This should’ve been terrifying, but the energy of the stadium already started to drift backstage. She seemed to be poised on a cliff of excitement with the rest of the crowd, all through the opening act.
Waiting and preparing for the drop.
And then the Dimefront guys hit the stage. The energy shot to the stratosphere.
Her breath caught and she was under some kind of a spell. There was a moment before the first chord that seemed like a free fall.
Then the roar of tens of thousands of people all cheering at the same time washed over her, lifted her up, as Bax opened with one of the more popular Dimefront songs.
That wave of sound pushed away all of Sam’s defenses. The urge to dance. To sing. To be in the center of that spotlight cracked something in the wall she’d fortified around her dreams, exposing all the hopes that ten-year-old Sam had cultivated. What she’d wanted.
And for the first time in forever, she remembered. Remembered why she’d wanted the dream in the first place.
Chapter Twenty-One
TANNER
Tanner’s momhad always said that when things looked their best, that’s when to expect the worst.
But Tanner’s mom had been wrong about a lot of things. This was one of those things.
They’d had a few more shows since that first one when Sam stood in the wings soaking in the vibe.
She loved it.
He understood this not only because of the way she smiled when Dimefront played, but also she’d been coming to the concerts. Escaping the busses with Ashley and hanging out with the band.
Sam: Ashley & I are headed over.
Tanner’s whole world was lighter.
Unfortunately, Tanner was reveling in that feeling and reading Sam’s message when he walked straight into the jaws of Hans’s styling team.
“Shit,” he said, accidentally making eye contact with the head stylist.
He turned to bolt but he didn’t get far because Greg, the reporter doing a spread forRolling Rock magazine, seemed to pop out from behind one of the equipment boxes. Veteran reporter. Doing the Dimefront album creation, release, and tour run-down.
“Tanx,” Greg said. “Have a minute for a few questions?”
Boy, did he. Greg could have all the minutes until the styling team got tired of circling.
Tanner stopped. “Absolutely.”
“Tell me a little about how things have changed for you with Dimefront since you got started?” Greg asked, amiable as ever.
“The past couple of years things have only gotten better. The group’s grown as Knox, and Bax, even Linx paired off. It’s nice to have a family like this.”
Sam and Ashley trotted toward their impromptu interview. He lifted his chin their direction. “Go on ahead, Sam. Give me five, yeah?”
Sam gave a thumbs up.
“Sam’s your new flame?” Greg asked, conversationally giving Sam a solid look that Tanner did not like.
Sam paused at the perusal, gave Tanner a questioning glance. “I’ll catch up,” he mouthed.
“I’m not talking about personal shit.” Tanner tried to smile, keep it friendly. But the words didn’t come out that way, not really.
“When one of the new members of Dimefront starts seeing someone seriously, fans are going to want to know,” Greg pointed out.
