Page 31 of Revived

“She’s off limits,” Gabe warned as the road crew slid around us to go swap a couple of things out before Dusty Rose took the stage.

“Sorry, I didn’t realize the groupies were claimed this early.”

“She’s not a fucking groupie,” Gabe seethed. It was only then that I realized Chevy was no longer at my side. I turned to see him come strolling back in with security.

“We have a problem here?” The extremely large, security man asked. There was a name sewn into his shirt, indicating that his name was Phoenix.

“Nah, just a misunderstanding,” the overeager singer mentioned. Then he apologized to Gabe.

“Don’t apologize to me. You owe it to her. And while you’re here, on our tour tonight, you will gain consent from anyone before you put your hands on them. Understood?”

The singer, whose name I still didn’t know, simply nodded, looking properly chastised, before he walked off. Gabe’s hand came up to my shoulders and squeezed as he leaned over me in order to speak into my ear and be heard over the racket of the crowd beyond the stage. “Are you okay?”

I nodded my head before he turned me so he could look me in the eye. “I’m fine,” I told him. He didn’t seem to believe me at first. Then, he leaned in and placed a kiss on my forehead.

“Too beautiful for your own good,” he mumbled before turning to walk off. He hesitated long enough to say something to his son, pat him on the back, and then point to both Chevy and myself as he informed Phoenix that he needed to stick close to us all night.

It was sweet how protective Gabe was, and I’ll admit, also hot as fuck. The way he palmed that man’s face and tossed him back off of me… I cannot lie, my sex clenched, panties soaked, and heart soared all at once.

“Mel?” Chevy called, and it seemed as though it might not have been for the first time. His worry slipped into an amusing grin. “I was trying to ask if you were all right, but judging by all that,” he swooshed his hand in front of me to indicate my no-doubt flushed face, rapid breathing, and maybe my tightly clenched thighs. “You’re just hot for the caveman display my dad just put on. Good to know. I’m taking notes. I wonder if that would work on Opal too?” The boy was damn near giddy as he spoke.

“Lord help the world, and it’s women, when you Kendrick boys are finally unleashed on the lot of them,” I told him with a wink.

“Damn straight!”

Dusty Rose had already taken the stage, and those four ladies put on a hell of a show for everyone. Calista, the sweet demeanor having woman who had become a friend to me, was someone else on that stage. She was a sex goddess incarnate, a glorious masterpiece with the voice of a sultry angel.

She had the men pining for her and the women longing to be her. “She’s something else,” I managed to say beyond my awed, slack-jawed expression.

“Yeah she is,” Chevy agreed with me. “Can’t believe you guys are friends and you didn’t bother to come watch them before now.”

“I’m here now,” I corrected.

“’Bout time,” John Dormier whisper-yelled from right beside me as he walked up with Wen hot on his heels. “We were wondering if you were ever going to come watch a show or if you just hated music.” He told me while bumping his hip into mine. I knew he was teasing me, but I wondered if I had come off as a bit of snob somehow by not doing this sooner.

We danced and joked around as Dusty Rose finished their set. Wen and John had hung around with us, watching, but Gabe hadn’t made an appearance yet. He’d have to eventually, since they were up next. Alex and Tim looked like they were hanging around on the other side of the stage for some reason. I waved when they looked our way, but only Tim returned the gesture. Alex gave us his back after that, talking to a woman who was on that side, waiting.

Once the set was cleared, Chevy ran off to go grab us some water bottles and managed to get back just as his father came rushing past and ran out on stage. Gabe hadn’t acknowledged either of us. Chevy gave me an odd look but then turned to watch his father and the rest of Valhalla Rising as they started to put on an amazing show. “They’re on fire tonight,” he commented just as they finished one of their more popular rock anthems, Driven to Glory.

“They are,” I agreed as all the lights dimmed a bit.

“I’d like to acknowledge a special guest we have over in the wings tonight. She’s made a special place for herself in our hearts, has been there to help my family in our time of need, and is a fucking rock star in her own right. Mel, this one’s for you…” The band dropped right into the next song without missing a beat. It was a ballad about sacrifice, loving someone, and hurting while you do. It was about finally seeing the light and being loved so thoroughly you just knew you’d never be lost to the darkness again. I was completely caught off guard by the dedication, even as I stood there swaying back and forth while singing along. I was so swept up that it completely missed my notice that Chevy had been filming my reaction.

“That was the best thing ever,” I managed to get out in the relative quiet between one song and the next. Chevy clicked something on his phone then, before tucking it back away in his pocket. When the final encore finished, I hugged the beautiful boy. “Thank you for making me finally do this. I think I get it now too.” I pointed to the crowd who were still on their feet, screaming, stomping, and begging for just one more song from their favorite band.

“Ah yes, the complete adoration,” he snickered while hugging me back. “Actually, I just want to make music and share it with the world. All that hoopla is like the sprinkles on top of a Sunday, appreciated, but not necessary.”

“Are you sure you’re a teenager? You sound like a wise old man,” I informed him as the band began to head our way. They all looked completely amped up and elated with their performances.

“Damn girl, you should be out here every night. You’re like a good luck charm,” Tim told me as he offered a careful side hug, while trying not to drench me in his smelly man-sweat.

“Maybe, if you promise no more messy hugs,” I called to his back as he kept on moving. I saw his shoulders shaking as he all but ran backstage.

“Don’t mind him, he’s been ready to hit the John since our first encore,” Alex mentioned

“I warned him about road fish. Always say no to road fish,” Wen laughed as he said it.

“Would that be the food they were serving in craft services tonight or another type of fish?” Alex asked crudely, laughing at his own joke.

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