Now I really wish I wasn’t dressed like this.
He takes my cold hand and pulls me through the entrance. The bouncer nods at him, doesn’t even check IDs. We weave through the crowd—bodies packed tight, music thumping, the smell of beer and sweat thick in the air.
There’s a band setting up on stage, testing the microphone.
“There he is!” a girl shouts into the mic.
She’s our age, maybe a year or two older than me. Honey-brown hair, tight jeans, a crop top that shows her midriff. She pushes the mic aside and smiles widely at Koa.
“Everybody, this is Koa. The drummer I told you guys about.” She gestures dramatically. “Koa, we are so happy you’re here to try out for the band.”
The guy with the guitar nods. “Let’s see what you got, man.”
Koa turns to me and kisses the top of my hair.
I stand there, dumbfounded. What the hell is happening right now?
He walks up to the stage, unzips the backpack I thought held drugs, and pulls out two drumsticks.
Drumsticks.
He throws the bag aside and sits at the drums, looking at me the entire time.
My heart is racing. Is he serious? This man—this terrifying, violent, drug-dealing man—can play the drums? He can play music? Hold a melody?
What the fuck?
He does a few test rounds, twirling the sticks, adjusting the cymbals. I watch in awe as his hands move with confidence.
The girl at the microphone is laughing, nodding her head enthusiastically. “Fuck yeah!” She points at Koa. “So fucking happy you made it. You ready, party people? We’re only doing covers.”
The bar gets quiet as she addresses the crowd. I can’t hear what she’s saying because Koa is staring at me, rolling the drumstick in his hand like he knows exactly what he’s doing.
Then I hear her say, “To get this drummer out here tonight, I had to agree to play this first song and dedicate it to a special lady in the crowd.”
My heart stops.
Is she talking about me?
“So this one’s for her. Thanks for bringing him out tonight!”
She looks down at me and winks.
My heart starts racing now. Rapidly. Out of control.
I look at Koa, mouth open. “What the fuck?”
He smiles at me. A real smile. Genuine and unguarded and the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
He pulls the mic closer and starts drumming.
Holy shit.
Watching him hit the drums makes my heart stop again. He looks completely in his element—confident, powerful, alive in a way I’ve never seen before.
Then he starts singing.
His voice is beautiful. Deep and rough around the edges but melodic. My insides melt to mush.
