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dream—beautiful, fun and sweet. If she weren’t such a good friend, I’d hate her.
    Inside the bus was not as I expected. There were normal seats, plus an area down the back with a bed and a little door that led to what looked like a bathroom. Some of the seats had curtains that could be drawn around groups of two, allowing for a little privacy. Xander stalked to one near the back and immediately shoved the curtain around him. Michael laughed.
    “Where should I …?” I looked at the seats and shrugged.
    “Anywhere, Kate.” Lee nodded, standing in front of me. “Let me just do a few quick introductions.”
    I’m about to ask ‘to who?’ when a small figure came running around Lee’s legs and toward at me at full-speed. Tiny arms wrapped around my leg and when I looked down, a cheeky little smile beamed up at me.
    “Catch me.” The boy giggled. His eyes were a deep blue, and the way they twinkled just churned my heart. It was impossible not to smile in return.
    “Not now, Jay.” A gorgeous blonde with long, plaited hair stood up from a seat where she must have been slumped, her hands on her hips. “What do you do when you meet new people?”
    Jay’s eyes went wide. “No candy.”
    This time, it was my turn to giggle. “And …?” The woman pressed, but I could see she was fighting a smile. Jay’s little face frowned, and he shoved his hand in his mouth. Suddenly, his eyes widened and he wiped his knuckle on his shirt.
    “Pweased to meet you.” He shoved his hand out to my waist, and I smiled and shook it. His fingers were slimy, but it was so freaking cute I didn’t care.
    “Hi, Jay. I’m Kate,” I said.
    He furrowed his brow. “Your voice is funny.”
    “Jay …” The woman skipped down the aisle and hoisted him up in the air, pulling him close to her. “Manners.” He buried his face in her shoulder.
    “He means your accent,” Lee offered. He swung his bag into the overhead compartment and slouched down on a seat across from the one I’d seen the woman and Jay come from.
    “C’mere, little buddy.” Lee stretched out his arms. Jay gave him a look —the kind of look that only kids can. The one that means ‘please don’t make me, strange man.’ Lottie smiled and placed her hands on Jay’s shoulders, leaning down to whisper something in his ear. Seconds later, Jay wiggled out of his mother’s embrace, throwing himself over the seat for a hug with Lee. I smirked. A rock-star image it was not.
    The woman turned her attention to me, and with the mega-watt smile that graced her face, there was no doubt in my mind that Jay was her son. Their grins were identical. “Hey, I’m Lottie.”
    “Hey. I’ve heard so much about you,” I said. Just wasn’t told you had a kid, that’s all . I silently berated Stacey for not mentioning that useful piece of information. Although I guess she only had known her for a month.
    “All good, I hope.” She raised her eyebrows. “Come on, you can sit near me. That is, if you don’t mind the occasional child snores. He’s not a quiet sleeper.”
    “Sure.” I walked over and placed my bag on the seat in front of hers.
    Thirty minutes later, the bus was packed. Security, the band, Lottie—who I had now found out was the stylist—the driver, five dancers, the techs—three of them, because no one should have to tune their own guitar—two sound guys, one label rep—who wouldn’t be with us all the time, apparently—and four women, who sat up the front and didn’t seem to talk to anyone. They were dressed to impress, showcasing their long, golden-brown legs and exposing a fair bit of cleavage.
    “Meet the girls ,” Lottie whispered in my ear. I looked back at her, then returned my gaze to the women. Or, the teenagers. Because seriously, I doubted any of them were over eighteen.
    “Who are they?” I asked, but the sinking feeling in my stomach told me I already know the answer.
    “Well, at a guess, I’d say they’re Xander’s, but there’s