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Ernie had really pushed for driving at night instead of the day and sleeping in the bunks on the bus. Jason thought it was a good idea too, but we’d tried it a few times and I couldn’t get used to it. My mind couldn’t relax knowing I was in my pajamas on a freeway somewhere. It was just weird. And I could feel the braking and turning into parking lots and I kept waking up.

But if we did that instead of staying in a hotel every night, we’d have the days free of travel to actually do things. We’d wake up in our city instead of running out of hotel rooms at 5:00 a.m. and driving all day to get there. Maybe we could even sightsee now and then, go to restaurants. Then we’d eat better and I could get moving again.

I let out a sigh as I climbed under the covers and bunched the pillow under my head. I’d tell him when he came back that I wanted to give sleeping on the bus another try. I couldn’t keep doing the same things and expecting different results.

I fell into one of those cold-medicine slumbers. The kind where you float through the black and don’t dream.

When I woke up, Jason was there sleeping next to me, an arm draped over my waist.

It took me a few moments to blink away the confusion. The room was pitch-dark, but I could see the sunlight etching the sides of the curtains. He was supposed to be gone until tonight, running around doing media and then at his sound check.

I sat up on my elbows. The clock said noon. I’d slept five hours.

Jason stirred and opened his eyes. “Hey, you’re up. How are you feeling?”

“Groggy. What are you doing here?”

He brushed the hair off my forehead and kissed it. “I canceled my day.”

“You canceled your day?” Ugh. His publicist was going to be so pissed. “Jason…”

“Don’t worry, I didn’t cancel my concert. But we’re staying in today. We’re going to lie in bed and watch crime shows. Zane’s picking up food from the highest-rated restaurant in Memphis, and I have a doctor coming to see you in an hour.”

It was a punch to my heart. My chin started to quiver. “Jason…”

He put his forehead to mine. “Sloan, I haven’t been taking very good care of you and I’m sorry. I’m going to do better.”

I sniffed. “This isn’t your fault, Jason.”

“It’s all my fault.” His eyes held mine. “There’s nothing that I want more than for you to be happy. Do you understand? I would do anything to make you happy.”

“I am happy.”

But his eyes told me he didn’t believe it.

* * *

Two hours later the doctor had come and gone. I had bronchitis and a double ear infection. When the doctor announced it, Jason looked like someone had kicked his dog. I think he felt guilty that I hadn’t seen someone sooner, but it wasn’t his fault. I could have gone to urgent care while he did what he had to do, but I’d just thought I’d get over it on my own.

The doctor gave me antibiotics, a shot of vitamins, prescription cough medicine, and a breathing treatment. And after that, Jason and I stayed in bed. God, we needed it. It was amazing that even though we were almost never apart, it was like we hadn’t seen each other in months. Nothing we did out here was quality time.

We lay there talking about everything but Jaxon. I was so tired of Jaxon—and I think he was too.

It felt like another person was in our relationship. One who was demanding and required our constant attention. Our entire life was spent in the pursuit of Jaxon’s needs, and now for the first time in months we were finally taking time for us. It felt good.

Maybe this was the trick. The thing I had to chase. And maybe if we slept in the bus, our waking hours would be more like this and less like what it had been so far.

But even as draining as the touring had been, there was good in it too. I’d fallen so much more in love with Jason over the last three months. I’d always been in awe of him—even before I knew who he was. But now I loved him for a hundred more reasons.

I’d learned he was kind and polite to everyone, from the people who checked us into our hotels to the cashiers at the gas stations. I learned he’d stay until every single person who wanted to meet him got the chance, no matter how tired he was. He was generous. He tipped well and took care of the people around him. He always helped bring in his gear, even though his crew was supposed to do it. I knew he carried around spare guitar picks to give to little kids who wanted autographs. And most of all, I knew he cherished me. I felt like the center of his gravity. Like wherever I was, he was orbiting me. It was an honor to be loved by him and it made all of this worth it, even though it was hard.

We were lying there with our heads on the same pillow, looking at each other. He reached out and brushed my hair behind my ear as I studied him. I’d memorized every freckle in his eyes. Every line. “I could paint your face from memory, you know that?” I said quietly. “You are burned into me, Jason.”

He smiled gently. “Sloan, I did something for you.”

I bit my lip. “What?”

He let out a breath. “You can say no if you want to, but I put a lot of thought into it and really think you should do it.”