“Just kind of?” I examined the filthy hand.
“Yeah, just kind of. I haven’t shown you all of my tricks…”
I laughed. “Just make sure the next time? We’re laying down. I almost took you to the floor on that one.”
“I promise you won’t be able to walk straight for at least a week.”
My cock twitched at the very idea.
* * *
There wasa magic involved in the proscenium arch and the footlights. Beyond those at the edge of the stage, nothing existed.
And behind those, I wasn’t Austin Lowell anymore. I was General Radames, of the Armies of Egypt, in love with a slave girl name Aida, and promised to a princess named Amneris.
Every note, every word, an orchestrated dance with the others on the stage. It was only us against a curtain of darkness at the edge.
Uriah had to talk me down at least twice before the curtain went up. I was a wreck—this was everything I had ever dreamed growing up—playing Danny Zuko inGrease, Emile de Beque inSouth Pacific,Seymour inLittle Shop of Horrors—right here in front of me. If I fucked it up, it was over.
As soon as the curtain went up, the magic of the footlights calmed me, and I strode out as Radames and nothing mattered.
I was no one else in those moments. Even during intermission, I went to the dressing room and sat quietly, meditating on who I was. Uriah poked his head in and instantly turned and left.
The last note ofThe Messengerrang through the theater, and Anmeris appeared as the Pharaoh, with a beard and scepter, and the lights went down as the curtain closed.
Suddenly, we were Jayne, Yvette, and Austin again and the two of them tackled me in a crushing hug.
“Oh, my God!” Jayne screamed.
“Holy crap, holy crap!” Yvette yelled.
The curtain went up on us and caught us hugging and celebrating. The audience was on its feet, clapping, hooting, hollering, yelling, whistling.
Jayne motioned the whole cast on to the stage and I found myself having to hold on to the two of them because I felt lightheaded in reality.
Everyone crowded around and gave me a pat on the back or quickly bussed my cheek as we turned and faced the crazed audience.
The front row of the mezzanine wasfilledwith my friends and bandmates. The rest of the audience was just as enthusiastic as they were.
Dead center was a face I never ever thought I would see again. I gaped until Jayne finally wacked my arm and got me to take a bow. There were a few bows, with the whole cast, then the main cast, then the primary cast, and then…just the three of us. We all gestured to the orchestra pit because we wouldn’t be a musical without them.
Then.
I was alone.
On stage to a raging Broadway audience, taking my bows. I wasn’t the lead—Jayne was. But they left me there to take my bows on my first Broadway performance ever.
Shit, I was going to cry.
I held up my hand and the audience settled, and I looked around, and looked at the person in the middle of the theater.
“I never ever thought this would happen. Thank you all for coming to see us, thank you all for your support. And thank you for being amazing.”
I took a final bow and tossed a kiss out to the ether. I backed up though the curtain that was being held back and as soon as I was clear, it dropped.
Everyone—and I mean everyone—attacked me. I was pretty sure they were going to put me up on their shoulders and cheer me around. Even Bill and Cesar were standing backstage clapping. I finally wound up in front of them and they each hugged me.
“Sold out!” Cesar said. “Sold out!”
