Page 15 of Any Kind of Life

“Midnight. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

And breathe.

Paige exited the stage to the left to rapturous applause, her spine still tingling from the crowd singing one of her songs back to her. She tried to force back the grin she wore—her face was beginning to ache now—but it seemed it wasn’t possible. People…knew her music. They loved her music. Christ, a few fans had even had banners with wording directed at her.

Fans. Wow.

As she moved out of view of everyone, Paige rested her back against the wall in the corridor that led to her dressing room. With her palms pressed against the cool concrete, she exhaled a shaky breath and closed her eyes. Would that overwhelming feeling lessen as time went on? She thought she would be used to this by now, given the fact she’d already done a month in Europe. Perhaps it was because she was on home soil; she wasn’t sure. Whatever was going on with her life lately, she really needed to allow it to sink in and then embrace every second of this.

“Oh, my God! Babe, that was amazing.” Soraya came out of nowhere, stopping dead in front of Paige. “They fucking love you! We all do!”

Paige offered a shy smile. She was still getting used to the praise in all of this. “Thanks. That was…a lot.”

“Why? It was epic!”

“I just didn’t expect that many people to know my stuff, you know?”

Soraya smirked, guiding Paige away by the elbow. “I wanted people to know who you were. I’ve been sharing and highlighting your music for the last week in the run-up to the tour starting.”

Oh, wow. Paige had no idea Soraya had been highlighting her. She was thankful, of course she was, but again…overwhelmed was the overriding emotion here. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”

“Don’t mention it. You’re talented, Paige. I wouldn’t have insisted you come back for the UK leg if I didn’t believe that. I would have just asked someone else. But you know I wanted you on this leg of the tour. I think losing Drift so suddenly was meant to happen.”

God, she couldn’t wait to tell Juliet about this evening. She was going to be beside herself for Paige. Juliet always shared in Paige’s wins. And this, it was definitely a win. “This is wild.”

They laughed in unison, stopping outside the dressing rooms when Soraya’s sound guy came towards her to mic her up. “I guess it’s my time to shine now.”

Paige rolled her eyes playfully. “Yeah, because that never happens, does it? The place will erupt when you walk out.”

Soraya leaned in and hugged Paige, squeezing her before she pulled back. “I’ll see you after the show.”

“Yeah, uh…I kinda have some plans, so I won’t be joining you guys afterwards. But tomorrow, I’ll be there.”

“Plans?”

Oh, yeah. Plans with the most beautiful woman in the world. “Yeah. I’m jumping on a call with Juliet. We have business stuff to talk about, and I figured we could have a little FaceTime date night. You know?”

Soraya grimaced slightly. “Is she struggling with all of this?”

“Struggling? No. I mean, we miss one another, but she’s not struggling. Juliet has a lot to deal with back in Liverpool. You know I told you about the bar last time?” Soraya nodded. “Well, we’re extending it. Building work started yesterday.”

“So long as you’re able to embrace this experience fully, that’s all I care about. I’m sure you two will be fine.”

Um, yeah. They were fine. Had Paige hinted at anything other than fine? “We’re really good.”

“Good. If you’re good, I’m good. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

“Sure.”

Paige sighed as Soraya walked away, her hands flailing about as her sound guy rushed behind her with wires and mics. This was a pretty incredible life, but it would never be full-time for Paige. It was far too hectic. She’d done hectic, she’d had the whole ‘not knowing if she was coming or going’, and now…it was time to settle into a perfect life with Juliet. If it could be any more perfect, that was.

Paige propped her iPad up on a mass of scatter cushions and made herself comfortable. She may be alone in her hotel room, but she knew she was going to have the perfect night. Just knowing Juliet would be on a FaceTime call with her had helped Paige get through the last few hours. Whether she was here in person or via a screen, it didn’t matter. It was the fact Paige had Juliet at all that made her smile.

Her iPad started to ring as she shifted onto her stomach, and then she connected it. Juliet’s eyes stared back at her, a little more tired than Paige would have liked, that bright white smile beaming through the screen and almost blinding Paige. “My God. You’re so gorgeous.”

Juliet laughed and shook her head. “That was very smooth.”

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