And he did.
***
Thirtyminutes after I exited the stage, the guys were ready and anxious to go on. Sebastianspun his drumsticks between his fingers, reminding me of my short-lived stintwith baton twirling when I was nine. Ty and Devin were engaged in mindless,casual conversation, while Jon texted with Tess. Chad hung back and wiped hishand across his brow, releasing a cheek-puffed gust of air. His face wasflushed, his lips curled under his teeth before being released again, and themuscles in his throat shifted repeatedly as he swallowed a few times.
Igripped his arm to draw his attention to me. “You okay?”
Hebegan to nod, then hesitated. “I don’t feel great,” he admitted. “But I thinkI’m okay enough.”
“Whatdoes that even mean?”
Heshrugged. “It means I can make it through this. I think.”
“Wouldyasaysomethin’ if youcouldn’t?” I wasn’t intending to sound so condescending. The redness in hischeeks and the sweat beading along his forehead worried me, and I hope he heardthat in my voice.
Chadsmiled weakly, a bit of liveliness glinting in his eyes. “Maybe.”
Hisdamn pride was too much, too big, and I shook my head. “Chad …”
“Relax,Molls. I know my limits,” he said, and a promise lingered between his words.Yet, for some reason, I didn’t quite believe him. He was always downplaying andsaying he was fine, so how was I supposed to believe himnow? I looked up to him doubtfully, chewing on my lower lip withworry. He hunched over, bringing his face closer to mine. As though he didn’twant the others to hear. “Molly. I would tellyou. I swear.”
Itwas a simple assurance, but I looked further into it. He was embarrassed,ashamed, and afraid to be completely open and honest with these guys, hisfriends.Despite living with them for months at a time, he had an image to uphold, andthat didn’t include unprovoked confessions of weakness and feeling sick. Itmade me wonder how bad he’d allow things to get before going to one of them,and that only made me worry even more.
Butat least I was with him now.
“Hey,Baby Bear!”
Achuckle burst through my concern and Chad sighed. “Every time I think the nicknamescan’t get worse, they do,” he muttered, looking over his shoulder at Sebastian.“What?”
“Let’sroll!” As if on cue, the stage lights darkened and the crowd beyond the wiresand amps roared with anticipation.
“Gottago,” Chad shouted over the applause, and I watchedhis shadowed figure move with the other guys toward their instruments.
Hewas further back, close to Sebastian’s drums, and from where I stood, I couldsee him as he slung his guitar over his shoulders. Then, he hit the crowd withone, lengthy note, pulsing through the speakers and welcoming Sebastian to comein with a kick of the bass drum. Jon jumped in with a series of notes on thekeyboard, and then, Ty, with a solid bassline. With their first note, each bandmember was illuminated by a spotlight, and the crowd jived with mountingexcitement for the guy they’d all come for.
Theband jammed for a few moments, before the stage went black and they stoppedplaying. The venue was filled with an eerie silence, and every breath was held,until Devin stepped up to the mic. One sliver of light shone on him as hebelted out the first line to one of his songs. The crowd wentabsolutely wild, and the stage was illuminated in brightlights and a steady stream of fog.
Devin O’Leary was a powerhouse, there was nodenying that. Handsome, tall, and talented beyond his years, the audience fedon his energy and physical appeal. They watched him, sang along and moved withthe melody, but while their eyes were trained on Devin, mine were on Chad.
16
Seea Waterfall
CHAD
“TRY TOKEEP UP,old man,” Molly taunted me, zigzagging down the path toward the sound ofrushing water.
Sheglanced over her shoulder, grinning underneath the North Carolina sun. Her darkhair had lightened over the past month, from being in the sunlight so often andaway from her treadmill at home. Natural highlights now framed her face andweaved into her ponytail. That damn swinging pendulum that provided adistraction on the days when I was feeling well enough to head out for a run.
“Yaever consider that Iletyou win?” I called after her.
“Win?” She snickered. “I wasn’t aware itwas a race. I think I’m just quicker than your old ass.”
“MaybeI just like you to think you’re faster than me,” I suggested.
“Maybeyou’re just jealous.”
Ilaughed as we approached the waterfall. “Oh, yeah.Sojealous.”
