As I slipped out the front gate, Simone was just stepping out of her house next door. We locked eyes, burst into laughter, and raced toward the bus stop like a couple of giddy teenagers.

“Tickets for 4 Nipes go on sale at seven tonight!” Simone squealed, practically vibrating with excitement.

“So…” I started, unsure how to break it to her.

“So?” She shot me a suspicious glance. “Don’t even think about bailing, Manu. It’s 4 Nipes! We’ve been waiting for this since we were sixteen, when those knuckleheads first stormed a stage.”

“It’s Rarlat’s graduation,” I said. “And Mom wants to throw a party.”

Simone let out a sharp, incredulous laugh. “A party? Irene can’t even keep herself fed—how’s she gonna pull off a graduation bash for that insufferable Rarlat?”

“Hey, don’t say that. She’s my sister.”

“Not by blood.”

“You know I see her as my sister.”

“You shouldn’t. She treats you like garbage.”

“Simone, imagine if every adopted kid refused to call their non-blood family ‘family.’ What’s the point of adoption then?”

“Those women deserve your anger. They’re awful.”

“It could be worse…”

“What, like you dropping dead? Or being born blind? Or having ninety percent of your skin burned off?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re the worst!”

“I’m the worst?” Her big, dark eyes widened dramatically. “That so-called family of yours is the problem. I’m just keeping it real.”

“Maybe I’ll get the ticket,” I said. “I could ask for an advance… or, who knows, maybe win employee of the month.”

“You’ll never get that bonus. Dominic would rather choke than give you the satisfaction, no matter how much you deserve it. Unless you’re willing to sleep with that creep. Just the thought of it makes me want to hurl.”

“It’s my little sister’s graduation,” I said. “That’s why I considered the party. Rarlat’s not as bad as Carly.”

“Oh, come on! Rarlat’s a sneaky liar, and Carly? She slept with your fiancé. You can’t keep putting them first, Manu.”

“It’s a graduation. A big moment in her life.”

“No way!” Simone shouted, throwing her hands up. “Forget the Cinderella thing. You’re Snow White, opening the door for the witch and eating the poisoned apple. That’s next-level naive!”

“Fine, I’ll buy the ticket,” I sighed, giving in.

“If you don’t, I swear I’ll lose it. It’s 4 Nipes, girl. And Fred Hunt is your entire world.”

Working at the Hotel Bali was, honestly, kind of fun. I liked cleaning and organizing, got to work alongside my best friend, and met some cool guests—along with a few not-so-great ones. Sometimes I’d get tips, which helped a ton. Even though I was one of the best employees—never late, never absent, always thorough—I’d never won employee of the month. Dominic, my ex, made sure of that.

I’d just finished cleaning the main suite, which had been vacated, and was pushing my cart of supplies when I was yanked into a corner of the hallway.

My stomach dropped as Dominic’s hands gripped me, pinning me against the wall.

“What do you want?” I asked, keeping my voice steady.

“What I always want,” he smirked, his tone dripping with sleaze. “You.”

It’d be a lie to say Dominic wasn’t good-looking. Those blue eyes had always been striking, his features sharp, with a straight, chiseled nose and perfectly shaped lips I could still recall the taste of. Now he sported a neatly trimmed beard that gave him a more serious edge. His dark brown hair, slightly wavy and medium-length, was usually slicked back.

“Let me go, Dominic. I just want to do my job.”

“You know you could have a lot of perks if you were with me,” he said, leaning closer.

“Like what? Getting cheated on in my own bed?” I shot back, raising an eyebrow.

“Manu, let it go. It was a mistake.”

“I’ve let it go. But I’m still not coming back to you.”

“Carly came onto me.”

“And you betrayed me.”

“I still want you.”

“No, you just want what you never got from me.”

“I bet you’ve hooked up with someone by now. And that’s fine—I forgive you for not giving me your virginity. But now… I want to take you to bed and show you what you’ve been missing.”

“Not even if you were the last man on earth, Dominic.”

His hand slid onto my thigh, creeping up slowly, his eyes locked on mine with a predatory glint.

“Let me go,” I said, my voice low. “Or I’ll report you to the hotel manager.”

He laughed. “All that’ll get you is a pink slip.”

“Whatever we had is over, and you know it.” I shoved his hand off my thigh, hard.

“There’s a promotion open,” he said, his tone shifting. “For someone already in the company.”

I swallowed. God knew how much I wanted that promotion—not just for the new role, but for the pay bump that came with it.

“If getting promoted means sleeping with you, I’d rather stay a maid with no raise,” I said, staring him down.

Fury flashed in his blue eyes. I pushed him away before things could escalate and he could hurt me.

Grabbing my cart, I darted to the nearest door, unlocked it, and locked myself inside. I knew Dominic had keys to every room, but thankfully, he didn’t try to follow.

I leaned against the door, eyes closed, chest tight, breath ragged. Was it fear or disgust I felt for him? Maybe both.

Dating Dominic had left me scarred, swearing off relationships for good. I wasn’t sure if it was the betrayal or the fact that he hounded me every day since.

Sometimes, I even blamed myself. Maybe if I’d slept with him, he wouldn’t have gone to Carly. That’s what he claimed right after it happened: “I’m a man, damn it! We were together for over a year, and you never put out! Carly was there, teasing me the whole time.”

I didn’t know if Dominic was Carly’s first. What I did know was that since then, she’d worked her way through half the town. Sure, it was a small town, but that was still a long list for someone who’d only just turned eighteen.

I pulled out my phone and did the one thing I wanted most in the world: I bought a ticket to the 4 Nipes concert. It was expensive, but worth it. This was my chance to see Fred live, and I knew I might never get another shot.

4 Nipes was one of the biggest bands in the world, always touring some far-flung country. I loved every member, each with their own unique vibe, but together, they made music that was pure magic.

When I got home that late afternoon, edging into evening, my sisters and mother were sprawled in the living room, watching TV and munching on popcorn.

As I reached for a door, my mother snapped, “Don’t slam it. Don’t say a word. And don’t even breathe. We’re at the best part of the movie.”

She shut up as a commercial started.

“Damn it!” Carly glared at me. “You’re such bad luck, showing up right when the ads start.”

I took a deep breath and was heading upstairs for a shower when Rarlat spoke up. “Manu, my graduation’s this month. You’re paying for my party, right?”

My heart raced, but I gathered my courage. “I can’t pay for your party, Rarlat.”

My mother’s eyes widened. She stood, shouting, “What do you mean you can’t pay for your little sister’s party? Rarlat worked hard for years to graduate, and you’re saying she doesn’t deserve a celebration?”

“You’re so ungrateful!” Carly shot me a venomous look.

“What did you do with your money?” my mother demanded.

“I don’t have any,” I said.

“But you’ve got that emergency credit card,” Rarlat pointed out.

“I used it.”

“Used it?” My mother’s voice was sharp. “For what emergency?”

“I… bought a ticket to the 4 Nipes concert.”