“This is new for the both of us, you’re not on your own. Just promise, whatever happens, we keep talking.”
“Okay.”
“I mean it.”
“I know you do.” Cal slides her body over mine. My fingers comb into her hair, reaching the back of her head; making it easier for me to bring her towards me. I devour her mouth as if she were the last thing on the menu, pulling her bottom lip between my teeth, then going in for a second round.
When I’ve thoroughly kissed the shit out of her, I slump back against the cushions. She slides onto her side and the need to touch her overtakes me. I curl my arm around her, brushing the curve of her shoulders with my fingertips. She fits just under my jaw, resting her head underneath. I stare towards the ceiling, thinking about how things could not be any better than they are right now. I’m in love with Cal, she’s in love with me and to top it off, we’re playing Braebeachfestival. This is a childhood dream come true. A dream I then realise, I’ve yet to share with Cal.
“Jesus, what with everything going on, there’s something I haven’t told you.”
“Please say something good.” Shifting herself up, her elbow to the floor, head resting on her hand, she waits with raised brows and a beautiful smile. “I’m all ears.”
I move onto my side in a similar position, so I’m facing her. “Let me ask you a question. What is the ultimate gig for any Braebeach band to play?”
Her eyes go wide. “Oh my God, you’re playing the festival?” She almost squeals.
Now I raise my brows while her face explodes with pure joy. “Holy shit! No way!”
My stupid arse grin says it all. “Jesus Ash, this is huge! Why didn’t you tell me before?”
My fingers dance from her shoulder, over her skin and down her arm. I huff out a laugh. “We kind of got caught up with a few things.”
Laying on her back, looking up to me, her eyes sparkle. “I can’t believe it.”
“It’s only the Freedom stage, not the Rainbow?—”
“Oh my fucking God, you’re kidding! That’s incredible, Ash, come on. How many amazing acts have you seen on that stage? Stereophonics, Kasabian and I’m pretty sure The Stone Roses played there back in the day! It’s the gig where so many bands got their big break!”
“I’m pretty stoked Cal, I can’t lie.”
“So you should be.” Her hands cup each side of my face, “I’m so proud of you, Ash.”
“Thanks, but I didn’t do this on my own. The rest of the guys worked hard for it too.”
“I don’t doubt that, but you’re selling yourself short asalways. You put the band together.” She inches closer. “You write the songs.” Her tiny delicate nose dances with mine. “And a potential eighty thousand people will sing along with your voice when you grace the stage at Brae Fest.”
“Jesus Cal, don’t over-hype it. The entire festival capacity is eighty thousand, and they won’t all be rushing to watch us play, I can promise you.”
Calla’s cheek glides against mine, her breath blows over my skin, and her teeth graze my ear.
“Why not? You’ll be incredible. You always are.”
Why is it, when she drops her voice like that, my heart beats a little faster? “You’re biased.”
“Truthful. I like that word better and you have to get used to it. In fact, there are a lot of things you need to get used to. We don’t have long before I go back to university and you start your new Rockstar lifestyle. We’re not going to see much of each other for a while.”
“It will be hard Cal, I’m not disputing that, but at least we’ll both be busy. You have your course, and from what Dani said, we won’t have a minute to sit around doing nothing. It’s gonna be hard, but you’re worth waiting for.”
She blushes. “And you’re not? Ash, don’t you see how amazing you are? I can’t wait for you to share your musical talent with Brae Fest and the rest of the world. You’re one in a million.”
Her belief in the band knocks me off my feet. Her belief in me makes me want to shout from every rooftop. This girl is amazing; her enthusiasm is infectious, and this is exactly why, I can’t ever let her go.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
ASH
From the momentwe were told about getting the gig at Braebeach Festival, we haven’t stopped rehearsing. Bernie’s connections had a lot to do with us getting the spot. I’m sure he knows everyone in the industry, which is one reason we signed with Election. We might not get these opportunities if we went with a bigger company. We don’t want to get lost in a multinational system.
