Page 64 of My Five Daddies

“He belongs in lights,” Hunter says tome.

I nod my head, totally understanding. “You read mymind.”

“This is why we signed him. This righthere.”

I can’t argue with that. For as difficult as Dustin is, he’s incredibly talented. There’s a reason these guys are all putting so much effort intohim.

The crowd is surprisingly into it, and I swear one or two of the girls are singing along. When the song ends, they instantly transition into the next one, and the night flows fromthere.

They play nearly a full set, just about forty-five minutes. They do a few covers, a few of Dustin’s originals from before we signed him, and a few from the upcoming album. In the middle and in between songs, he talks to the crowd, and I have to admit that he’s incredibly charming. The spoiled, bratty asshole is completely missing, and in his place is astar.

When the show ends, the crowd goes nuts. He stands and bows, a big smile on his face. Ethan stays seated, letting the attention rain down on Dustin. We set up this show for two main reasons. First, we want him to get more experience playing shows and to feel more comfortable on stage, but clearly that’s not necessary. And second, we want to see how his audience responds to him, and if this crowd is any indicator, they’re going to beobsessed.

When Dustin’s off the stage, they bring up the house lights and the crowd starts milling around. “Come on,” Hunter says. “Let’s go sayhey.”

I follow him through the crowd. We head through some doors, Hunter nodding at a few bouncers as we pass. We move into the backstage area and we spot Ethan sitting in a hallway, drinking some water and looking at hisphone.

“Look at this old asshole,” Huntersays.

Ethan looks up and grins. “How wasit?”

“Killed,” Hunter says and the two guysembrace.

Ethan kisses my lips softly. “Really?” he asksme.

“Really,” I say. “He wasfantastic.”

“And what aboutme?”

Hunter laughs. “Nobody cares aboutyou.”

“I care about you,” Isay.

He grins and hugs me. “Of course youdo.”

“She’s just being nice. I heard some twelve-year-old ask her mom why Dustin’s dad is playingguitar.”

We all laugh at that one. “Seriously though, you were great,” I say tohim.

“Yeah, Ethan. Thanks for doingthat.”

He shrugs a little. “Happy to do it. I hadfun.”

“Where’s the kid?” I askhim.

“In there.” Ethan nods toward a door halfway down the hall. “Supposed to be for both of us,but…”

“He kicked you out?” Hunterasks.

“Not in so many words. But I didn’t feel like stickingaround.”

I frown. “What’swrong?”

“He thinks wesucked.”

I sigh and look at Hunter. We both know that this is my job, but I really don’t want to go in there. “I’ll handle it,” I say, and head off toward his dressingroom.

Dustin lets me in right away. He shuts the door behind me and sits down on a couch tucked against the back wall. “What’d you think?” he asksme.

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