Josh turns and sees me, offering a tentative smile, like he’s not sure if my piggyback charge means he’s in trouble or not.
I give him the biggest smile I’ve ever given him, so big my cheeks bunch uncomfortably beneath the bottom edge of my mask, but I don’t care. His frat brothers have noticed now, and as Josh starts toward me, they begin clearing a path between my new friend, the ox, and Josh.
Within seconds, we’ve reached each other in the pocket they’ve made in the sea of people, and my ride sets me down gently. The entire circle of faces around us watches like they know what’s going on. Josh tilts his head and smiles at me, then says what he says every time. “Killer show.”
I grin again and launch myself at him without warning, but he catches me easily against his chest as I lock my arms around his neck. “What did you do?” I ask against his ear.
“Told all my fraternity brothers that I needed to help a lady out, and they all decided it’s a perfect night to hear a kickass band.”
I press a kiss to his mouth, a hard one, and he gives it right back. It’s the kind of kiss that makes the music fade into nothing but its bass line, which matches my pulse, and the catcalls and cheers of his buddies disappear too.
When we finally come up for air, I smooth my thumb over his lips to wipe away the glitter gloss I’ve left there. “Why have I not been doing this every chance I got?”
“I’ve been asking myself that question ever since my kitchen,” he says.
I push slightly against his shoulders to be set down but tuck myself against his side and take in the crowd of guys around us. “They all came here just to make sure I had a good show?”
“They came to make sure you had a good show, so that I’d maybe finally get my shot,” he says, and his soft laugh stirs the loose hair near my ear. “They couldn’t resist when I told them I had to make a grand gesture.”
“Ooh, is this where the music in the romcom swells and the credits start to roll?” I ask.
His face grows more serious, and he bends to make sure we’re eye to eye. “That’s up to you,” he says. “But that’s what I was going for.”
It’s impossible. There are too many other conflicts to resolve. But I look into his eyes, and I don’t care. I don’t care about all the reasons this might not work or doesn’t make sense. He’s shown up for me in a way that no guy ever has, and I’m not dumb enough to let this go.
“I have to go backstage,” I call over the music. “But I will one hundred percent be on the balcony tonight. I owe you about a hundred big, fat apologies. And my story.”
He presses another hard kiss against my lips. “I’ve heard that promise several times before.”
“I’ll be there. For real.”
He looks down at me like he’s trying to decide if I mean it. “If you don’t show this time, I’m going to finally take the hint.”
“I should never have blown you off. It’ll be late, but I’ll definitely show.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’ll wait for you.”
I grin at him for a few seconds, pop up on my tiptoes to give him another fast kiss, then whirl to look for my ride.
The big guy is watching it all, smiling. I point to myself, to him, and the backstage door, and without a word, he turns and crouches, and I’m on my way back to the band.
Thenightonlygetswilder from there. When I make it backstage again, Carlos wants to introduce me to his “friend,” Nick Bautista, an exec from their record label, Bat Bridge. He wants to talk about the direction Pixie Luna is going.
“They want to gauge our dedication,” Luther says after we chat with Nick for several minutes until Night View takes the stage. He’d asked how we met, how long we’ve played together, our collaboration process, and several things that felt . . . interview-y. “He’s figuring out if we’re a good bet for the long haul,” Luther explains.
“I’m so glad we have you around, Luther,” I tell him. “I would have thought he was chatting music to be polite.”
Luther gives me a slow grin. “He’s being the kind of polite that might get him a band he likes if he keeps being impressed.”
Night View does a great set, and when it’s time to drive everything back to Rodney’s house and stow the equipment, the boys all refuse to let me.
“Nah,” Jules says. “Your boyfriend did us a solid, packing the show like that. You said y’all were going to talk?” I nod. “Then we’re sending you home in an Uber. You can come round for your car tomorrow.”
I look at each one of them, making sure this is okay. We’re all big on pulling our weight. They’re all smiling. Rodney waves his hand.Go.
“Thank you!” I say, already requesting a ride on my phone. Downtown Austin is crawling with rideshare drivers, and I have one ready to pick me up in three minutes.
I’m still brimming with nervous energy when he drops me off at the Grove. Josh’s balcony is empty, which is a relief. He probably isn’t expecting me yet, and Idowant to talk to him, but I have another stop to make first.
