"It's not nerves," he said. "There's just a lot of pressure, you know? I'm the new guy. Everyone's going to be judging me. Plus, it's been so long since I've been on stage. And even though we've practiced until our fingers bled, these songs are still new to me." Liam let out a heavy breath through his nose. "I guess it is nerves," he said reluctantly.
"You're going to be fantastic out there," I said. "You're going to fucking rock."
He gave me a weak smile. "Thanks, Cerise."
I placed a reassuring hand on his upper arm. His darkly inked skin was a tempting contrast against my own bare fingers, the hard muscles too firm to ignore. My fingertips tingled.
Even when I told myself I had to keep my distance, I found myself gravitating toward Liam. There was something about him. Whether he was being cocky or playful or vulnerable — something called to me. I wanted to ease his worries. Share in his antics. Bask in his confidence.
Shit. I was in so much trouble.
"You don't seem nervous at all," Liam noted.
I lowered my hand and took a step back. "I don't get nervous before performing."
Or, at least, I didn't usually. I loved being on stage. It felt like the one place where I could finally let go and be the person I wanted to be. The person I was supposed to be.
But Liam was right. This was a whole different dynamic, completely new circumstances.
It didn't matter. I couldn't let any of that show. My bandmates would take their cues from me.
Besides, when I'd given them that pep talk, I'd only been speaking the truth. We'd worked so hard for this. And we'd finally,finally, made it. I was going to enjoy the hell out of myself out there on that stage.
The door to the artist lounge opened. I heard the distant shouts of fans crying out for Cherry Lips. I expected to see one of the event staff coming in to let us know how much longer we had before going on.
But someone else was striding in. Someone I hadn't seen in a while.
Someone from my past. Someone from Harper's past.
Morris Edwards, drummer of hit rock band Feral Silence. My childhood friend. The man I'd relied on for half my life.
The man partly responsible for my fiancé's death.
