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She sighed. She didn’t know how to tell her no. Not after everything Kam had been willing to do for her. To protect her.She owed her this. And in truth—shewantedto be there. To support her. To see her shine. Even if it was just from afar.

“Is Carter coming?” She didn’t know why she asked. She already knew. Kam had invited her mother to the opening premiere taking place in Hollywood, and thirty-six hours later, Carter would walk her down the red carpet in London, serving as her date.

“Yes.” Kam was unapologetically matter of fact. “It’s exactly why this works. All the attention will be on him.” She softened. “And then he’ll fly home the next morning and I’ll go with you to Wales.”

It was ridiculous, Dillon knew, to find herself battling a twinge of jealousy. All this had been done for her. If Kam had had her way, Dillon would have been the one beside her at the premiere.

She turned from the skyline. “Okay. But I’ll have to talk to Sam.”

“I already have. She said it was up to you.” Thirty five hundred miles away, she could hear a smile creep into Kam’s voice. “She did say something about canceling your friendship if you said no. Just so you’re aware.”

“Clever girl,” Dillon smiled in return. “I see what you’ve done here. No way I’d ever be able to fend off the pair of you.”

“Mates before dates—isn’t that what you like to say?”

“Mates before dates didn’t mean I wanted to take my mateona date, just so we’re clear.”

“Good thing,” Kam said archly, “because as soon as the night is over, I want you all to myself.”

“I’ll check my schedule. See if I can fit you in.”

“Yourschedule,” she mocked Dillon’s pronunciation of the word, “better be clear until the end of January. That’s not an option.”

“I’ll have my people call your people.”

“Aren’t you hilarious?” Kam scoffed. “But really—you’ll come?”

“I’ll come.”

A man’s voice sounded in the background.We’ll be arriving at Teterboro Airport in nine minutes, Miss Kingsbury.

“Thanks, Mark,” Kam said, and Dillon could hear her sigh on the other end of the line. “I should probably go.”

“Yeah.”

“I really miss you.”

Dillon dropped back onto her sofa. “Six more days.”

“They can’t go by fast enough.”

Silence lingered, neither wanting to hang up.

“Okay,” Kam finally resigned. “I’ll text you when I land.”

“I’ll be counting the minutes.”

“You’ll be sleeping.”

“All the better—I’ll see you in my dreams.”

In the middle of the night, long after Kam had texted her safe arrival in Chicago, Dillon lay awake scrolling her phone. It wasn’t a habit of hers, but Sam had been flooding her with links onWhat to Wear to a Red Carpet Eventand articles boasting what A-List celebrities would be attending the European launch ceremony.

It was impossible to escape theSand Seekersheadlines. Every ad, promo, and browser banner seemed to be covering the London premiere. Kam’s face was everywhere. Smiling alongside Elliott Fleming and Grady Dunn outside a Hollywood theatre. Posing on the cover of Vogue. Staring into the lens on a snow-capped glacier dressed as Addison Riley. Laughing with Carter cheek-to-cheek in a photo she’d posted on Instagram as the pair watched fireworks on the 4thof July.

The perfect couple, read one of the top comments with several thousand likes.

Gorgeous together, read another.