Bo: It’s a place you’ll want to wear heels.
Me: That doesn’t really narrow it down. What are you wearing?
I got a from-the-neck-down selfie of Bo looking into his full-length mirror with a black blazer, a light blue button down without a tie, and matching dress pants. He was even wearing his good cowboy boots, the ones I’d gotten him for his nineteenth birthday that I had saved all summer to be able to afford.
Me: Okay, hot stuff. See you soon.
Bo: Leaving now. Put on the first outfit you had on. I’m sure it’s perfect.
Of course, he was right. I pulled my leopard print pumps out from under the bed to finish off my little black dress perfectly.
When the doorbell rang, I practically jumped out of my skin. Molly’s throaty bark rang through the house as I tripped over her bone rushing to the door.
“Come in,” I yelled, holding Molly’s collar as Bo opened the front door.
“Wow. You look amazing.” His eyes were glued to my chest for a couple seconds as Molly started to lick his hands, begging him to pet her.
“So do you.” I kissed his cheek and grabbed my purse from the counter.
Bo placed his hand on my hip and led me to his ’67 Shelby GT500, the one his father had given him when he was drafted into the NFL. They had restored it while Bo was in high school together. It was the last thing his father gave him before he died. Even though we weren’t together when he was drafted, I’d never forget the day he called me, balling his eyes out as he told me the whole story. A week after giving the car to Bo, Will Briggs had been in a terrible hit-and-run accident. Thankfully, it was reported that Will didn’t suffer.
I slid into the buttery black leather seat and watched Bo trot around to the driver’s side.
“So, where are you taking me?”
Bo turned the key to let the deep, throaty engine growl to life as he looked over to me. “It’s going to have to be a surprise.”
We pulled off the main exit and into the traffic of a concert that was happening in town that night.
“Crap, The Hysterics are playing tonight. This traffic is going to be terrible.”
“It’s ok, I know a short cut.”
Bo took the next turn, right into the VIP parking area for the venue. He pulled into a front reserved spot, pulled a parking pass out from the glove box, and smiled at me. “We’re here.”
I glanced around. A parking garage to wait out traffic was not my idea of a date, that’s for damn sure. “What do you mean we’re here?”
“Come on, you’ll see. Here, put this on.”
He handed me a lanyard with a VIP pass in a plastic sleeve. “What is this?”
“Your backstage pass.” With a wink he hopped out of the car and came over to open my door.
We made our way through the maze of back hallways and the reality of what was going on sunk in. I was about to meet the members of a band I had loved for years.
“Bo, I’m freaking out over here.” I grabbed his hand to slow him down. My hands were shaking, I could feel nervous sweats starting to come on, and all I could do was pray that I had put on enough deodorant to handle this shit.
Right then I thought I was going to faint from being star-struck: Fallon Dunbar walked by me and smiled as she went into the dressing room for my favorite band.
Bo wrapped me in his arms. “Babe, this is a freaking dream come true for you, I know it. This band is your favorite and I am lucky enough to be able to give you what you want. I’m a far cry from the guy you used to date, at least where my wallet is concerned anyway. Come on.”
With that, Bo shoved open the door to the dressing room where The Hysterics plus their wives, girlfriends, and roadies were hanging out.Thefreaking Fallon Dunbar glided over to Bo, wrapping him in a hug.
“Dane said you were coming, I’m so glad you made it! Hi, I’m Fallon.”
She looked right at me, leaning in for a hug, and like a star-struck robot I squeezed her back and stuttered, “I-I’m Peyton.”
Bo smiled down at me. “Fallon, this is my high school sweetheart.”
