“All right, everyone, I hope you’re having a great time so far!” Oliver called into the microphone, his attention back on the crowd. “Tonight we have a surprise for the birthday girl, so please put your hands together for our special guest performer, Indie Mitchell-Jamiolkowski.”
There was a surprisingly loud cheer even though nobody knew who I was, but I felt myself freeze up all the same. Suddenly, the three steps leading up to the stage looked like a mountain, one I was petrified to climb. If it hadn’t been for Xander, who turned toward me with his lopsided smile, I probably wouldhave fled. Instead, I swallowed hard and forced myself to take a deep breath.
This was it. My chance to make things right with my sister.
“Good luck,” Gabe said, patting me on the shoulder.
“Thanks,” I whispered. My palms were a clammy mess, and I hastily wiped my free one on the back of my jeans as I scaled the stairs, violin case clutched against my side. Xander held out his hand and guided me up the final step. My nerves must have been visible, because he gave my fingers a comforting squeeze.
“You’ve got this,” he told me as JJ and Alec filed offstage. Oliver winked in my direction as he followed after them. Then, hands still clasped together, Xander and I walked to the front of the platform. I took a moment to scan the sea of faces until I spotted Violet, who was standing with Tara and Vanessa near the front. When our gazes met, I offered her a hesitant smile, but she stared back at me with a blank expression.
Okay, not the most encouraging reaction ever, but it was better than an all-out scowl. I’d take what I could get.
Giving my amethyst a quick squeeze for luck, I stepped up to the mic stand. “Hi, everyone. Thank you so much for being here to celebrate Violet’s birthday. I want to give a big shout out to our hosts Gabe and Ryan for throwing an awesome party and to the Heartbreakers for allowing me to crash their performance,” I said, my voice an octave too high. I took another deep breath and willed myself to calm down. “For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Violet’s younger sister, Indie, and like most babies of a family, I’m a massive pain in the ass.” This got a laugh from theaudience. “Things haven’t always been smooth sailing between us, but of course, like most older siblings, Violet is a role model, and I’ve come to realize just how lucky I am to call her my sister.
“When we were growing up, our entire family knew Violet was going to be a star years before she decided to pursue a career in acting. She was always putting on plays with her stuffed animals and singing at the top of her lungs into whatever microphone-shaped object she could get her hands on. She also had the distinct ability to walk into a room and steal the spotlight, because peoplewantedto be around her. But Violet isn’t just talented. She’s ambitious and disciplined and hardworking, which resulted in her landing her very first record deal! Violet’s debut album will be out later this year, but tonight I want to share a song she’s featuring on, which was written by the equally talented Xander Jones. This is ‘Indigo Skies,’ and I hope you enjoy.”
With the scary part over, I slid the microphone back into the clip and moved out of the way so Xander could take my place. At some point during my speech, he’d swapped his electric guitar for an acoustic. As he plucked out a few notes to make sure it was in tune, I pulled the violin from its case and settled the instrument between my shoulder and chin. When he glanced over his shoulder to see if I was ready, I gave him a nod.
Then he started to play.
Chapter 19
A hush fell over the crowd as the opening notes of the song poured from Xander’s guitar.
He bowed his head as if he was solely focused on his fingers moving over the strings, but from where I was standing, I could see his eyes were closed. Almost like he was savoring this moment, his first time standing center stage. When it was time for the first verse to begin, his eyes fluttered open, and he raised his gaze to the audience.
There was no way to describe what happened next as anything other than magical. Xander’s voice on the recording had been beautiful—deep and silvery, a tone that melted perfectly with Violet’s sweet, high range. But live? He sounded raw, filled with emotion, moving. I was left nearly breathless by the sound of it.
In fact, I was so caught up in his performance, I nearly forgot that I was part of it too. But just before the bridge began, Xander turned toward me and nodded, like he was welcoming me into the song. I hastily raised my bow and joined him.
The next three minutes passed in an adrenaline-pumping blur.
“Indie, Xander—that was amazing!” Oliver exclaimed as we stepped offstage to loud applause. He flashed me a dimpled grinbefore punching his bandmate on the arm in congratulations. “Dude, did you really write that?”
Xander nodded as he lifted the guitar strap over his head and set the instrument down.
Oliver’s mouth curled into a smile as he shook his head. “Are you shitting me? What’s wrong with you, man?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why the hell haven’t you written anything for us before?”
“I don’t know,” Xander muttered, looking both surprised and pleased by his friend’s response. “I guess it always felt like your thing.”
This made Oliver frown. “Well, that’s stupid. It’s clearly your thing too.”
“You think so?” The expression on Xander’s face was filled with doubt.
“You really have to ask?” Oliver shot back. “Dude, I don’t understand why you’d keep a talent like that hidden. I hope you realize we’re writing our next album together whether you like it or not.”
“Honestly, I don’t know what to say.” Xander dropped his gaze so his friends couldn’t see the look in his eyes, but the emotion was clear in his voice.
“Say you’ll do it,” JJ replied, slinging an arm over Xander’s shoulder and grinning wide. “If you don’t, the entire track list will just be mushy love songs about Stella.”
“We should also add this song to our tour set list,” Alec added. “Everyone tonight loved it.”
At this, Xander’s eyes practically bulged out of his skull. “Oh no,” he said, holding his hands up. “We don’t have to—”
