He looked at home.
Like he was meant to be on that stage.
“Hey, everyone. How ya doin’ tonight?” Chase asked the crowd. He adjusted the mic as he gave everyone one of his drop-dead gorgeous smiles. Dimple and all. “I have a couple songs you’ll know, but I have one you won’t. Hope you enjoy them all.”
The strum of his guitar silenced the entire crowd. Everyone hung on every chord as he played. Once they recognized the song, the smiles and singing started. It was a well-known Tom Petty song, easy for everyone to sing along with,I Won’t Back Down.
When he transitioned into the next one, the mood shifted. The tempo slowed, and his eyes found mine. With a smile, hisgaze bounced around the bar, connecting with his audience as he sang a great John Mayer tune. The women in the crowd loved it. They acted as if he were singing directly to them, which was a sure sign of a talented performer if you ask me.
No one else tonight had commanded the audience the way he did. He took control up there with every song he played. It was amazing to watch.
“Hope you’re enjoying yourself so far.” Chase smiled broadly as the crowd started whistling. “Good, glad to hear it. Next up is a little something I’ve written. It’s called ‘Stay This Way.’ I hope you enjoy it.”
When he strummed his guitar, silence fell once again.
No one else may have been familiar with the tune he played, but I’d heard it. It was the song he played in his office and his studio for me numerous times. A haunting melody that gripped me and brought tears to my eyes.
His eyes found mine as he started singing.
I felt an elbow against my arm. “Hey, looks like he only has eyes for you,” Mallory said.
And his eyes never left mine as he sang.
I’ve been the kind that never stays,
Midnight heart with getaway plans,
Neon nights and borrowed names,
Never holding anyone’s hand.
Then you walked in like a last call song,
Soft but steady, pulling me close,
Now every road I used to run
Feels like somewhere I don’t wanna go.
As I watched him on stage, my heart pounded against my chest. The words. His words. They hit home. As if they were meant for me.
I was a flame with nowhere to land,
You’re the spark that makes me stand
So stay this way,
Right here in my arms, don’t drift away,
Let the world keep spinning, we’ll be okay,
If you stay this way.
He continued looking directly at me. Into my eyes, my heart, and my soul. It felt as if the words reached inside me and stroked my heart, making it want to beat only for him. Our connection never broke as he continued with his song.
Stay this way,
Messy and mine at the end of the day,
