I couldn’t be more proud of him.
The audience goesinsanewhen he finally hits the stage, and Reed turns into the performer he was always meant to be.
I can hardly keep up with him.
Reed is in the middle of a chorus a few songs later when I see him look twice to his left, and there’s emotion behind my eyes as he runs to the edge of the stage and grabs Tina’s hand.
She protests and tries to fight him, though Reed is too contagious, too strong, and he hauls her into the middle of the stage to a roar of applause.
“Everyone say hi to my mom!” Reed tells the crowd.
They do.
Every single person in the room shouts, “Hi, mom!”
Tina laughs and jumps a few times when Reed sings a few lines. James beckons her to the edge again, and Reed gives her a hug before she has to go back.
There’s no full intermission tonight. They take a few breaks throughout the entire show, allowing the performers they’ve hired for the night to take over the stage when they do. Reed stays out to do a few acoustic songs on the piano and chat with the audience—going as far as bringing Koen and Kamden on the stage with him.
I make a mental note to tell him what a horrible idea that was once this is over.
Kamden will use the photo to get laid for the next ten years.
I have to give it to the band… when they said they wanted their last night to blow peoples minds, they fucking did it.
My phone buzzes when they’re nearly done.
I frown at seeing Cynda’s name on the screen and hit ‘ignore.’
Last two songs, I text her.Will call when they’re about to wrap up.
Cynda sends back a thumbs-up emoji as the last song starts up.
Orange inflatable pumpkins fall from the ceiling. The strobes go crazy. I snap a few photos of Reed as the flares rain down from the rafters over the front of the stage, then try to grab some of the rest of the band with the smoke and different colors.
And as they go into the bridge, I feel my phone vibrating again.
I glance up at Maddox to find him watching me, and I flash him three fingers and point to the back. He signs the same, and I take the opportunity to dart out of the walk and head backstage so that hopefully I can be back in time to grab a few shots of them at the very end.
When I pass by James, I hold up my phone and point to the emergency exit at the back. “Is it okay for me to use that door to go out and take this?” I ask.
He nods. “Area is clear. You’re all good.”
The chilled air hits my face when I push through the door and onto the back stoop. The wind brushes the hood off of my hair. I can still hear the drums from inside, though everything else is muffled. I know I’ll be yelling at Cynda when I get her on the phone.
The hair on the back of my neck stands, though I don’t know if it’s from the chill or from the fact that it’s creepy as hell back here alone.
I swear I hear footsteps.
I turn around, phone to my ear. A frown slips onto my face when I don’t see anything.
“Just your fucking imagination, Andi,” I mutter to myself.
“Hey, girl,” Cynda says on the other line when she answers.
“Hey—What’s up?” I ask her.
“I just wanted to check to see how things were going,” she says. “There’s a photo on social media going pretty viral right now that I’d love to hear more about.”
