Page 19 of Just Wait

For Lumen’s sake, I hope I’m wrong about him, but I don’t think I am.

“I just wanted to say thank you,” Theo says as his bandmates file past us to head out onto the stage to practice.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask where she is, but that wouldn’t be very covert.

It’s also hard not to ask why he hasn’t gotten her a full-time bodyguard. Last night should have been a wake-up call, and if he doesn’t do something to secure her safety soon, I’ll bring it up.

“No problem.” I nod, shoving off the wall and meandering back toward the greenroom Liminal was given.

I barely slept last night, and it’s starting to catch up with me.

I come around the corner and jolt.

Riser quirks a brow as his dark brown waves fall over his forehead.

I swipe a hand at him and continue down the hallway.

“What has you so jumpy?” he asks, following me without mercy. “Did you sleep last night?”

If Kincaid is Dad, Riser is Mom.

Kincaid is just a straight-up bossy dick, while Riser is calmer and more nurturing while also trying to parent my ass.

I miss Drew.

They were so focused on him that I was able to slide under the radar for years. They party too, and it’s starting to piss me off that they like to gang up on me.

Neither one of them is perfect, and I don’t say shit about their faults.

“We have three more shows before we get a night off,” he says conversationally. “Now isn’t the time to go on a bender.”

“Pot, meet kettle.” I spin around, flipping him off with both hands.

“You’re in a mood,” he says, as calm as ever. “Likely from the lack of sleep.”

I shake my head, turning and stomping off. Every member of the band did lines before the show last night. It’s expected in the industry because we have to rock out on stage for just shy of two hours. Then have the energy to give interviews, meet fans, and take pictures.

Tennyson and Parish bumped up before the meet and greet, but he’s not all over either of their asses.

They were bouncing around the bus all night while I was trying to sleep. I tried, but I couldn’t force my mind to shut down, and all I could think about was Lumen.

Goddammit.

Maybe I am losing it.

Chapter Five

Lumen

The venue tonight is an indoor amphitheater, but the roof is so high, and the spotlights are all directed at the stage, making it dark enough that it almost feels like an outdoor venue.

There are sections of seats in tiered rows that slope upward and out in a semicircle.

The space directly in front of the stage has lines of VIP seats, and that’s where I am tonight. I’m in the front row, but there’s about fifteen or twenty feet of space between my row and the fence that blocks off the audience.

Theo felt awful about the crap with the security guard, so he asked his manager, Grant, to assign me someone tonight.

Leon is his name, and he’s standing behind the metal fence with the rest of the venue security staff.