“Orlando!How are you guys doing tonight?”
Thecrowd cheered their response, and Devin’s eyes fell on me, smiling the smilethat was always mine. It was only a few seconds, but in those moments, it wasjust Devin and me. We might as well have been back at Black & Brewed, withfourteen people packed around the little platform stage in the corner. I smiledback, clutching at my chest and mouthing an “I love you,” and I hoped he saw itunder the blinding lights.
Then,he whirled around with guitar in hand, stepping toward Sebastian’s gleamingdrums with a hand raised in the air, as they counted down into the first songin the setlist: “Go Easy on Me.”
I’mwatching them come,
I’mwatching them go,
I’mlocking my heart, throwing away the key.
I’llbe the shoulder,
I’llbe the rock.
But Ineed you to go easy on me.
“Thatsong,” Devin said, strumming the guitar lazily after the last notes had beenplayed, “is about a girl I had thebiggestcrush on, a long time ago. Iwas friend-zoned to the third degree and she’d always come to me every time shegot her heart broken.”
Halfof the crowd replied with anawwin unison and someone from the middlescreamed, “I wouldn’t friend-zone you, Devin!”
Hecontinued to strum, smiling down at me. “Ninety-five percent of my songs areabout chasing after her ass, so I have her to thank for all ofthatinspiration.” Most of the crowd laughed while a cluster somewhere mumbledsomething incoherent among themselves. “Actually, this next song is about hertoo. This is called ‘Edge of a Blue Existence.’”
Theyshrieked as the lights blackened again in preparation of an explosive kick-offto the song he sang about my eyes. The one that took me back to that timebeside the lake, and when the lights came back on, with an upbeat drumroll, Iwatched Devin toss something toward me. I watched it float through the hazy airand when the daisy landed a foot away from me, I cupped my hands around mymouth and shed my tears along with the fangirls.
Excepthe was mine.
Hewould always be mine.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Devin
“That was fuckinglit, man!”Robbiegrabbed my shoulders and bounced a few times in front of me.
Iwiped my brow, stripped myself of the leather jacket that still didn’t feelquite right and dropped into one of the less-than-glamorous folding chairs.
“Holyfuck,” I uttered, and Sebastian pushed a bottle of water into my hand.
Thatcrowd … that music …
Ihad never felt so drained.
Ihad never felt so alive.
Myeyes closed as I uncapped the bottle, tipped it back into my mouth and felt thecool liquid pour down my throat. To my side, I listened as Robbie flipped openhis lighter and I was smacked with the signature scent of marijuana.
“Here,man,” he said, teeth gritted. “Take a hit of this.”
Exhaustedand ready to pass out, I slowly opened my eyes to his hand, passing the joint overto me and Ihave toadmit, I was tempted. My veinswere jittering with life, my body was dragging to remain coherent and thethought of lulling into a state of pure relaxation sounded fucking incredible.
Butthen, there was Kylie.
Iknew how she felt, and I couldn’t do that to her.
Ishook my head. “Nah, I’m good, man.”
Robbiedramatically rolled his eyes, putting his whole body into it. He staggered abit. “Come on, O’Leary, you’renotgood. You just fucked every one ofthose women senseless with your genius, and now it’s your turn to getfucked.I mean, look at you! We’regonnaneed five men todrag your heavy ass out of here.”
