Page 157 of Never Sleep with the Enemy

“And you look beautiful,” she adds. “But more than that, you look happy.”

A flutter rises in my chest. “I think I am. Happy, I mean.”

“Good. That’s...” She trails off as another round of laughter erupts behind us, Tesla still telling her tale. Marla chuckles. “Hell of a story she’s got, huh?”

“Yup.”

“Listen, Katrina.” Marla hesitates, biting her lip. “I, uh... this is probably the worst timing in the world for this, but I wanted to tell you that… I know.”

My spine goes rigid. “You know?”

“About you and Jonah,” she says, keeping her voice low. “What happened between you guys before the wedding. And… before that, too. How you two kissed back in the day.”

“He told you about that?”

Marla nods. “When we first started dating. He said if it ever came up, I deserved to know beforehand. He didn’t want me to get blindsided.”

I look down. “Oh.”

“He didn’t think it would come up again,” she says with a soft chuckle. “But... I guess it did!”

“Marla, I’m sorry,” I say, my stomach coiling.

“It’s okay. Really, truly—it’s okay! Believe me, I know what it’s like to be in love with Jonah Botsford and wonder if he’ll ever... see you.” She smiles. “Iknow.”

“If you want me to stay away from him, I understand.”

“What? No!” Marla shakes her head. “You think I want to Yoko my favorite band? No way!”

I let out a shaky breath. “No, I guess not.”

“I wanted to clear the air between us. Let you know there are no hard feelings. Not from me, anyway. You’re one of my best friends, Katrina. And you mean so much to Jonah. I don’t want that to change.”

“I don’t want anything to change, either.”

“Cool.” Her eyes flick to the lightning bolt pin, and she grins. “Besides... I think your heart’s already set on someone else.”

“It is,” I say.

“Well, for what it’s worth... I think you two are really cute together. And your voices?” She shudders dramatically. “God, I’ve watched that clip of you guys performing like a thousand times.”

“Yeah?” I smile.

“The way he looked at you?” She grins, dreamy. “EvenIgot jealous. And I was on my honeymoon with a freakin’ Botsford.”

We laugh. I can’t stop the blush blooming across my face as I step away from the mirror. “Thanks, Marla.” I wrap her in a warm hug. “You make one hell of a Botsford wife.”

She squeezes me back. “And you’re onehotShock Girl.”

We separate, my heart beating like a drum in my chest. That tether between me and Logan—it coils and tightens, buzzing with anticipation.

“I’m gonna sneak over to the guys’ room,” I say, already backing toward the door.

Marla smirks. “Give Logan a kiss for me.”

I slip out quietly, Tesla’s voice and the girls’ laughter fading behind me. The backstage hall is dim and narrow, the sounds of the audience filtering in through the curtains ahead. The air is tense, charged. Alive in ways that only happen on show night.

A hundred fans in the seats. Millions more watching at home. All waiting for the main event.

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