie because, well, just because.

She checked her phone for the millionth time that day, but Cade must have been busy. He'd only sent her a few small texts, like the occasional smiley face or thinking of you.' They'd been text flirting for the last week. While it was just as easy to pick up the phone and have a phone call, there was something fun and relaxed about texting. She found herself having to hold back on responding, just in case he thought she was sitting by her phone for hours on end, waiting for him to text back.

Which . . . she was. But he didn't have to know that, of course.

She was still humming when Daphne threw herself in the director's chair in front of Kylie and gestured at her face. "Let's put this on, shall we? I have plebs to entertain tonight."

Kylie eyed the pop star. Was this Pleasant Attitude Daphne or Nasty Daphne? It was hard to tell sometimes. Lately it had been Nasty Daphne. "Sounds good," Kylie said, keeping her voice reasonable and mild. "Any particular requests tonight?"

"I liked that glitter and rhinestone shit you did at my temples for the last show," Daphne said, pressing her fingertips on her forehead. "They stayed in place really well. But can we skip the fake lashes? I fucking hate that crap and one always starts to fall down midshow, and then I think there's a spider attacking me."

Kylie chuckled. "We can always go a little wilder with the eyeliner to hide the fact that you're not wearing fake lashes. Totally doable."

"Thanks, Fat Marilyn." Daphne beamed at her. "I don't know if anyone's told you, but you're all right."

"Wow, thanks." She was actually touched by Daphne's compliment. Celebrities were hard to please, so this was a rare treat. She was even going to ignore the Fat Marilyn stuff. This must have been Nice Daphne today. "How are you feeling?" she asked tentatively, since she was supposed to be watching Daphne for Cade. "You look great."

"Really?"

"Sure," Kylie lied. Daphne pretty much looked the same-skinny and pale-but her attitude was nice today, so she'd go with that. "Still clean?"

Daphne's eyes narrowed, and Kylie wondered if she'd pushed too far.

She plugged in her airbrush and acted as if nothing was amiss. "You mentioned to me the other day that you were trying to go clean again. Only reason I asked."

"Well, it's going great. I feel awesome."

"That's really wonderful," Kylie said, and meant it. She pulled out a bottle of primer and a makeup sponge and began to dab Daphne's face. "I'm happy for you."

"I've been clean a week now," Daphne told her, obediently closing her eyes and tilting her head back so Kylie could prime her entire face and neck. "Cade's going to be so proud of me."

"I bet he will."

"I'm doing it for him, you know. He told me he couldn't have a relationship with someone on drugs."

Kylie paused. Daphne's eyes were still closed, so Kylie dabbed at the primer again and then continued to cover Daphne's face. "So you two are in a relationship?"

"Yup," Daphne said, and she smiled. "He's a great guy, isn't he?"

"The best," Kylie said softly. She cleared her throat, blinking back angry tears. "Now, hold still. We have to do foundation once the primer dries."

It took a little over an hour to get Daphne's stage makeup just right. To hide the track marks on her arms, they were airbrushed with foundation and then decorated with glitter, too. Kylie contoured Daphne's face to make it seem rounded with health, then worked on sweeping glitter outward from her eyes. She made her black liner into an exaggerated cat's-eye so the lack of lashes wouldn't seem so odd, and added tiny rhinestones along the corners of her brows to draw the attention there. When she was done, she presented Daphne with a mirror. "All good?"

"All good," Daphne said triumphantly. "Thanks again. Off to wardrobe." She winked at Kylie as if they were best buds, and then hopped out of her chair. As she sauntered to Ginger's changing room, Kylie started to put away the stage makeup. Her hands trembled as she considered Daphne's words.

Was Daphne in a relationship with Cade? Was Kylie being played?

Either way, things were messy. Her mind whirled with unhappy thoughts as she packed up her things, and then to keep her hands busy, she refreshed her own makeup. Not that there would be anyone to see it, but she felt more confident when she looked good.

Daphne headed up to the stage area a short time later in her opening number costume, and Ginger emerged with a spare tutu from the night before. "I swear, that girl goes through more costumes than anyone I've ever worked for," she said with an eye roll. "And when she's not stepping on the hems, I have to take them in." She paused near Kylie and peered. "What's wrong, honey?"

God, was she that obvious? Kylie blinked rapidly. "I-I'm okay."

"Bullshit. I'm a mom. My youngest is twenty-three now but I can still recognize when someone's unhappy." She nodded her head at the door. "Come on. Come out on a smoke break with me."

"I don't smoke," Kylie said.

"Just come out on a smoke break with me," Ginger repeated, staring pointedly at Kylie.

"Okay." Because clearly there was something that needed to be said that shouldn't be said inside.

