Trey cupped his cheeks in both palms and leveled steady green eyes on him. “Stop it.”
Dom blinked hard. “What?”
“Stop overthinking this. Stop expecting something to go wrong. We are going to be as amazing on that stage as we are over FaceTime. Better than.”
“I know. I do, I promise. It’s just . . .”
“It’s a big deal.”
“Right.”
Trey tugged his head lower so they were at complete eye level. “He’s not here. He’s far, far away, and the only thing that will happen after tonight is we celebrate. We celebrate you going up on that stage and rocking it out with me. We celebrate that we found each other and we’re here, together. Hear me?”
“Yes. I hear you.” Dom inhaled a long breath, held it, then exhaled slowly. Some of the acid quieted, and the dull roar of the packed room overpowered the doubts in his head. “Thank you.”
“Anytime.” Trey kissed him, a more meaningful press of lips than the peck in the lobby. “Love you.”
Dom grinned. “Love you too.”
They spent the next hour and a half chatting with other groups, listening to stories, and basically making time pass. Dom stuck close to Trey, occasionally twining their fingers together, and Trey never pulled back. Never gave a single hint that the open displays of affection bothered him. Unbound wasn’t over, but he was already making good on a promise.
A pair of women who seemed vaguely familiar wound their way over to him and Trey. They introduced themselves, and Dom recalled meeting them briefly at the previous Unbound. They played country music, and after some innocuous chitchat, one of the girls glanced at his and Trey’s joined hands.
“So are you two, like, together?” she asked. “I thought you were in different bands?”
“Yes to both,” Trey said before Dom could answer. “Dom’s band made the competition this weekend, but they were in a car accident a few days ago.”
Dom couldn’t restrain a shiver at those awful memories.
“That sucks,” the girl said. “So you guys are what? Doing the showcase in their name?”
“Something like that,” Dom replied. Yes, he was going out there tonight to represent XYZ. But more than that, Dom was performing for himself.
“Well, break a leg then, guys. And you’re totally adorable together.”
Trey flushed pink.
Dom smacked a wet kiss on his cheek. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Everything. I didn’t expect you to be so open about us tonight.”
Trey pinned him with an intent look. “Babe, everything about tonight is for us. Besides, the minute we start playing, everyone in the audience will know how I feel about you.”
Pride curled around Dom’s heart, and he stole another kiss. “Ditto.”
One of the techs called for Off Beat to come to the stage door. A tremor buzzed down Dom’s spine. He followed Trey over to the door. A tech held the violin case for him while Dom removed his beloved instrument and bow. He’d already tuned her back in the room. Trey’s keyboard would be set and ready for him when they were introduced.
Emily waved them forward through the door. Music drifted to him from the stage, a fantastic alt cover of “Dark Horse.” They walked through shadows to a bank of black curtains. Beyond them were the polished stage floor and glaring lights.
Dom didn’t remember the exact size or shape of the auditorium. He’d been too nervous back then to bother looking out at the audience. All he’d wanted to do was play and then hide until the winners were announced.
Today Dom waited to walk out on that stage with his boyfriend and play together for the world to see, and it wasn’t about winning. He’d already won something incredibly valuable. Playing with Trey was the final step in reclaiming his life, his emotions, and his future. It was a chance of a lifetime, and there was no person on earth he’d rather be sharing the moment with than Trey.
The band onstage finished to thunderous applause. Dom would have clapped, too, if his hands weren’t full. Techs scurried around to reset the stage while Emily took a microphone. She didn’t go onstage, though, as she began speaking. “Our next showcase is a last-minute addition to the lineup. Due to tragic circumstances, one of our regional finalists, XYZ, was unable to compete this weekend. However, one member of that group ishere to tonight to perform with a member of the now-competing group Fading Daze.”
Trey’s keyboard was out there, along with two mikes on stands.
