A part of me worried he would explode and yell at me for changing the rules of our deal, but he simply nodded. “Of course, you guys need time to catch up.”
Then he turned his attention to Molly. “We’re actually playing a secret show tomorrow in the Barnyard. Just close friends and family and folks from the community that have supported us over the years. We all would really love it if you’d both come.”
Whoa, what? I wasn’t expecting that. He hadn’t mentioned anything to me. Was this planned a while back? Why hadn’t the guys said anything?
Molly smirked at him. “We’ll be there.”
“Wait a second,” I interjected. “What if I have work?”
“Do you?” my sister fired back.
“Well…no.”
“Then it’s settled. We’ll see you tomorrow, Abel.”
He gave her a rare genuine smile, and my heart tremored at the sight. “Nine pm. Don’t be late.”
* * *
I wasn’t sure about going to this show, but Molly had become truly dictatorial in the weeks she’d been away. We spent the day hanging out in the backyard, chatting about her life at college and catching up on everything that had happened while she was away. Around six pm, we went inside for dinner, and when she made it clear that the only way we wouldn’t be going to the Barnyard was over her dead body, I could do nothing but start getting ready.
“This is so exciting,” Molly gushed. “I can’t believe they’re able to get me into an eighteen-plus show just by putting my name on the guest list. And it’s a secret Bleeding Moonlight concert! Carly is going to die when I show her the pictures.”
I smiled as I pulled on my knee-high boots. For once, I opted to wear a flowing black dress that reached about mid-thigh, anticipating how hot the venue would get by the end of the night. My leather jacket completed the look.
A car honked outside our door, and I shot a questioning look at Molly, which she answered with a wink.
“Go ahead, open the door.”
Outside, Mason sat in his car, his grinning face peeking out the window.
“Mason?” A laugh burst out of my lips. “You’re back here, too?”
“Who do you think drove your sister here?” he said as he got out of the car to scoop me into a hug. To my embarrassment, I hadn’t even considered how Molly had gotten here.
“Are you going to the show, too?” I asked once we had broken our embrace.
“Sure am. I’m Molly’s plus one.”
“He’s not,” she retorted, “but Abel was nice enough to give him a ticket after he made me beg for an extra one on his behalf.” Her voice had a bit of a bite, and I couldn’t help but wonder if something had happened between her and the drummer in the past few weeks.
Mason snickered. “Close enough,” he said with a wink that made Molly roll her eyes. “All right, ladies. Hop in or we’re going to be late.”
We piled into the car and set off for the Barnyard. I recalled the excitement I had felt driving there before Through Azure Skies’ last show and smiled at the memory. I could only hope that being there again tonight would help me make the right decision. After all, I still owed Abel my answer.
* * *
Since our names were on the guest list, we were quickly hustled inside when we arrived. The barn was already about three-quarters full, and the crowd was buzzing with excitement. I turned my gaze to the stage where a couple of sound technicians were finishing setting up. The show would start in about ten minutes.
A man I didn’t recognize came up to me and introduced himself as Barney, Bleeding Moonlight’s manager.
“The guys have been telling me about you for weeks,” he informed me in a gruff voice. He sounded like he smoked at least a pack a day and took no bullshit from anyone. “I wish I’d been here for at least some of the recording sessions, but I had to babysit The Cult of Osiris on their world tour. Then Bleeding Moonlight called me up five days ago and demanded I put together this show at a moment’s notice. Not that I’m complaining. I was seriously fucking worried about them ever getting out of their funk.”
Huh. That was interesting. What had prompted the guys to do this?
“I’m glad they decided to perform,” I said. “Should be a hell of a show. Do you know if they’ll be playing some of the stuff we worked on?”
He shrugged. “Ask them yourself. Come with me. They insisted I bring you backstage as soon as you arrive.”
