But I barely heard them, because the lead singer was climbing down from the stage. It happened fast; I blinked and suddenly there he was standing right in front of me with only the barrier separating us. While maintaining eye contact, he took my wrist and held it up until I opened my palm. His fingers were coveredin rings, and a dozen bracelets adorned his wrist—some made of metal, others of leather or string.
Then he placed another guitar pick directly into my hand and closed my fingers around it.
“Don’t forget me,” he whispered, and for a moment it was like we were the only two people in the world. “Because I’ll always remember you.”
Then he smiled, climbed back on stage, and strode away.
The lights in the arena came on, and the cheering was replaced by a thousand individual conversations among the fans.
“I never thought I’d say this,” Meghan shouted, “but I don’t know how Rainknife can follow that performance.”
I opened my fingers. The guitar pick was black with white letters spelling out CHERRY MIDNIGHT in a fun, unique font.
“Did you see how Riot was eye-fucking you the whole show?”
“Riot?” I asked.
“That’s the lead singer’s name!” Meghan held up her phone. “Riot Kane. I looked up the band.”
“He wasn’t eye-fucking me all night,” I said dismissively.
“Uh, he most certainly was!”
“He occasionally looked at me because I’m in the front row,” I said. “And because this low-cut top shows off my biggins.” I gave my chest a squeeze with both hands.
“He gave you his guitar pick! He literally climbed off the stage to make sure that asshole—” she paused to flip off the guy next to me, “—didn’t steal it! Hisguitar pick, Roxie!”
“You’re right. We’re practically married, now,” I said sarcastically.
“I don’t understand how you’re keeping your cool right now.” Meghan glanced over her shoulder. “I’m going to get us some more drinks. Are you staying here to guard our spot?”
“Obviously,” I said. “I want to be this close for Rainknife!”
Meghan pushed her way through the crowd and was gone from sight instantly.
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. My heart waspounding. Despite my protests, Meghan was right: Riot had been eye-fucking me throughout the entire performance. Like the entire show was for an audience of one: me.
I was actually kind of sad that it was over. I would’ve emptied my entire bank account just to hear Riot sing one more song to me.
Leaning on the barrier, I Googled the band. Cherry Midnight was from Seattle, which didn’t surprise me since that matched their grunge vibe. They’d only been performing for three years, and were about to start their own solo tour. Their next two shows were in Houston and Fort Worth. I wondered how expensive tickets would be. It might be worth the drive, even if I had to pay for a hotel room, too.
“Excuse me?” a security guard behind the barrier said. “Ma’am?”
I immediately pulled away from the barrier and held up my hands. “Sorry, I was only leaning on it to rest my legs. I promise I won’t do it again.”
He was shaking his head, which made me panic with the fear that I was about to get kicked out.
Until he said, “The band wants to meet you.”
I blinked in shock. Surely I had misheard him over the crowd noise. “The band?”
“Cherry Midnight,” he confirmed. “They’re in the dressing room backstage. And they want to see you.Right now.”
2
Riot
There was no better feeling in the world than standing on stage and commanding an entire crowd’s attention.
