“This one had the manners enough to introduce himself.” I hitched a thumb at Roscoe. “Are you ever going to tell me your name, Mister B?”
“What?” he repeated.
“Isn’t that what the security called you? Mister B? Is that short for something? Do you come with a first name? Or is it Mister?”
“I uh, it’s Ben.” Ben blinked a few times.
“Right. It’s nice to meet you, Ben. I guess I have you to thank for my ticket, so thank you. And now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to go see who’s on stage. I didn’t see the final lineup before I came, so…”
“Right. Sounds good.” Ben nodded. “Let’s go.”
“B, you can’t—” Roscoe started to protest when Ben cut him off.
Ben shook his head and gave Roscoe a look. He sighed and turned his hat back around so it shaded his face again, and then pulled his hood up over his hat.
That wasn’t suspicious at all.
“Are you an actor or something?” I asked in confusion.
“Seriously?” Roscoe asked with a laugh. “This guy can’t lie for shit. No way would he get paid to act.”
“So why the outfit?” I gestured at his hat, sunglasses, and t-shirt-hoodie. “Are you in witness protection?”
“Why don’t you want to go to the VIP area?” Roscoe asked with a raised eyebrow.
I shut my mouth with a click and looked away.
“Seriously, Roscoe, you need to cool it.” Anger was evident in Ben’s tone. Then he sighed and shuffled his feet. “It’s not always easy for me to blend in, so it’s better for both of us if I wear this. I am recognizable to some people, and they could make things…unsafe–ish for us. So it’s better if I try to blend in or at least look inconspicuous as possible.”
Holy shit. He really was a model.
Wait, this was a music festival. I bet he was a famous music producer. Or agent. Those guys had money, influence, and—in a few memorable cases—looks too. Wasn’t Taylor’s guy named Ben? Ben… Something. I couldn’t remember.
“I uh, sorry I don’t recognize you.” I shrugged and fidgeted with the hem of my short shirt. “It feels like I should, since everyone was making such a big deal of you.”
Ben smiled at me. “I don’t expect anyone to ever recognize me. But better safe than, right? So, you ready to do this?”
I smiled up at him. “Let’s go get our rock on.”
Chapter 4
I was finally here.
And it was as amazing as I’d imagined.
Or maybe that had to do with the gorgeous guy who was holding my hand.
At first, I’d headed off for the crowd around the beach stage, Ben and Roscoe trailing behind me. But after a few steps, Ben had caught up to me and grabbed my hand.
I’d turned to him in surprise, and he’d raised his eyebrows, his eyes hidden behind his sunglasses. “Is it okay? I don’t want to lose you in the crowd.”
I’d nodded hesitantly. “Yeah. It’s okay.”
And we’d been holding hands ever since. Even after we settled into a spot toward the back of the crowd as Kind Justice came onstage. And even after Roscoe settled in on Ben’s other side.
And even after my hand had grown sweaty in his grasp.
I wanted to wipe it clean, was actually dying of embarrassment that I was so sweaty, but I also didn’t want to let go.
