“Okay.” Presley’s voice broke through my thoughts, and I returned my attention to my newest signing. He stood up straighter. “Okay, I think I can do this.”
“Fuckthink.Youcando this. You’re gonna kill it.” Joz gave him another friendly shake that he followed up with a clap on the back. “They are gonna fucking love you, man. Guaranteed.”
Joz handed Presley his guitar, and the two of them left the dressing room before making their way along the narrow hallway to the stage. I took a few steadying breaths, severed my wayward thoughts, and followed them. Presley peeked through the curtains, then turned to me with a grimace.
“It’s full.”
I nodded. “Sold out. Five hundred people here to listen to you because you are a fucking star in waiting. You hear me? This is your moment, Presley. Your dreams start coming true right here, tonight. After this, nothing will be the same again. Are you ready?”
He ran a hand through his inky hair, then slipped his guitar strap over his head. “I’m ready.”
“Your audience is waiting. Go give them a new obsession to follow.”
I pulled back the curtain, making sure I stood to the side so the focus would all be on Presley. Applause broke out, giving him a few precious seconds to gather himself. We’d decided on an acoustic set for this evening. Just him and his guitar. His voice was so powerful, I hadn’t wanted to detract from it with a full band.
Joz stood behind me, and as Presley began to sing, he clasped my hips and rested his chin on the top of my head. “Is this okay?”
I swallowed. Damn, that felt good. No, better than good. It feltright. “Sure.”
I might have sounded casual, but my insides were liquid fire, and my clit pulsed to the beat of the music and the steady thud of Joz’s heart as he pulled me closer.
“You found a real star, Joz.”
“Yeah. If he doesn’t fuck up, he’ll eclipse me one day.”
I glanced back at him. “What do you mean, fuck up?”
“You know this business, Aspen. There are so many landmines that take talent out of the game: drugs, alcohol, toxic relationships, depression, self-harm. The list goes on and on. Not to mention the trappings of fame going to his head and turning him into an arsehole.”
“How many of those did you fall victim to?”
He slowly turned me in his arms, returning his hands to my hips. “All of them.”
“Including the asshole?”
“Definitely the arsehole. Fame’s a drug in itself, and it’s powerful. It can take hold in a heartbeat. I remember after my first single released and it went straight to number one. I was on this TV show, and I thought I was fucking God. I remember demanding all kinds of shit and throwing my weight around. I think back now and I cringe at my behavior, but I was young and finding out who I was. But, yeah, I wrestled with every one of those to some extent.”
It shouldn’t have surprised me. He’d already admitted a problem with alcohol, but he didn’t seem at all the depressive type. Then again, what was a depressive type? Weren’t we all capable of hiding our darkest thoughts behind a bright smile and an offhand quip?
“I’m a catch, Aspen.” Proving my point, he flashed a brilliant smile. “You don’t want to miss out on the best you’ve ever had.”
“Good God. You aresomodest.”
He nodded sagely. “I know.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, and the seriousness of the moment gave way to frivolity. I turned back around as Presley began singing a haunting song about love and loss—a song that showcased his incredible voice. He truly was a find. No wonder Joz had fought hard to win him a contract.
“We’ll have to keep an eye on Presley, then. I can’t have a new signing careering off the rails.”
“We’ll both do our best to keep him on the right path, but ultimately, it’s up to him. When the adulation kicks in, he needs to decide what kind of person he wants to be.”
We fell into silence, enjoying Presley’s set. He ended to rapturous applause, and as he came off stage, I could almostseethe adrenaline coursing through his veins and a new-found confidence that hadn’t been there before.
“God, that wasamazing.” He flung his arms around me, then Joz. “Thank you. Thank you for believing in me.”
“It’s just the start for you, kid.” Joz ruffled his hair. “Before long, you’ll be snapping at my heels.”
“Nah. You’ll always be number one.”