Ginger just smiled thinly at her, snagged her purse, and headed out the fire escape. Kylie followed her, and they both showed their badges to the security guard, then strolled out along the back wall of the building, heading toward the Dumpster. Ginger leaned up against it, fished a cigarette out of her purse, and lit it. "Sure you don't want one? Menthol. I tried that vapor shit but couldn't get past the taste."

"No, I'm good," Kylie said. She crossed her arms and gazed out at the far side of the building where crowds were forming near a barricade to get in to the concert. They'd be letting them in very soon and then the opening act would go on.

"Daph sure seems to be in a good mood lately, doesn't she?"

"I guess so."

"She told me all about the new guy she was dating." Ginger gave Kylie a pointed look. "New guy with blond hair and an old friend of hers."

Kylie winced and looked away again. "Mmmhmm."

"Which is funny, I think to myself, because I could have sworn I saw Kylie go home with some guy the first night of the tour. Some guy that showed up to see Daphne. Some guy with blond hair."

Kylie said nothing. What could she possibly say?

"And I thought I should show you this," Ginger said. She dug in her purse and pulled out a folded copy of Celebrity! Magazine and handed it to Kylie.

She took it from Ginger and gazed at the cover. There was a starlet with a new baby on the front page, someone else's cheating drama in a sidebar, and in a tiny corner picture, it read: DAPHNE PETTY: NEW TOUR, NEW LOVE! SEE P. 12. And because she was a sucker, Kylie flipped over to page twelve and skimmed it. There was a picture of Daphne on stage, surrounded by her dancers, her microphone held in the air. The caption box stated: New beginnings for troubled heartthrob? Everyone's favorite pop princess, Daphne Petty, is starting her first North American tour since hitting rehab last year, and rumor has it that she has a new flame as well! Though we're told that Petty is very committed to making her show the best possible, a source has leaked to us that Petty has been seen multiple times in the company of billionaire philanthropist Cade Archer, 30. The source says that they're keeping things on the down-low for now, but seem "very cozy" when together. "They're childhood friends," our source says. "Cade understands Daphne better than anyone else, and he's completely supportive of her. He's been interested in Daphne for years, and has waited for the right time to make his move." Sounds like someone's right time is now!

Ugh.

Kylie closed the magazine and handed it back over to Ginger.

"Revolting magazine, isn't it?" Ginger said, then took another drag on her cigarette. "Fucking puff pieces galore, and you know they're planted by publicists who are looking to get attention for their clients."

"Do you think that was a puff piece?" Kylie asked, trying to keep the hopeful note out of her voice.

"I have no clue," Ginger admitted. "But he has been around a lot, they are childhood friends, and now Daphne's blabbing about dating him. Let's face it, kid. When it comes down to things, you and I are the hired help, and she's the star of the show. If it comes down to you or her . . ."

"He's going to pick her," Kylie said softly. Of course he would. He'd try to let Kylie down in the nicest way possible, but he'd still pick Daphne. How could Kylie possibly compete against someone Cade had wanted for years on end? "Thanks for the warning, Ginger."

"You bet, honey. I just don't want you to get hurt, you know?"

It was a little late for that, Kylie thought. She might have been okay with having a one-night stand if Cade hadn't shown up again. If he hadn't kissed her in the limo and romanced her over dinner and sent her funny little texts all week.

Because now? Now her heart was committed. Now her heart wanted more, and if things went south from here? She was going to be really, really hurt. Best to just detangle while she could, without getting her heart broken.

She pulled out her phone and flipped open her messages.

"Whatcha doing?" Ginger asked, fishing out another cigarette to smoke.

"Just checking the weather," Kylie lied.

"Uh-huh," Ginger said.

Kylie: Something's come up. Can't meet you tomorrow night.

Cade: That's too bad. Anything I can help with?

Cade: Or did you want to meet after the show on Thursday?

Cade: Kylie?

Kylie: Busy. Can't talk.

Cade: Can you talk later?

Kylie: Nope, gotta go!

- All right, what the hell had happened? Cade stared down at his phone, frowning.

Kylie-sweet, laughing Kylie-had given him the brush-off. Had he said something? Done something? Heck, he hadn't even been around for the last week or so. Was something new going on with Daphne?

Instead of texting, he tried calling Kylie. She didn't pick up. Frustrated, he stared down at his phone, and then texted someone who knew a few things about women.

Cade: What would you think if you ask a woman out, she accepts, and then a day later, she declines?

Reese: Who is this?

Cade: Very funny. I'm being serious.

Reese: Man, you must be serious if you can't even laugh at my joke. This isn't a Daphne question, is it? Please tell me it's not.

Cade: Not Daphne. Done w/her. Daph's makeup artist.

Reese: That's bad news, too. I would keep my dick far away from anyone or anything involved with her.