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Elena scoffed, “Typical.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know exactly what it means. You’re always go-go-go, and you can’t stand it when someone isn’t at your speed. Well, Skylar, I’m sorry, but you’re back in a band now, so we all have to work together.”

“Granted, some of us don’t seem to have an input that matters.” It was Erica that piped up. “If this is how the whole tour is going to go, then I’m out. I have kids and a family now, and this high school bickering is so old.”

Skylar looked at Gordon, Andy, and Michael, all of whom had their eyes lowered to avoid her gaze. She didn’t dare look at Elena; didn’t dare find out if she felt the same way she did. Erica was right. They were being childish. But, dammit, if she was going to admit that to Elena. Instead, maybe she could cool off outside.

Pushing open the doors to the studio, Skylar walked out of the house and down the dirt path to the beach. Something about the sea always calmed her. Maybe it was the rhythmic motions or the way the water could go wherever it wanted whenever it wanted.

Skylar had longed to be like that. Back in her younger days, traveling with the band was all her heart desired. It had been years, though, since she’d traveled outside of Maine. She told herself it was because she couldn’t leave her dad with all the work at the store, but the truth of the matter was the Cove had become her safe haven. Nothing bad could happen to her in the Cove, she told herself.

Granted, she knew that wasn’t true. She’s had her heart broken in the Cove before, and it was bound to happen again if she ever wanted to settle down with someone. Of course, she’d have to get over Elena for that to ever happen.

Fucking Elena.

She had such a stronghold on Skylar’s heart and mind that she couldn’t think straight around her. Everything else in the world seemed to disappear when she was in Elena’s presence. Even now, Skylar would do anything to make Elena happy. And if that meant she’d have to apologize and go along with whatever setlist Elena and the rest of the band came up with, then that’s what she’d have to do.

Normally, Skylar hated confrontation. But there was something about the way she and Elena butted heads that admittingly turned her on. Back on the last tour, their sex was never better than it was following an argument. It didn’t matter the topic; it all seemed to work as an aphrodisiac.

Skylar didn’t know why she’d decided to be in a mood over the setlist. Sure, she was still salty over their conversation the night before, but that was no excuse. She couldn’t expect Elena to up and change her viewpoint overnight. While Skylar had been out and living in the Cove, Elena had stayed in the spotlight and the closet. Although she wished she could help Elena see that her fans would still love her if she came out, Skylar would never force her to do that. It was such a personal decision, and Skylar knew it wasn’t hers to make.

“Is this how it’s going to be all tour?”

Turning around, Skylar saw Elena a few feet away from her. Her arms were still crossed, and her expression still held a look of annoyance. The ocean breeze blew through her hair, causing it to blow in front of her face slightly.

“I’m sorry.”

“What?”

“I said I’m sorry,” Skylar repeated.

Elena took a few steps closer to her. “One more time. Can you repeat that? Because I know there’s no way Skylar Ford just apologized to me.”

Skylar playfully shoved Elena’s shoulder as she rolled her eyes.

“You’re a dick.”

“Eh,” Elena shrugged, “we both are at times.”

“It’s that whole twin flame shit again.”

“One of us always has to be burning.”

“Or setting the other on fire.”

“Or bother.”

“Yup.”

With each line they spoke, they took steps toward each other until, finally, they were barely a foot apart from each other. Skylar wanted more than anything to kiss her then and there. To make both of them forget why they were fighting in the process. But if she did that, it really would be like the last Maine Event tour. After all, that was when they became a couple if they could even call it that.

“You’re not wrong, you know.”

“I rarely am.”

Skylar stuffed her hands into the pockets of her jeans to reduce the temptation of running them through Elena’s hair.