“If Mr. Nash doesn’t want to be called Mr. Nash he shouldn’t call people kid all the time.” Hale cuts me off, rolling his eyes.
“Just call me Nash, everyone else does.” Nash winks at me. “You’re up in a minute, I just wanted to introduce you to these idiots. JoJo Records signed them, but they’re missing a lead guitarist. I wanted them to check out a few candidates tonight, but you’re on the top of my list.” He ruffles my hair and pushes me forward. “Now go out there and prove me right.”
Fuck. Fucking fuck. I know Nash was trying to psych me up for my set, but holy fuck, he just sent me ten steps backward. Panic floods through me as I walk out onto the stage, holding my guitar in a death grip.
My eyes flicker between all the people on the floor below me, desperate to catch a glimpse of Savvy, but there are too many people. I finally make it to the mic at the front of the stage, saying a mumbled hello and introducing myself.
Holding my guitar against my body, I move my hands into position, and I start strumming the opening chords to I Think I’m Okay by Machine Gun Kelly. It seems to be going somewhat okay until I get to the part where I actually have to open my mouth and sing.
Of fucking course, that is the moment I do what I do best, panic and freeze.
Savvy
I’ve been pushing my way through the crowd gathered in front of the stage for the last few minutes, but it honestly feels like I’m not getting anywhere. I should have just stayed in the closed-off section; however, I thought I had enough time to reach the main floor and get to the front before Oliver’s set started. I wanted a front-row view of him performing and also to be close by if he needed me.
I come to a halt when two huge guys step into my path, completely ignoring me when I ask them to move. I’m on the verge of stomping my foot down on one of theirs, but then I see a small gap and quickly duck under one of their arms, continuing to make my way forward. I manage to get about halfway to the front when the crowd starts cheering. Glancing up, I see Oliver walking across the stage, slowly making his way to the mic set up at the front.
His eyes keep darting to the left side of the club, where I’m supposed to be, and I feel a pang in my chest when he finally gives up trying to find me. He mumbles a hello to the crowd, introduces himself, and then squeezes his eyes shut. When he opens them again, I see the panic on his face, and I just know I have to get to him right the fuck now.
I double down on my efforts to get closer to him, my eyes never leaving his face. I’m almost at the front when a hard body slams into me, knocking me to the ground. I grunt as I try to push myself up when a set of tattooed hands lifts me right off the floor.
“Are you okay?” A gruff voice asks me, and I glance up, doing a double take at the behemoth of a man standing in front of me.
This is not the time to gawk at him, idiot.
“I’m good, thank you!” My eyes widen as my brain formulates an idea.
Without thinking, I grab his shirt, pulling him down until we are face to face, and I can whisper in his ear. He looks slightly taken aback but mostly amused. “My friend is up there,” I point in the direction of the stage. “He needs me right now, so if you could get me to the front right now I’ll owe you one. Or ten. I’m desperate.”
He let out a little chuckle before squatting down in front of me. I scrambled onto his back, wrapping my limbs around his waist and neck. When he was sure I was holding on tight, he got to his feet and started making his way toward the stage where Oliver began playing the opening lyrics on his guitar. He sounded good, but I could tell he was shaken by how some of the notes came out.
People make room for the guy carrying me to pass easily, and we reach the front just as the singing part of the song begins. Oliver opens his mouth, but nothing comes out. His eyes widen, and I wave my hands frantically, trying to grab his attention. He finally sees me, and I feel a glimmer of hope that just my presence would help him continue. I swear my heart breaks when he ultimately shakes his head before slamming his eyes shut, but not before I see the fear in them.
Nope. Fuck this. My alpha is hurting, and I’m not just going to stand by and allow that to happen. I channel my inner monkey, climbing the poor guy holding me, until I’m sitting on his shoulders. I pull him by the hair, tilting his face so he is looking at me upside down. “You need to get me on the stage,” I yell at him over the crowd screaming.
“Are you insane?”
I shrug one shoulder. “Yes, but that doesn’t change the fact that I need to get up there.” I glance up at Oliver, who is currently backing away from the mic. The fact he has forgotten I was even down here, on a random guy’s shoulders, shows how lost he is in his own thoughts.
I yank at the guy’s hair again, letting a growl that shocks even me. “NOW!”
“Jesus, calm down. I would like to have some hair left by the end of the night.”
He easily lifts me over his head and onto the stage; I take a second to mouth thank you to him before getting to my feet and rushing Oliver. I launch myself at him, apparently still role-playing a monkey, and he turns around just in time to catch me, wrapping his arms around me.
“How the fuck did you get up here Savvy? Are you crazy?” I let out a small laugh, “You’re the second person to ask that in the last two minutes.”
I see the sides of his lips tilt up a little, but it quickly goes away. “Savvy, I can’t do it. Can we leave?” He asks me in such a broken voice, I almost cry.
A guy standing off to the side points at his watch, and I flip him off. The asshole smirks at me but holds his hands up in surrender and, thankfully, backs off.
I shimmy down Oliver’s body and grab him by the shirt when my feet hit the floor. I pull his face close to mine, before pressing a light kiss to his lips. “Nope, not happening. I don’t have time for a big pep talk, but can you trust me when I tell you I have your back?”
He looks shocked by the kiss, but lets out a sigh, running his hand through his blonde curls. “I trust you Savvy, but I don’t trust myself to pull this off.”
“Well, you’ll just have to let me believe for both of us then.” I shoot him a wink and he gives me a small smile in return. Yay. Progress. “Hand over your guitar. I need you to focus on singing. Can you do that?”
“It’s gonna sound pretty shitty without the guitar Savvy.”
