Adam walks up to us. “Are we ready to show the world who’s on top?”
Maggie laughs and hands me over to Adam, who allows me to curl into his arms.
“Don’t be nervous.” He rubs his hand down my hair before pushing me back to talk to me face-to-face. “There’s nothing to worry about. You are one of the most phenomenal singers I’ve ever heard. I have absolute faith that you’ll do wonderful. I wouldn’t let this happen otherwise.”
I inhale and nod. He pulls me in and kisses me with so much intensity that I forget who I am and where we are.
“I’d fuck you against the wall right now if I knew it wouldn’t freak everyone in here out,” he whispers in my ear while holding me close to him.
I laugh out loud. I know he said it so crudely because of where we actually are. The event is being held at the San Francisco Armory. The building was built for military purposes in 1912, but for the last fifteen years it was owned by Kink.com and was used as a pornography and BDSM lounge.
The new owners have turned it into a concert venue, but the upstairs rooms are still set up for the BDSM sets. The red velvet walls along with antique furniture and hooks on the ceilings are definitely a sight to see.
Adam smirks. “That’s the laugh I was going for. Keep that feeling because we’re on.” He winks and grabs my hand, pulling me up to the curtain we’re about to walk through.
I hear Maggie scream, and when I turn to her, she’s jumping up and down, blowing me good-luck kisses.
I blow a kiss back before taking a deep breath. Ready to give it my all.
We take our place onstage while they announce us from the main stage to the right.
Adam squeezes my hand one more time, whispering, “I love you,” before placing his hands on the piano and starting the first notes.
Screams erupt when the lights above us shine brightly, and I grab the microphone from the stand in front of me.
When Adam sings his first note, the crowd goes wild. It’s so overwhelming as I watch the love of my life sing with such passion. His eyes are closed as the words flow from his lips and his hands glide over the keys.
When it’s my turn, his eyes meet mine, and the smile and small tilt to his head are all I need to encourage me to dive in with both feet first.
The spotlight hits me, and I bring the microphone up to my lips and go for it. Singing the lyrics with everything I have.
The applause lifts me up, washing away every ounce of nerves I had and filling me with so much life that I feel like I can float away.
I glance out to the crowd, seeing people clapping, singing, and swaying to the love story we’re telling. It’s by far the most unbelievable, emotional, and uplifting moment of my life.
I never thought I’d be here again, yet I’m standing on the biggest stage of my life with the most wonderful man and singer I’ve ever known. My life is absolutely complete.
Before I know it, our moment is over, and I drop the microphone to my side, in absolute disbelief of what we just did. Adam picks me up, bringing his lips to mine as the crowd claps louder than I’ve ever heard.
They let us stand there for a few moments, letting the crowd show their love, before the lights are cut, and the show goes to commercial.
When we exit the stage, Maggie runs to us. “Oh my God!” she screams with her arms wide open to engulf both of us. “You guys fucking killed it!”
“She did, didn’t she?” Adam says, kissing my forehead. “I’m so proud of you.”
My cheeks hurt from smiling. I want to take this entire moment in and never forget this feeling.
We make our way down the hall to the green room, so I can grab my things before we go back out to the seats to join my sister and mom as well as Linda and Cailin.
Every person we pass gives us praise about how well we did and how much they enjoyed the performance. The high I’m experiencing is above anything in my entire life.
But everything stops when we turn the corner, and my father is standing at the door to our makeshift dressing room. I pause, not sure how or why he’s here.
Adam leans down to kiss my forehead, encouraging me to move forward.
I glance in his direction, whispering, “How?”
He grins to my father and then back to me. “I told you I’d try to make it right.”
