“Yeah.”
I take a deep inhale and let it out slowly—something a counselor taught me after I kept getting panic attacks after that first call.
I know she doesn’t know what to say or how to respond, so I reach for her, bringing her to me this time and holding her the way she held me last night. I’m in awe at how just lying here with her makes me feel. It’s like all the weight of my entire life is completely lifted, and I can breathe when we are like this.
“You perform tonight, right?” I ask.
“Sure do.”
A huge grin covers my face at the thought of getting to see her perform again.
“You’re coming, aren’t you?”
I hold her tighter. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Kara
The nerves aren’t as bad as the last time I performed, but I also don’t know what to expect this time in terms of the crowd. I gained a ton of social media followers after the last show, and Silas’ sister helped me with another flier so we could promote it again, but there’s no guarantee that many people will show up for a second show.
I’m putting on the final touches to my makeup when Silas comes up behind me in the bathroom, leaning against the doorway and staring at me with a small grin.
“What?” I question the look he’s giving me.
“You’re so beautiful,” he says, his smile growing bigger.
I try to hide my blush as I turn to him and give him a kiss as my thank-you. I mean for it to be a quick kiss, but he grabsme and holds me there, kissing me deeper and making chills run throughout my entire body.
“Every guy there will be thinking about how they want to take you home tonight,” he whispers.
I laugh out loud. “Well, they can think all they want. I’m taken.”
“Hell yeah, you are.” He grabs my ass, pulling me closer to him, and kisses me again.
I can’t stop giggling as I try to push him away, knowing how easy it is to get lost in the moment and end up in bed with him, but I’ll be late if we do.
“I have to go.”
He pulls back and grabs my hand, leading me out of the bathroom. “Let’s get this over with so I can bring you back to my place and have my own private performance.”
His words make me laugh again as I follow him to the front door, grab my stuff I have sitting there waiting and we leave together in his truck.
We arrive at Ruby’s, and when I see a line at the door, my eyes open wide.
Silas reaches for my hand. “They’re here for you, Angel.”
He gives me a soft kiss before we exit his truck, then he reaches my guitar from the back seat while I grab my bag. Hand in hand, we walk to the back door, where Joey told me to enter for this show.
Silas sends him a quick text that we’re here, and he’s there in seconds to let us in.
“Hey,” he says in a hurry, rushing back to where he came from. “This place is nuts. You know where to go, right?” he asks over his shoulder.
“Yeah, I’m good,” I respond.
He gives me a thumbs-up as he turns the corner to go back to bartending, I assume.
Silas wraps me in a hug. “I’m so proud of you.”
I have to fight back tears as I hug him, still in disbelief that all of this is even happening. I know this is my dream, and I moved here for this, but it still feels unreal to see all of these people are here to listen to me.
