Jackie might still be mad at Andrew—with good reason—but she’d leave it off stage.
Could Liana do the same?
Fucking anxiety.
She tried to breathe as West led the prayer. In and out. Then the boys were gone, onstage and ready for her.
Jackie gave her a quick nod as they still stood in the shadow of the side stage, then played the familiar start to ‘River Bed Lullaby’ before walking on stage. This was most impressive in an arena, where the spotlight would follow her all the way across to the far side, then split into two, the second light tracking back to pick up Liana as she walked into view.
But even though it was mid-afternoon and they didn’t have the theatric lighting effects, she still felt the crowd shift to her as she prowled into view.
Come to me, she thought as she growled out the aching lyrics.
They usually did this song at the mid-point of the show, but for an outdoor festival, the setlist was different—they didn’t have a captive audience, and most of these people weren’t necessarily there to see her. They started with a powerhouse ballad and then they’d build from there, doing all the party anthems in her catalogue before ending with Cravings.
But first, she had to do a little flirting.
“Hello, Louisville!” she said into the mic as she ran to the front of the stage and leaned out into the crowd, waving at the fans who held up signs with her name on them. “You are looking beautiful this afternoon, I gotta say. Yes, you. Stunning.”
She grinned, then pressed her hand to her chest. “Anyone feeling a little sad right now? Anyone here need to escape, maybe? Yes? You?” She blew a kiss to those who’d holleredyes.“I know. Me too. But there’s joy to be found in music, right?”
That was West’s cue, and the rest of the set went perfectly by the book.
Until she glanced into the crowd during “Cravings” and found a man sneering at her. Her head immediately tried to minimize it—because this happened, especially at big, multi-performer concerts. He was here to see a good ol’ country boy, and she wasn’t that.
It was fine. And if it was a dark arena, she’d never have seen him.
But the mocking look on his face, like he was laughing at her, reminded her too much of Track.
She stumbled over the lyrics, then tore her gaze away from the stranger in the crowd because fuck him, but the damage was done.
This wasn’t as bad as Savannah, but as the song ended, she knew her reprieve from doubt was over.
— —
They were stayingin a hotel that night because St. Louis wasn’t a far drive. After the shaky performance, she needed a good night’s sleep.
Part of her was desperate to get alone with Dean, too. But another part wasn’t so sure that was a good idea. Of course that part fell mute when, after they checked in, everyone else ended up in the other wing.
She was breathlessly aware of Dean following her down the quiet hotel hallway to her room. All alone, and in three, two, one second, she’d have a chance to invite him into her room.
“Thank you for today,” she said quietly as she slid her keycard into the door. She didn’t look at him.
“Of course.”
She pushed the door open and stepped into the dark of her room. Dean reached past her at the same moment she stretched for the light switch, and their fingers brushed.
“Let me get that,” he said quietly and she moved further into the room as it lit up.
The door shut behind them.
She started to undo the buttons on her blouse. She had a black tank top underneath. It wasn’t indecent…but it was direct in a way she suddenly couldn’t find the words to say.
“Liana…” Yes, she liked her name rolling off his tongue. Even when it was accompanied by a wary—but definitely interested, thank goodness—narrowing of his eyes as she turned around.
“Yes, Dean?”
He grinned at her. “What are you doing?”
