I put my hands on his waist, find the hem of his T-shirt, and touch the warm skin underneath.
“How about we play together, naked…elsewhere?”
His breath is warm and minty when he sucks my lip before kissing me hard.
“As tempting as that would be—and we’re totally parking that idea for later—there’s a bunch of people out there who want to see us play. I’m a little scared of Geoff now that he’s confessed he knew who I was all along.”
Mik leads me from my safe hiding spot into the room being used as a backstage area. The stage is a temporary structure we set up at one end of the main hall with a set of steps lined up with the door leading to the “backstage” room.
I take a peek into the main hall when we walk past the fire exit double doors that lead to the same hallway where all the extra rooms are. Julius has set up a coffee and cake station at the back of the hall. Liv is with him, and the kitchen is stocked with plenty of boxes of her famous cookies. On the other side of the hall, Levi has set up a bar to serve his cocktails in plastic cups.
The hall is filling up quickly. The bleachers have been cleaned, and they’re being used for the first time in decades. The money raised just in ticket sales was enough that I got an advertisement out for someone to work with me, and I already have some applicants.
The press has its own area at the back of the room. Daisy had the idea of selling the exclusive rights to stream the gig to a music channel. When the band told me they didn’t want a single cent from that revenue, I almost cried.
The kitchen bank account is healthier than it’s ever been, even after my own donations. One thing’s for sure, I’m going to be a busy man once this is all over.
“Aww, look at you, my baby rock star.” Daisy comes over to give me a hug. Since she arrived in town this morning, she’s been up in everyone’s business to make sure today goes perfectly. Of course the guys told her this isn’t their first or even second rodeo.
“Hi, Daisy. Am I forgiven yet?” I ask jokingly.
“Hmm, you’re getting there, but we still need to talk.” She turns to Mik, pointing a red nail at his chest. “And you…you just make sure my boy looks good out there.”
We both chuckle. There’s no convincing her we’re the same age, and it’s been a while since we’ve been boys. We’re also older than her.
“Where’s Kay?” I ask.
“She’s watching the live stream at home. Once the gig is underway, since Daisy is here, Nikko will head back.”
“I bet that didn’t go down well.”
He lets out a tired sigh. “She’s always with us, but usually, there are a few more layers of separation between us and the public. It’s safer this way, and she knows it.”
“Show time, boys,” Stone says.
Mik gives me a long, hard kiss until I’ve forgotten where we are. “See you soon, baby.”
They head onto the stage to the sound of a cheering crowd.
Stone kicks off with the drums, followed by Fox on the bass guitar.
“Good evening, Stillwater!” Bastian shouts into the mic. “We loved it here so much we had to come back, and this time, it’s all about you. Let’s bring this place down!”
The first chord of Mik’s guitar sends shivers through my spine, but it’s when his eyes search for mine on the side of the stage that I’m finally home. The thing I’ve been missing since the day he didn’t pick me up from work. The completeness of looking into the soul of the person you love more than you ever thought possible.
Our first chance was just baby steps. We didn’t understand the value of it. My time with Porter was a gift I will cherish forever, but a second chance with Mik is a blessing from the universe. Wherever my dad and Porter are, I can see them in the way Mik’s fingers strum his guitar.
I’m rooted in place through their full set, and when they’re joined by Ellis’s brother’s band, Delirius. It’s not until Seymour touches my shoulder that I realize it’s my turn to go on stage.
My hands shake but for a totally different reason. I need to play this song with Mik and the band more than I need to breathe the air around us.
Seymour hands me my guitar and squeezes my shoulder. “He’s here watching you. They both are.”
“I know.” I smile and then take the stairs up to the stage.
I plug in the guitar and lock eyes with Mik.
Sweat runs down his forehead, and he has this blissful look. A single barely-there nod is all I need to give him the signal.
