Back here was dark, the walls painted black to keep from distracting from anything happening on the smallish stage. It was warm and a little stuffy, with old posters pasted to the walls so thick they made a collage.
Landon pressed against my side, swinging in and trusting my arm to loop around his waist to keep him upright. “You ready?”
I grinned. “As I’ll ever be.”
I hadn’t told him yet, but I’d gotten an email from a label. It was a small company—more of a startup than anything, run by a singer who’d set off on her own and had some experience in the business side of things.
It wasn’t the biggest deal ever, and maybe I should wait for something more lucrative to come along, but so far, I liked the way she talked, her initiative and commitment. I thought we’d get along, and it was at least worth having a conversation.
A serious conversation.
One I kind of wanted to include Landon in, because our relationship was, well, pretty serious.
And frankly, if I broke his heart, it was a tossup whether Mom or Lucas would kick my ass first.
They’d be right to, because Landon had rearranged my whole world. He’d made days worth waking up early for, beer at trivia nights taste more like relaxation than distraction. He made bookshops fun and full of adventure behind every cover, restaurants packed with magical delights.
Every second with him cured my heartache and banished the ennui that had gripped me for years.
So whatever came next, whatever decisions I had to make, I wanted to make them with him.
I stood, lifting my guitar, and Landon stepped back. “You’ll be great,” he promised.
When he looked at me like that, I couldn’t imagine being anything else.
With one more kiss, he disappeared.
I got on stage to see him surrounded by familiar faces—Riley and Craig and Becky, yes, but also Lucas and Julia and all the people from Crescent. As I introduced myself, I stared into Landon’s eyes.
When I sang, I sang to him.
The show flew by, and a surprising number of voices rose to sing the choruses along with me. That was what I’d always loved about the band—making music together.
I’d never imagined I could have that again, like this, a venue full of people there to share this moment with me.
After the show, Landon bounced up the stairs and gripped my hand as I went back stage. I was hot from the lights, a bit sweaty, and adrenaline was making my heart pound.
It was the show, sure, but it was him too.
I’d closed out the set singing a new song, one about bright forevers and promises that lasted. He’d held my eye while I sang and?—
He had to know it was for him.
“New song?” he squeaked, squeezing my hand.
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“You haven’t played it for me before.”
I shrugged. “I wanted tonight to be special. Did you like it?”
Landon bit his lip. His eyes were glassy. “Ireallyliked it, Dean. I loved it.”
And then it hit me—this wasnotthe place I wanted to pour my heart out to him. Backstage smelled a little like stale beer, and there was cigarette smoke wafting in from the open back door. It was too dark.
I leapt up, grabbed his hand, and walked fast for the door.
“Your stuff,” Landon protested as I pulled him out the back.
