I stayed put, frozen, beside Rocktoberfest’s main stage, as Lee approached. When he got close, I took one step forward.
The older woman smacked Lee’s arm. “Seriously, you fucker? You let me blather on about how incredible Griffin Marsh is for the last four days and never told me you know him?”
“It’s complicated,” Lee muttered.
“Are you Yolanda?” I asked her, holding out a hand.
She took my fingers in a firm grip. “Yes. Was that… you really dedicated ‘Wipeout’ to me?”
“Lee asked me to,” I said, then turned to him. “Lee—”
The roar of the crowd as the announcer introduced Chaser Lost drowned out whatever I might’ve said. Having played backup for my set, they hadn’t needed long to prepare for their own. I was going to ask Lee if we could go somewhere quiet, but Yolanda’s intent gaze was fixed on the stage.
I stepped close, and put my mouth by her ear to be heard, noting she was smart and had plugs in. “Hey, you want to hang out with us, hear the show from backstage? The acoustics won’t be as good.”
“Are you kidding? Lead me to it.” She grinned at Lee and shouted, “Best Rocktoberfest yet!”
Lee nodded, apparently unable to resist her enthusiasm.
I led them around the back and up into the wings where we could stand and watch the band play. I’d unhooked my in-ears as I left the stage, so I fumbled in a pocket and got out back-up ear plugs. While we were behind the biggest speakers, Chaser Lost was about to getloud.
Pete stepped up to the mic, greeted the crowd, and said some kind things about me that would’ve had me blushing at any other time. Now, I just hoped Lee was listening, hearing that there were good people who thought my music was worth something. Then the band launched into their first song and the crowd exploded, screaming and singing along.
All I cared about was Lee, though. I stepped back and watched as Yolanda got into the music beside him, encouraging him to headbang on “Flip the Script” and dancing with him on “Flexible.” Lee didn’t quite dance, but he did shake and shimmy a bit, with one fleeting glance my way.
I wasn’t sure whether to applaud or pretend I wasn’t drinking in the sight of him. In the end, I just stood there like a dork. He didn’t look at me again.
Slowly, the music pulled me in. As a headliner band, Chaser Lost played close to a full set. From their moodiest ballad to the hardest rock, they laid down a perfect show. The crowd out there was fucking lucky to be here. By the time Pete closed out the set, his shirt wringing wet and his dark curls plastered to his forehead, we’d been schooled in what rock music should be. I pounded my hands together as loud as anyone.
But when the lights dropped and the band began filing off the stage, I hustled to grab Pete as he reached us. “Dude, that was incredible, and I need one more favor.”
“What do you need?”
“Can I…” I’d been about to ask for a little private time in the bus, but that was too much. After a show like that, they needed their space. “Could you take care of Yolanda here, so I can haul Lee off for a private talk?”
“Oh, my God, you don’t need to cater to me,” Yolanda said. “This has been incredible. I’m walking on air. I can just go on out there and meet up with Lee later. Although… a photo?”
“Sure,” Pete said.
“Two photos?” she suggested. “I want one with Griffin.”
I made a face at him. “See? You play like that and some peoplestilllike me better.” Even if it wasn’t the person I was hoping for.
Yolanda laughed and told me, “They’re gaining on you, though.”
“Only fair.” We got off the stage, out of the way of the roadies, and stood near a light pole so Yolanda could take a few photos with Pete and then me with my arm around her shoulders.
“Are you sure you want me to touch you?” I asked. “I probably sweated like a pig.”
She waggled her fingers at me. “Honest sweat from Griffin Marsh. I may never wash this shirt. Get over here.”
After we’d taken a couple, she called to Lee, “Hey, miracle worker. Come and join us.”
He didn’t budge. “You don’t want me in your rockstar pictures.”
“The hell I don’t. This would’ve been a much less fun Rocktoberfest without you. Get over here.”
Lee shuffled over to stand next to her on the opposite side from me. I chose not to read too much into that. Yolanda snapped away. I tried to keep smiling, even though every fiber of my body wanted to grab Lee and go somewhere. To talk. Maybe not only to talk. A guy could hope.
