“Ilove you!” she shouted, although I barely heard her over the thunder of fans.
Holyshit. I have fans.
“Ilove you too!” I shouted back, and as they pressed further against her, Imade an effortat foolish heroism. I grabbed her hands,hoisting her onto the stage. One of the security guards glared at me, shakinghis head and I grimaced an apology, mouthing a “sorry.” His expressionlightened as he waved a hand to send me on my way.
Kyliegiggled on my arm. “He probably thinks I’m some groupie you just pulled out ofthe crowd.”
“Wouldhe be wrong?” I laughed, my smile so wide it ached.
Istopped moving when we reached the narrow hallway leading to the dressing roomand picked her up, spinning her around like some romantic movie love interest.Her arms held tight to my neck, our lips locked in a fairytale kiss, and I onlypulled away when I felt the wet tears on my face.
Shewascryingand I was shocked to find that, so was I.
Herpalms pressed to my cheeks. “Oh my God, Devin,” she exhaled, her fingerspressing into my skin. “That was fucking incredible. I … oh God …” Her lipsthrust against mine.
Thatkiss said everything that words couldn’t; her pride, her joy, her love. I feltit all, and I gave it back. Letting it flow through me as I held her tight.
Acleared throat behind me ruined the moment, and I reluctantly pulled my lipsfrom hers, turning my head to see Richard. He stood there, embarrassed forinterrupting our private moment, but the smile he wore said everything.
Iwas good. I wasreallygood.
“Richard,”I said, nodding my greeting as I lowered Kylie to her feet.
“Devin.”He extended a hand and I accepted, expecting nothing more than a congratulatoryhandshake. But he pulled me toward him, wrapping his other arm around myshoulders. “Congratulations, kid. That was out of this world.”
Ireturned the hug, clapping my hand against his back. “Thanks, man.”
Hepulled away, composing himself with the straightening of his tie and eyed mewith sincerity. “I’m not justsayingthat,” he pressed. “There were acouple of music critics in the crowd and I spoke with them during the show. I’mgiving you a heads-up right now: Every show is about to get bigger than thelast. The critics think you have something special, the women want you, the menwant tobeyou,” and he chuckled. “Devin, you’re about to explode.”
Itwas hilarious hearing him talk that way, like he was reciting lines from amovie, but somewhere around the part about womenwantingme, my mouthfell open. Because this wasn’t a movie. It was my fuckinglife, and itwas happening.
“You’reserious,” I said, looking for clarification, and he nodded as he said, “Iwouldn’t lie to you about that.”
“So,about women wanting him,” Kylie teased, wrapping her arms around my waist.
Richard’seyes sparkled under the fluorescent lights. “We can make it known that he’s offthe market, if it makes you feel any better,” he said, his voice lilting on alaugh.
Wemoved from the hallway to the sitting area. Ty and Sebastian were occupying aworn couch, sucking down bottles of water. At the sight of me, Ty reached intothe mini-fridge beside him and pulled out a full bottle and held it up. Openingmy hands, he tossed it at me and I caught it, raising it in thanks.
“Dude…Dude! You are a fucking force to be reckoned with,” Sebastian said,holding his bottle up, toasting. “I mean, I’ve played for some good people, butyou went on like a fucking tornado, man, and you didn’t. Fucking. Stop.”
Ilaughed, embarrassed. “Come on …”
Kyliereached up and pat my cheek. “Aww, Sebastian, you’re making him blush.”
Myeyes rolled, my ego pulsed, and just as I was about to revel in how fuckinggoodit all felt, Robbie staggered in from the hallway, with a walking stickmasquerading as a woman on his arm. At the sight of me, she shrieked somethingunintelligible and wrenched herself away from his grasp to rush toward me,hands flapping as she teetered on her high heels.
“Oh.My. God.” She enunciated every word, brazenly pressingone hand to my chest and one to hers. I noted very clearly that she wasignoring Kylie and the possessive hold she had on my waist, growing tighter bythe second. “You’re Devin.”
Inodded. “Uh … yep, that would be me.”
“Oh.My.God!” She was breathless. Both hands wereon my chest now. “You are so much taller and hotter than you look on stage, ohmy God. How tallareyou?”
“You’re,what? Six-four? Six-five?” Robbie casually asked, pulling a carton ofcigarettes from his pocket. Like his conquest wasn’t throwing herself at mewith questions about my height and comments on my appearance.
“Uh,I—”
“Robbie,you didn’t sayDevinwould be back here,” she said, cutting me off witha blowfish-pout, turning to whip her face in his direction. “I want himinstead,” she told him, and he shrugged.
