From our angle the stage is slightly off to the side, but of course there’s a big screen.
I clasp my hands nervously even though I just reassured Bay. It doesn’t mean I’m not stressed myself. This is a huge moment for his career, a real shot at a breakthrough. Moments later I spot Bay stepping onto the stage, raising his fist in the air.
I know a large group of his fans gathered in one of the sections, and that’s exactly where the screaming and cheering erupts.
Bay waves toward them and walks up to the microphone.
He looks insanely good in that outfit, with his red hair loose and his makeup sharp. It actually makes me feel hot, thinking that he’s mine now, that we’re together forever.
Just the thought of it sends excitement and pure joy through me. I glance at Lake, who’s standing with his hands raised over his head, clapping. I’m tempted to tell him I’m married to his son, but Bay wants to keep it secret for now, so I’m going to respect that.
The music starts. He’s playing one of his best tracks, this powerful song about the darkness everyone has to live in and the very short flashes of light that feel like tiny rest stops on a long road.
The crowd quickly gets swept into the melody, and I can see they’re already reacting well to Bay. He has a beautiful four-octave voice and he knows how to use it.
"They like it, I can feel it," I say to Lake.
"I think you’re right, sweetheart!" he replies with a wide smile.
Bay performs three songs for the intro. All of them land well. He’s had some stage experience over the past two years, even if not in front of a crowd this size, and I can see him drawing confidence from that. He starts engaging with the audience, encouraging them to sing along and clap. Hands are waving, and when the last song ends they send him off with loud applause.
Right after him the main acts take the stage and the crowd gets even more hyped. Well, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Lake, Aiden, and I head backstage, where Bay is standing with Eric and another man.
We wait a moment to let them finish talking, and then Bay comes over to us with a huge smile.
"I just got an offer to play another big concert next month!" he says, excitement written all over him.
"That’s wonderful, Bay," Lake says, wrapping him in a tight hug. "You were amazing!"
"Congratulations, son, you really did great," his father says, giving him a pat on the shoulder. He knows something about these moments. He used to be a boy band star himself.
Finally Bay comes to me and kisses me hard, not caring that his parents are watching.
Then he says goodbye to his parents and Eric, and we head out with his bandmates to celebrate.
???
The end of the school year is approaching fast. We’ve got one month left.
But the biggest surprise hits me shortly after Bay’s second concert.
One evening Bay tells me to get in the car with him, and says we’re going to see something interesting. I have no idea what it could be, but of course his words make me excited, because every time he’s said something like this before, it ended in a happy surprise.
On the way we talk about the next few months.
Right at the start of summer, Bay has a two-week tour with one of the bands that performed at Sound Fest.
He’ll be doing their intro set, joining them for their concerts, and the pay is pretty solid.
The only issue is that I can’t join him on that tour, because I’m registered for two chess tournaments scheduled at the same time, both of which I signed up for more than a year ago.
Neither of us is thrilled about it, but life moves the way it moves, and sometimes we’ll have to split up for a while to push our passions forward.
We finally approach our destination. I’m surprised to see we’re entering the neighborhood where the college we chose is located. We circle around it. It’s a beautiful place, surrounded by little parks and groves, on the edge of town, quiet and peaceful.
Then Bay suddenly turns into a small street bordering the campus and… pulls into the driveway of the little house we looked at before.
