He breaks into a stride, his fingers holding mine tight, and leads me behind the entourage leaving the room.“We play for just a little under two hours.You can watch from the side of the stage.I’ll show you when we get down there.”
We step onto an elevator, and he tugs me up against his body, wrapping an arm around me protectively.
“See that dude right there.”He nods his head at a man to our left.“That’s Jake.”His voice raises as he yells over to him.“Hey Jake, say hi to Lily.”
Jake gives a little salute and nods his head in greeting.Luc continues addressing him.“Make sure you give her anything she needs and look out for her.Got it?”
“You got it, Boss.”Jake nods again.I make sure to memorize what he looks like and what he’s wearing so I can find him if I need him.
The elevator comes to a stop, the doors sliding open, our entourage spilling out into a hallway.Luc keeps a firm hold on me, making me feel protected and safe, but I’m still nervous about what I should do when he’s up on the stage.
It’s a completely different perspective going to a concertwiththe band, instead offorthe band.Bri is going to absolutely kill me when I tell her about all of this.Probably with her bare hands.I giggle at the thought, and the irony of this entire situation.
“What’s so funny?”Luc glances my way.
“I was just thinking about Bri.”I let out another little burst of laughter.“My friend from last night.She’s the one who is completely obsessed with your band.She’s going to be so mad when she finds out I got to see the show from backstage.”
“Wait til you tell her you also bagged the lead singer.”He smirks wickedly.
I slide a hand down my face as I shake my head.“She won’t believe it.Probably not in a million years.”
He tugs me over to the side of the hallway and comes to a stop.“Get your phone out.”He points to my purse.
I do as he says, and slide it out.
“Unlock it.”He requests, and when I do, takes it from me.He drapes one arm over my shoulder, presses my cheek against his through the hoodie, and then angles the phone to take a selfie.He hands the phone back to me with a nod.“Now you have proof.”
Before I can even react, he’s got my hand in his again and begins striding to catch up with the rest of the band.As we continue down the hall, the music from the opening band begins to grow louder, so I know we must be close to our destination.
Sure enough, moments later, we’re in a side room off of the stage area that’s littered with couches, tables filled with every snack you could imagine, and a large open cooler filled with ice and a variety of beverage choices.
“Do you want anything?”Luc asks, snagging a beer for himself, twisting the top off.
“I’ll have a beer.”He hands the open bottle to me, and then grabs another for himself, slugging down a few swallows.
“We gotta get mic’d up.”He nods toward the other guys in the band, already getting taking care of by some of the crew.“Once we go on, you can stand anywhere you want on the side of the stage.If you need anything, anything at all, just find Jake.”
“Okay.”I nod as he kisses me quickly, then strolls a few feet away.I watch as he tugs the hoodie completely off before a tech clips a wireless pack to his belt and runs a cord under his shirt.He pops a bud into each ear, and then rolls his shoulders, like he’s stretching before a workout.
He’s back in front of me a few blinks later, snagging my hand again as he leads me out of the room and toward the stage.My heart is thundering in my chest, and I can’t help but wonder what this feels like for him.Going up on stage in front of thousands of people screaming for him, for them.
“Okay.”He has to yell in order for me to hear him.“I’ll see you on the other side.”His hand wraps around the back of my head as he drags me in for a kiss that takes my breath away, and then he’s gone.
I stare as he walks onto the stage, the crowd roaring the moment they see him, and I watch in awe as he comes alive.He owns that stage, the fans, guitar and drums exploding into life as he begins to sing.
As I bear witness to it all, I wonder how in the hell I ever could have thought anything other than how completely and utterly incredible he is.
ChapterTwelve
Luc
Angels Like You
Miley Cyrus
I slip in my in-ears,the world dulling instantly until all I can hear is the low thrum of my own pulse.One twist of the dial and the stage roars to life in my head—the crowd, the hum of amps, the bass warming up.
I roll my shoulders, stretching out the last of the tension.Strapped in, synced, untethered.No leash.No limits.Only sound.And I’m about to drown them all in it.
