In this graveyard of souls, please come lead me home.
I need your guidance. I need you to feel.
The wounds that I have need you to heal.
The restof the band stopped playing, while Dmitri alone accompanied Kris for the last stanza, his cello soft but sure behind Kris’s voice.
We rise from the ruins,our souls entwined,
Leaving our grief and sorrow behind.
Come back, my love, and I’ll never forsake —
Together we’ll burn, but we’ll never break.
The last notedied away into silence, and Dmitri felt peace settle around him. Moments later, it was broken as people surged to their feet, clapping wildly, cheering, and whistling. Dmitri sat completely stunned, before he felt his arm taken in a firm grip and realized Luka was hauling him to his feet.
“Take a damned bow already,” Luka shouted to be heard over the din.
Dumbfounded at the response, Dmitri did, and then as he straightened once more, he felt a surge of pride take the place of his earlier panic. The rest of the band gathered around him, and they took their group bows, while applause rose into the desert air like the thunder of a summer storm.
Pain and doubt gave way to triumph. Dmitri met Andre’s dark gaze, saw the complicated emotions written in it, and heunderstood. He was glad that, even if Andre was never ready for more than friendship, they could at least share this special moment.
CHAPTER 12
Riding the performance high, Andre didn’t waste a second when the F-Holes surrendered the stage — after two encores, since the crowd kept shouting for more — before slapping Dmitri on the back. He really wanted to pick Dmitri up and hold him tight, but he restrained himself. “And you were so worried!”
Dmitri still looked a bit dazed, but his smile was brilliant. “They really liked it!”
“That’s an understatement!”
Andre was surprised by a voice behind them and turned to see Devon Bailey smiling at them, with his ever-present husband looming protectively behind him. Dmitri turned as well, and then a flush stained his fair cheeks. “I never expected that kind of reception.”
“It’s well deserved,” Devon replied, and he held out a hand, which Dmitri took. “You should be very proud. That was an amazing piece of music and an incredible performance.”
“Thanks!” Dmitri’s blush deepened, but Andre knew it wasn’t every day that one of your musical idols praised your work.
“And now, time for me to hit the stage.” Devon released Dmitri’s hand, and then he held his hand out to Andre, whoshook it warmly. “Thank you both for warming up the crowd so wonderfully. Now I just hope QAR can live up to what you did.”
With that, Devon nodded to the rest of his band before moving toward the wings to wait for QAR’s introduction.
The rest of the F-Holes were over in the observation area, since they’d stated before the show that they wanted to watch QAR, but Dmitri made no move in that direction.
“Hey, shall we go join the others?”
“Actually, I don’t think I want to,” Dmitri said, shaking his head. “I know that sounds weird, considering that I love their music, but… no. I think I want to keep savoring what we pulled off for a while, you know? I think I’m going to go back to the bus.”
“I’ll come with you, if that’s okay.”
Dmitri had the right idea, he thought. Performances like that didn’t happen often, bringing with them an unbelievable sense of accomplishment that was definitely worth wallowing in for a bit.
“Are you sure?” Dmitri looked at him closely. “I don’t mind if you want to join the others. Don’t feel like you have to keep me company. I’m fine.”
“Sure, I’m sure,” Andre replied, then grabbed Dmitri’s hand. “Come on, we can grab a pizza and a couple of beers from the catering tent, and celebrate your big hit!”
“That sounds amazing.”
It didn’t take them long to collect two pizzas and a six-pack from the artist’s caterer, who apparently was used to starving musicians riding a performance buzz. As they walked back to the bus, Andre was relieved they saw almost no one, no doubt because everyone planned to rock the night away as the headliners took center stage. The music faded into the distance as they walked, still audible but now competing withthe masking hum of generators and air conditioners from the buses and RVs.
