10
CHAPTER TEN
TRAVIS
“Are you nervous?” I ask Andi as we stand backstage at the American Airlines Arena in Miami. Our buses rolled in late last night, or actually very early this morning, and we’ve already finished the sound check.
She looks up at me, and her eyes reflect the terror she’s feeling deep inside. “Nervous? No. I’m not nervous at all. I’m fucking terrified, Travis!” she yells. “The arena is already full. They didn’t wait for you to get here like they were supposed to.”
I can’t help but chuckle at her outburst. It really is a little nerve-racking at first, but after playing everywhere I could find since I was seventeen, it doesn’t scare me now. The crowd energizes me, and I always try to give them more than they give me. They spend their hard-earned money on our songs, merchandise, and concert tickets. It’s the least I can do.
Andi, on the other hand, has only sung to audiences in a bar setting. Walking into a room with about eighteen thousand people all looking at her and waiting for her to entertain them is no less than daunting. Our concerts are selling out fast for the rest of our tour, so tonight is just the initiation process.
“You’ll do great, Andi. You’ve rehearsed this for weeks now. You know these songs inside and out. Work the audience. Get them to sing along with you on the cover songs, and you’ll have them eating out of the palm of your hand.”
“Okay. Yeah. I got this,” she says, completely lacking conviction as she walks up the steps to the stage.
She walks out and the stage lights hit her, silently announcing her arrival. A quick hush falls over the crowd before they erupt into applause, whistles, and screams. The music starts and Andi performs like a true professional. She’s on time, in tune, and interacts with the audience in all areas of the arena.
The first couple of songs are exclusively hers. I haven’t told her that I wrote them specifically for her to sing. That’s one of Katelyn’s beefs with me—these songs are all chart-topper worthy, and she thinks I should be the one singing them. My music has been the love of my life for so many years. The words are a part of me, a rare glimpse into my very private thoughts.
It felt different when I wrote these songs though. These words were clearly channeled to me through the time I’ve spent with Andi. The words convey how she makes me feel—about her, about myself, about life, and about the future. Knowing the words came from how she affects me, it only felt right to have her sing them.
It’s clear to me now that I’m not the only one who’s completely at her mercy. She’s taking full advantage of the extended stage, walking out into the arena and engaging with the people who can reach her. Walking by them as she sings, she holds her hand out and touches the outstretched hands reaching toward her.
“Who here has ever had their heart broken by a lying, cheating bastard? Or bitch, to be fair?” she asks the audience in between songs. The crowd answers with a reverberating scream.
“What goes around comes around, right? Just know that he—or she—has it coming right back!”
Then she begins her first cover song, “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’” by Journey. Her confidence level is clearly at an all-time high. She belts out the words with such emotion and conviction, every audience member feels the heartbreak she’s conveying. When she gets to the part about how the cheater gets cheated on, her voice becomes more aggressive, more taunting, and it’s all so sexy.
The crowd roars their approval at the end of the song, and she takes a minute to introduce the band and herself to the audience. Her wit and self-deprecating humor are well received, and her voice holds no hint of nervousness. This part is addictive—the energy the audience gives back, the love they project, and the roar of their applause.
“My next song is another cover song. It’s dedicated to the love of my life. This song is older than some of you in here, but I hope you love it as much as I do.”
During her second cover song, “Crazy for You” by Madonna, the audience holds up the flash on their phones’ cameras in lieu of lighters. The lights sway back and forth with the slow tempo of the iconic love song. I won’t lie—it stung when she dedicated it to “the love of her life.” My only consolation is she didn’t say his name.
After singing her last song, she smiles and waves to the audience as she exits the stage. Once she’s behind the enormous curtains that hide the entire backstage area, she rushes to me and throws her arms around my neck.
“Oh my God, Travis! That was incredible!” she exclaims giddily.
“You were great, Andi. I’m so very proud of you.”
“I was so far beyond terrified when I stepped out there, but I tried to remember your advice.” She smiles widely at me. “You know, I almost asked you to come onstage with me because I was sure I’d be a huge flop out there.”
“I’m glad you didn’t ask me,” I say truthfully.
Hurt flashes over her face, but she quickly masks it. “Why’s that?”
“Because for you I would’ve said yes, and then I’d be in trouble with the label.”
She laughs, rolls her eyes at me, and puts her hand on her hip. “Travis, you are such a flirt and a charmer.”
Apparently I need to turn up the charm factor to prepare to tell her how I feel. After that song dedication, I’m more determined than ever to make her mine.
“I have an idea for our duets tonight. Since both songs are very romantic, flirty, and charming,” I emphasize, “I think we should play it up to the audience. Sing the songs to each other in a single spotlight. What do you think?”
“I think that’s a great idea! They are really into the music tonight. They’ll go crazy over being the first to hear these unreleased songs!”
