Page 72 of One Night

"Is this it?" I point to the bar.

"Yeah, that's it."

"It doesn't even have a sign."

"You came in on the back side. The sign is in the front. Just drive around."

The front of the bar is packed with cars, some lined up by the door, letting people off, and the rest parked in the lot.

"There's no place to park," I tell Kira as we circle the lot. "Is it always like this when they play?"

"Usually. You know how popular they are."

"Yeah, but I didn't think it'd be standing room only."

"They'll save us some seats. Just park in back. If we tell the owner we're with the band, he'll let us park there."

"You sure?"

"It's a perk of dating guys in the band," she says as I park next to Austin's truck.

Getting out of the car, I spot someone coming out of the bar. It's Austin.

"Hey." He smiles and waves us over. "Just come in this way."

Kira runs up to him and kisses him. "Packed house again."

"Yeah, it's great. The bar owner has already booked us again for next month." He looks at me. "Hey, Amber. Dylan's in the back room if you want to go say hi." He chuckles. "He's kind of nervous having you here tonight."

"Why would he be nervous?"

"He's never played for you before, except for that time last August, but he didn't know you were in the audience back then."

"He doesn't need to be nervous."

"Go see him and calm him down."

Austin holds the door open and Kira and I go inside. There's a room off to the left, which I assume is where Austin told me to go. I can't ask him because he took off with Kira.

I go in the room and see Dylan pacing the floor, taking deep breaths.

"You all right?"

He smiles. "Hey. What are you doing back here?"

"There wasn't any parking out front so I parked in the back and ran into Austin. He said you were nervous about tonight?"

"A little."

"Because of me?"

He comes up to me, wrapping his arms around my waist. "I want you to like it."

"You know I'll like it. I've heard you play before and I told you how good you guys sound."

"You heard a recording online. You haven't heard us play live."

"It'll be even better live. So stop worrying."

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