“Thank you. Oh my god. Thank you,” I whispered.
“You were awesome, girl.” Monica beamed at me, pulling me in for a hug.
The lights came back up.
“That’s it for me tonight.” Monica waved to the crowd with her free hand. “You’ve been amazing, Oceanfront Music Festival. And wasn’t she amazing? Good night, Oregon!
Then Monica grabbed my hand and walked offstage with me.
Withme.
People immediately swarmed Monica with makeup touchups and water while a third person did something to her hair. And I just stood there feeling like I was in the middle of the best dream of my life. It was all so dang surreal.
“Holy shit!” Ben tackle hugged me. “You were amazing out there!”
I hugged him back. “Oh my god. This never would’ve happened but for you. Thank you, Ben. Oh my god.”
“You know our girl, B?” Suddenly Monica was at our side, staring up at Ben with her eyebrows raised.
“Our girl?” Ben laughed. “She’smygirl.”
“Well, all right.” Monica grinned at both of us. “Congrats on nabbing such a kickass dancer. She’s too good for you.”
“Oh, I know it.” Ben grinned down at me.
“And if you’re ever looking for a dancing gig, hit me up.”
I stared wide-eyed at her. “Seriously?”
“Hell yeah. You were awesome. Go exchange info with Will over there.” She gestured at the clipboard guy who’d pushed me onstage.
“Okay.” I tried and failed to not geek out.
“I gotta go do my encore. But hit me up later, B. I’d love to get to know your girl better. And we haven’t talked in a millennia it feels like.”
Ben tipped his head. “Sure thing. Awesome show as always, Mon.”
“Thanks.” She wagged her eyebrows, then ran back onstage where the rest of her band and her dancers were already waiting for her.
“Fuck. You were awesome.” Ben’s arms came around me again as he picked me up and twirled me around. “I’m so proud of you!”
“It was amazing.” I wound my arms around his neck and kissed him, putting all my elation and spent nerves into the kiss. And he kissed me back just as ardently.
I had to pull away due to lack of oxygen.
Ben’s eyes sparkled down at me, and I caught my breath for a whole different reason.
“I’m so fucking proud of you, baby.” He shook his head slightly. “Come on. Let’s go talk to Will before he wanders off. You gotta jump on every industry contact when you can. Believe me.”
We walked to the side where Will still stood with his clipboard. Ben introduced me and did the whole bro hug thing with the guy old enough to be my dad.
Will put my info into his phone and gave me his number. “If Monica says she wants you, then she wants you on board. Call me tomorrow, and we’ll see where we can put you.”
My grin ate up my whole face. I don’t think I’d ever smiled this big for this long in my entire life. “Thank you, Will. I will absolutely call you tomorrow. Thanks so much!”
Ben’s arm came around my shoulders, and he nodded at Will before we walked away.
Only once we were clear of the chaos of backstage did I finally let it loose.
