Page 33 of Backstage with a Billionaire Rockstar

Donny nods. “The family emergency has been taken care of, and I’m fully onboard as long as you guys are.”

A throat clears, and Carmen has her arms crossed over her chest. “And what about my input?”

“Ah,” Donny says, flashing Carmen a megawatt smile. “You must be Mack’s replacement, right?”

“Yes,” she mumbles.

“I’m glad you picked up his slack, and I appreciate you taking care of my guys. Is there a problem with me hopping back in?”

Carmen rolls her eyes. “Other than the fact that we’ve got backup drummers lined up in every city? Not a thing.”

“Right.” Donny clears his throat and looks between the guys, then nods. “In that case, I’ll wait until the tour is over.”

“And after that, we’ll hold an audition for your place in the band.”

Everyone’s eyes bug out except for Mia’s, and Donny scrubs a hand down his face. “I’ve already been part of the band. Doesn’t that count enough?”

Carmen narrows her eyes at him and stomps one of her tiny feet onto the ground. “Yet you left the position. I understand you had things to take care of, but you can’t just waltz back in like that time without you never happened.”

I want to open my mouth and vouch for our guy, but Brent clears his throat and nods. It’s a reluctant nod, but one nonetheless. “You’re right, Carmen. We’ll hold an audition as soon as the tour ends, that sound good to you, Donny?”

He’s wary, but eventually, he nods in response and gives Carmen a small smile. “I appreciate the chance, Carmen.”

Now that this awkward meeting is over, I clear my throat. “Are we ready for a concert, or what?”

It’s like everyone suddenly remembers that’s where we need to be because they start speed walking toward the limo waiting for us along the crowded lot. Maybe I still am the level-headed one.

***

I’m nervous when we step off the plane in New Jersey. As I requested, after getting through baggage claim and making it onto the crowded sidewalk outside the airport, there’s a car waiting for us.

The older man greets us with a smile, then politely grabs our carry-on bags and tosses them into the trunk. Since we’ll only be here for a couple of days, I thought it would be best that we pack light.

After Donny’s surprise arrival, I thought Carmen would definitely change her mind about me leaving, but she told me she expected updates from Mia before walking out of the stadium, hot on Brent and Jace’s heels.

Mia slides into the backseat, me following behind her, and I run my sweaty palms over my pants. As the car pulls away from the curb, Mia rips the wig from her head and scratches at her scalp furiously.

“You okay there?” I ask after watching her for five minutes.

She narrows her eyes at me. “This is on you, Goldie.”

We sit in silence for the rest of the ride, mainly because I can’t think about anything other than what I’m going to do with Liam when we finally get to Mia’s place, and the tension grows thick. When the car finally slows to a stop in front of a medium-sized two-story home located in the middle of what seems like a nice neighborhood, everything starts to become more real.

It was one thing to talk to him on the phone, but now I’m here.

Mia places her hand on my thigh, sending warmth throughout the limb, and she says, “You’ll be fine.”

“What if he doesn’t like me as much in person?”

She rolls her eyes and smiles. “Trust me, that’s not going to happen. If he didn’t like you, you would’ve known by now.”

Before I can respond, there’s a squeal from outside the car and Liam is rushing toward the vehicle with a big smile on his face. The trip was definitely worth it. I haven’t even started getting out of the car yet when Mia comes out to Liam and spins him around.

She places him back on the ground, tears leaking from her eyes, and she tugs him against her chest one more time. “I missed you, baby.”

Liam smiles. “I missed you more.” He looks once more at the car, locking eyes with me, and they brighten. “And you brought my friend! Best. Day. Ever!”

All the nerves I felt right before we pulled up have vanished, replaced with a smile about as wide as my son’s, and I finally step out of the car. The feel of Liam’s tiny arms wrapping around my legs is something I didn’t think I’d ever crave, but it immediately fills me with happiness, and I realize I want this all the time.

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