Me:I love you guys. Can we do a group call in, say, an hour and a half? After my set? I have a fun idea for the Extravaganza concert. I just need to call in my friend Oak to help us coordinate it.
Gage:We’ll be ready.
Me:Awesome. Hey, um… don’t let Rafe know. I want it to be a surprise.
DonCorleone of Whispering Key:Too late, son. I’m right here.
Me:No,I meant the other Rafe. MY Rafe.
Gage:You mean your BOYFRIEND Rafe?
I took a deep breath and typed…
Me:Yes.
And it was the most freeing thing ever.
I strode up the temporary ramp to the little holding area off the main stage. I was pretty sure the thing doubled as a cow chute when it didn’t hold singers, and I was also pretty sure that was supposed to add to the charm of the festival. I spotted Debbie standing near an equipment crate off to one side and made my way through the crowded little area.
“Ow!” I said to the man who’d moonwalked into me.
“Sorry! Shit, was that your foot? Dude, my bad!” Ari Friedrich smiled apologetically. “Just practicing my moves.”
“It’s fine.” It made me bizarrely pleased that Rafe’s crush was clumsy as heck. “Excuse me for a sec—”
“Wait, Jayd?” Ari’s blue eyes lit with excitement. “Oh, man, how cool! I didn’t know you’d be here until they announced the lineup change yesterday! I finished my main-stage set a little while ago.”
“Awesome! My, um… my boyfriend is a huge fan of yours,” I said casually.
At least I hoped it sounded casual. My stomach was trembling so bad seismologists were probably wondering what the fuck was going on in South Dakota.
GodI wished Rafe had been there to hear me say it.
Ari’s face split into a grin. “Cool! I was wondering… do you have any free time tomorrow to kick shit around? I’d love to run a couple things by you, maybe get your take on some lyrics? You helped me out a ton with ‘Incidental Cruelty.’”
“Actually, I…” I paused midsentence as a thought occurred to me. “Wait, what time are you free tomorrow?”
“The whole day. I’ve got nothing until the meet and greet Sunday. Why?”
I tapped my phone against my palm, my heart beating a mile a minute as I thought about my promise to FaceTime Rafe and let him talk to Ari. I was pretty sure I knew something he’d like even better than a quick conversation, and I quickly revised my already revised plan.
“Ari, I’ve got a favor to ask you.”
“What kind of favor?”
“The kind where I’ll owe you a lot more than helping you tweak some lyrics. Why don’t I take you out to lunch tomorrow someplace special and explain?” I wrapped an arm over his shoulders. “My treat.”
If this worked out… it was going to be epic. And if it didn’t…
Well, as long as Rafe and I were together at the end, it was still going to be epic.
15
Rafe
“Thank you so much for flying with SkyJet!” the gate attendant chirped as I dragged my case off the jetway and into Sarasota Bradenton Airport.
I gritted my teeth and forced a smile for her. After all, it wasn’t this woman’s fault that I’d been so busy nervous-vomiting in the bathroom of Louis Armstrong Airport before the final leg of my flight from New Orleans to Sarasota yesterday afternoon that I’d lost track of time and missed my flight, right?
