Page 79 of Fractured Frets

The way you make me feel is so right,

Babe, I’m coming over,

Yeah, I need you tonight.

I bit down hard on my lip, trying not to laugh. This song had me and Slip written all over it.

From the moment we’d met two years ago, something invisible had drawn us together. His unwavering love and concern for his fellow bandmates, and his need to play music, had struck my heart. He made me feel beautiful with just one look, sparked life into my soul with a touch of his hand, and had shown me how to have fun again after Noah had left me broken. He made my constant travel and work, and taking care of Mom, easier...and he gave me something to look forward to—spending time with him.

Were those factors compelling reasons to stay together?

Why did I have this ever-present guilt that my life and responsibilities were holding him back? That I was a handbrake? Ergh!

I didn’t want to think about those things now. This vacation was supposed to be stress-free fun.

But this morning still lingered in the back of my mind.

Finding him knocked out from sleeping pills had scared me out of my wits. I prayed it was a one-off event.

I wanted to believe it was.

Mom’s addiction was a constant knife twisting in my chest. I didn’t want Slip to become reliant on powerful drugs to control his pain or fall into taking recreational ones for his ups and downs. I wasn’t against anyone dabbling in the latter now and then for a bit of fun. But I’d seen alcohol and drugs destroy people. I didn’t want any usage to become a habit.

I wanted Slip’s hip to get better. For him to be well. I cared about him too much to see him go down the path of self-destruction.

And I’d do everything I could to ensure that didn’t happen.

“They’re so good.” Sutton swooned over the booming music. “Just look at them. Look at this crowd. This is amazing.”

A sea of excited fans, waving their arms and cell phones in the air, danced in front of their chairs. The heavy beat booming through the speakers hummed through my veins. I understood why the guys loved performing so much. The high was addictive. Despite being on a popular TV show, I never got to experience anything like this. Filming finished months before the season hit the screen. I only briefly met fans at events and award shows as I passed designated ticketed areas...and they weren’t necessarily there to see me. This was different. This was an immediate rush of adrenaline. Pure adoration. It was incredible. So wicked.

And damn. Slip, standing up there, rocking up a storm, did strange things to my heartbeat. With each song the band played, heat meandered through my body and pooled deep in my core.

“Milan!” Flint hollered into his mic and swung his guitar behind his shoulder. He snapped the microphone off the stand and walked down the short catwalk into the crowd. At the end of the platform, he halted and pointed across the audience. “How y’all doing?”

The auditorium erupted with shrieks, screams, and whistles, and the random ‘I love you, Flint.’ The biggest grin spread across his face. “I love you too. We all do. The guys and I are thrilled to be spending this evening with you. We’re honored to be here, and we hope to rock your world tonight. Would you like us to do that?”

The elevation in the cries from the audience hurt my ears, but I laughed.

“Flint. Woohoo!” some fan screamed from the front.

Then something pink and lacy flew through the air and hit Flint in the head.

Sutton laughed, covering her mouth with her hands. “Oh, my God. Is that a bra?”

“Yep.” I giggled.

Flint held it up by the strap. “Thank you for this. But it looks way too small for my girlfriend, Sutton.” He held it out toward the section of the crowd where it had come from. “Would you like it back? ...What?...Sign it first? I don’t have a pen.” He patted his back pockets and looked around the crowd. “Anyone got a pen?”

A security guard grabbed one off someone in the front row and handed it to Flint. Flint tucked his mic underneath his arm, yanked the cap off the pen with his teeth, and signed the bra. He then tossed it back to the girl. “Done.” He straightened and pointed at the crowd. “Anyone else want something signed?”

The audience shrieked and yelled as T-shirts and posters were waved in the air. He quickly signed a hat and some banners the security team had passed him. After a minute, he held up his hand and chuckled. “Alright. Alright. I’d love to sign something for everyone, but that’s all I have time for. We’ll be here all night otherwise. And I’d much rather play some music.”

The other guys stood on stage, laughing and clapping.

“How do you do it, Sutt?” I sighed, nudging my arm against hers. “How do you put up with the panties and bras being thrown at Flint and the constant line of women and men wanting your man? Especially after Beau cheated on you.” Her ex had been a downright asshole.

She hooked her arm around my shoulders and hugged me. “Because I trust him. Being with Flint feels different. It feels right. Loving him is the best thing I’ve ever done. I’m confident in us, especially now we live together.”

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