Page 69 of Just Don't Call Me Yours

My chest weighs heavy with disappointment because I already know Rae and Matt won’t be there. “I wouldn’t count on it,” I say as I pull my knees up, resting my elbows on them. “Matt has a lacrosse game tomorrow night.” Rae will be at the game for her boyfriend, the same way I wish Margot would come to my gig for me.

But she’s not my girlfriend.

I don’t know why that’s so hard for me to get through my thick skull tonight.

She looks at me with those big, brown eyes. “Oh,” she says, a frown pulling at the corners of her mouth.

“You could still come without them, you know.” I don’t know why I’m pushing this. I need to shut my damn mouth.

She lets out a light laugh. “And do what? Stand by the stage alone, pining after the guy who plays guitar?”

My lips quirk. “I wouldn’t mind.”

Margot rolls her eyes. “I’m sure you wouldn’t.”

Our venue tonight might be small, but it’s packed. Since Sidecar announced us as their opening act for select dates, we’ve had a surge in exposure. Energy buzzes throughout the entire place, and the guys and I can’t wipe the stupid smiles off our faces before we take the stage.

“Holy shit.” Dave marvels as he looks out at the crowd from the side of the stage. “We have to be violating some type of fire code.”

Marty claps a hand on my shoulder. “You ready for this? Don’t space out on us like you did in practice.”

“Leave the kid alone,” Brady says, his eyes narrowed at Marty as he sits on a nearby stool and taps his drumsticks on his legs, keeping a perfect rhythm.

“Trust me, no distractions tonight,” I say as I warm up on my guitar. No one I know will be here, and for the first time, that feels like a good thing. At least I know I’ll be able to focus on what’s important. Plus, I’m supposed to sing one of our songs for the first time tonight.

I brought Dave the melody I came up with, and to my surprise, he loved it. We sat down together, he helped me with lyrics, and tonight is the night we’re testing it out on the crowd.

I figured he’d be the one to sing it, but as we were working on it, he heard me testing out different things and insisted I have the better voice for it.

I’m not sure I believe him, but I’ll give it a shot. Singing has never been my thing, and I don’t enjoy it as much as I enjoy playing guitar, but I can swallow my pride for one song. My goal at the end of the day is to keep the band happy, so if Dave wants me to sing, I guess I’m singing.

As if he can read my mind, Dave asks, “Are you going to warm up those vocal cords, too?”

I shake my head as I continue to play. “No. I’d hate to put you out of a job.”

Dave throws his head back, his booming laughter somehow standing out above the sound of the still growing crowd. “Thanks for looking out,” he says as he holds out his fist.

I bump his with mine and get back to playing.

Someone who works for the venue walks up to us, looking stressed. “We’ve had to start turning people away at the door, so you guys are good to go on whenever you’re ready.”

“Shit,” Dave mutters in disbelief. “All right, boys, let’s do it.”

We all step onto the stage as the place roars loud enough for me to feel it in my chest. When I look out, I’m met with more lights than faces, but I can still make out the excitement from the crowd, and that alone sends a wave of adrenaline through me.

Dave usually says a few words to the audience before we get started, but tonight, the crowd must be getting to him because he doesn’t say a thing. He just looks back at Brady and signals for him to open the first song with one of his iconic drum intros.

And the crowd goes wild.

45

margot

I’m pressed against the wall of some tiny venue to watch Jackson and his band play. This place may not be any bigger than the last, but the amount of people who are packed in here tonight is definitely not the same.

The bar in the corner has a line that makes it look like it’s serving its own small crowd, but I was able to find some empty wall space between two high-top tables in the very back. They were at capacity by the time I got here, and it wasn’t easy getting in.

Being here alone is a little overwhelming, but the fact that Jackson is within eyesight gives me a sense of ease. I’m not completely alone—even if he has no idea I’m here.

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