“I’m pretty sure I’m sweating under here,” I added. “But my hands and face are still cold, though.”
Ethan laughed. “I honestly didn’t think you’d go through with wearing something like that.”
“Believe me,” I said, “I never thought I’d agree to it either.”
“That was before Cathy got involved,” Mark cut in smoothly. “Once she realized we were serious about it, she pitched the idea to the other organizers.”
“And somehow,” I added, still not entirely convinced it was real, “we ended up with the pre-countdown slot.”
Ethan blinked. “Wait. You’re doing that set?”
“The one right before midnight,” Mark said. “And we’re leading into the countdown.”
Ethan’s grin widened. “Wow.”
Before anything else could sink in, one of the event organizers poked their head backstage. “Five minutes,” they called. “You’re up after this set.”
My stomach flipped. The noise from the crowd swelled, and suddenly everything felt very real.
I shifted my weight and reached up, fingers curling briefly around the worn leather of my dad’s guitar strap.
I turned to Mark. “Ready?”
He met my gaze without hesitation. “Let’s do this.”
Ethan stepped back, giving us space. “Good luck. You’ve got this. Both of you.”
I took a deep breath, letting the buzz of the crowd wash over me as the MC’s voice rang out across the square.
“Alright, Pecan Pines! Who’s ready to ring in the New Year?” she called, drawing cheers from the crowd.
“Hey, don’t forget the food stalls. There’s hot cider, roasted chestnuts, and those killer fried pastries by the fountain. Go grab one before the countdown hits!”
Laughter rippled through the audience as she waved toward a cluster of lights. “Also, make sure you can actually see the stage—you’re going to want the full view for the next set!”
I shifted my weight backstage, fingers flexing absently near the strings. From the corner of my eye, I saw a pack enforcer guiding Theo and his band toward the carpark. Theo looked back once, jaw tight, before being steered firmly away.
Good.
The MC paused, letting the crowd settle. “Up next, we’ve got a local favorite. Help me welcome Zack and Mark!”
The crowd erupted as we stepped out into the light. I lifted a hand, smiling wide as Mark did the same beside me.
The stage lights were bright enough to make the night sky disappear, the decorations overhead glowing gold and silver.
A stagehand adjusted one of the mic stands while another gave us a quick thumbs-up. Everything was in place; this was our moment.
I stepped up to the mic, the cold air brushing my face as I looked out over the crowd. “How’s everyone tonight?” I said, my voice steady even though my heart was thudding. “It’s a beautiful night out here, and we’re ready to make it even louder!”
Cheers answered me.
Mark glanced over and strummed a playful chord, just enough to tease.
“Let’s party,” I added, and then we were off.
The first notes rang out clean and confident. We moved through the set exactly the way we’d planned, song into song, a medley that built energy instead of stopping to reset.
It had been years since I’d played a stage this big, and I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t been nervous.
