“Okay, well if you’re going to interrupt us, you might as well spititout.”
Matt had the decency to looked embarrassed. “So Norm came up on stage after whatever just happened in there. I thought he was going to tell us to leave and never come back, but he said people loved all the excitement. He asked us to come back next week, as long as we promise to focus on themusic.”
It was great news. We spent a few minutes talking about what we were going to do for our next show, speculating who would be the opener since Michelle wouldn’t be making a repeat performance. We were all talking excitedly until Matt blurted out, “I guess Michelle knows you'restaying?”
Conversation stopped as everyone watched herreaction.
“What?” Michelle gasped from beside me, giving me a playful punch. “Rainier, why didn’t youtellme?”
The look on Matt’s face was perfect. “I assumed you told her when we caught you back here and the talk about playingnextweek.”
“Relax, she’s messing with you. But that reminds me. You did interrupt us. Maybe you should go figure out the details with Norm and let us finish what westarted.”
Carter whistled which resulted in Avery pushing him inside. Matt followed sheepishly behind the two of them, leaving Jenny to follow up the pack. She turned and smiled at us before following the rest of the crewinside.
“Finish what we started, huh?” Michelle’s voice rang out in the silence bringing my attention backtoher.
“You got a problemwiththat?”
“Absolutely not,” she answered, pulling me in forakiss.
Epilogue
Six monthslater
Rainier gave me a wink from the stage as the band finished the last song in their set. Over the last few months, Rainier and the Go-Aways had started making a name for themselves. They'd traveled all over Idaho to play, and even had a couple of shows inOregon.
They'd played in small bars similar to Wild Bill's and opened for popular bands in places that were legit concertvenues.
And even though they still hadn't landed their coveted record deal, the whole thing wasunreal.
I was dating my very own, personalrockstar.
Seeing him on stage with everyone back at The Imperial brought a wave of emotions that had me smiling like an idiot. We'd come so far since the first time I saw himperform.
As the crowd's cheers began to quiet, Avery was quick to get up. She rushed the stage eager to get to her fiancé. It didn't matter where they played, she was there and always did the samething.
I preferred thewaitinggame.
A trio of girls stood at the foot of the stage desperate to get Rainier's attention. They all wore shirts with rain clouds on them. The same design that was now painted on the front of Matt's bass drum. Everyone in the band had loved the shirt I wore for my performance and had insisted it become theband'slogo.
I watched as Rainier signed CDs and other swag people in the crowd brought to him. Always with a smile onhisface.
I was happy for him and even managed to stay in my seat when some redhead in a low cut top pointed to where she wanted Rainier to sign her body. He declined, still with his friendly grin before finally making his waytome.
"Twenty minutes. That's gotta be a newrecord."
"Aw, don't be jealous. I can always signyourb–"
"Gross," I interrupted and held up a hand. "I don't need that when I get the real deal allthetime."
"I guess not." He leaned in and kissed me before grabbing the spot next to me at the bar. "How wasshopping?"
I sighed dramatically. "Terrible. Avery is a complete bridezilla. We walked around for hours looking for bridesmaid dresses. Hours. My feet arekillingme!"
"Maybe next time you won't wear three-inchheels."
"Do not takeherside."
