Shit.
Cas says goodbye for what feels like forever. Once he walks off the stage, the buzz returns around us as the announcer comes over the speaker and says, “Attention all VIP ticket holders, please make your way to the Aspen meeting room for the event. Have all tickets ready to be digitally scanned. If you do not have a VIP ticket, please make your way to the bar and clear the concert space. Swag can be purchased at the back of the bar. They accept all forms of payment. Stick around, and Cas might even join us later for a celebratory toast. Thank you for a great show. Have a safe night.”
To our left, security is motioning for the VIP ticket holders to exit through a velvet-roped corridor. There are several event employees scanning tickets. Roxy and I start walking slowly to get in line. It’s now or never—I should probably come clean about my encounter with the guy earlier tonight.
I clear my throat. “Hey, Rox, there’s something I need to tell you.”
Her eyes widen with concern. “What is it? Do not tell me it requires leaving before we get into the VIP meet and greet,” she laughs nervously.
“No. It’s nothing like that. It’s just…” My voice trails off, and I regain my composure before continuing. “When I got lost on my way back from the bathroom, I bumped into a masked guy like the ones on stage.”
Her jaw falls open, but she doesn’t say a word. The line is moving quickly, and it’s our turn to scan tickets. Roxy flashes them theQR codes on her phone, and we’re directed to follow the green glow-in-the-dark arrows taped on the floor. We walk in silence until we make it to the large conference room.
At the front of the room is a large table with several microphones. There are chairs lined up with numbers etched into the back, designating where ticket holders should sit.
Once settled, Roxy leans over to whisper, “That’s so cool. I wonder who it was. Maybe a backup dancer or one of the musicians.”
There’s a hint of excitement in her voice.
“You aren’t mad?” I ask.
“Why would I be mad, silly?” she replies.
It’s true. What’s there to be mad about? We’ve only been waiting a few minutes, and every seat in the room is full. A man dressed in all black walks up to the microphone, flips it on, and taps it.
“May I have your attention?” he asks.
A hush falls over the room, energy bursting from every corner as they wait for the man to make his announcement. “It’s with much disappointment that I share Cas will not be joining us tonight. He sends his deepest apologies. All tickets will be refunded, and he has added a signed poster to every swag bag. We will hand you a swag bag as you exit. Again, we are verysorry, but Cas will not be joining us tonight. Please exit the room one row at a time and be sure to collect your swag bags.”
The crowd boos and grumbles. The man pays no mind. He simply switches off the microphone and walks back out the door he came from. People jump up. The room erupts into chaos as everyone makes a mad dash for the doors.
Roxy doesn’t budge. Neither do I. She looks devastated. I don’t know what to say to her. I’m so focused on thinking of something empathetic to tell her, I don’t notice the man with the security shirt until he’s standing in front of us, clearing his throat.
“You two,” he rumbles. “Follow me.”
I look at Roxy, but she’s just as confused as I am. We stand, and he ushers us to cross the imaginary threshold between the seats and the tables for the panel, then leads us through the same door the man from earlier went out. We follow in silence. Down a long hallway we go, and then we’re ushered into another room. It’s empty except for us.
“Wait here,” he says, then leaves us alone.
Glancing around, I notice there’s a big-screen TV. The sound is turned all the way down, but there’s a hockey game playing in the background. A black leather sectional fills the space, and on the coffee table there’s a silver skull mask just like the one from earlier, casually discarded. My heart races. What the fuck have we gotten ourselves into?
What the fuck?I mouth to Roxy.
She shrugs, which offers very little reassurance. My brain kicks into fight-or-flight, and I begin analyzing the entire room. There’s a stocked bartop and kitchen off to the side. Pizza boxes line the counters, and tons of drink options fill an oversized metal bowl full of ice. A hallway that says it leads backstage and two other doors loom to the right. One is labeled as a bathroom, the other isn’t. On a mission, I spin clockwise. There’s also a pool table and air hockey table.
“Okay, but how cool is this room?” I whisper.
Roxy nods her head in agreement. “It’s like there’s supposed to be a party, but we’re the only ones here.”
We reach for one another’s hands and huddle together. From behind us, loud voices echo, but I can’t make out what’s being said. Then a door creaks open, and suddenly the voices are loud and in the same room as us. Surprised, we turn around to face them.
Roxy squeezes my hand so tight I think she breaks several bones. She mouths,that’s Cas!
A group of shirtless men stands in the room, flanked by several hot-as-fuck, fully clothed musicians and crew members.
“Ladies,” he croons, and I squeeze Roxy’s hand back. “I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”
It’s my turn to be overwhelmed with shock. Not only do I recognize the man from the hallway earlier, but now that he’s not on stage and speaking into a microphone, I recognize his voice too.
