Page 70 of The Girl with No Name

“Uh, yeah I do.”

“Let me follow you.”

I pull out my phone, give him my handle, and try to disguise my utter amazement that I’m being followed by HenryCooney.

Vi comes out, freshly composed. “Y’all ready for the big stage? We doin’ this?”

“Fuck it,” Henry says, holding his fist out for a pound, which Luna and I both reciprocate. “C’mon. We’ll tell the rest of the band.”

I hand Johnny Blue back to Violet. “Thank you so much. I know how much this means to you.”

“Take it. Walk on stage with it. You got this.”

“Really? You trust me with Johnny Blue?”

Violet shrugs. “I do.”

“But you barely know me.”

“Sometimes, you’ve just got to look someone in the eye and listen to your gut. And my gut says, ‘Yes I can.’”

When I hesitate, Violet smiles and puts a hand on my shoulder. “Haven’t you ever heard of a leap of faith, Reed?”

I turn back to Luna. “You ready?”

She nods. “Born ready.”

She seems to mean it. That has me wondering what other crazy stunts she’s pulled off.

“Canyou start the song with the riff or you want Downy to start with the bass?” asks Happy, their iconic drummer, as we wait tohead out on stage. He doesn’t seem all that surprised that we’re singing. He seems like one of those guys who just rolls with life.

“I can do it. I know it backwards and forwards,” I assure him. “I play it all the time. Y’all are one of my favorite bands of all time.”

They give us the green light to head out on stage, and my heart slams in my chest.

“Hey, Reed,” Violet yells.

When I turn back, her smile is soft. “Yeah?”

“You got this,” she says. “I believe in you.”

I nod and step out on to the massive Railfest stage, feeling nerves and excitement surge through me. The deafening roar of the crowd washes over me, sending shivers down my spine. I look out at the sea of faces, their eager expressions and cheering amplifying the adrenaline pumping through my veins.

“We are the Red Lemons,” I say, and the crowd goes wild.

If they’re confused about why a strange man is on the mic, they’re not showing it.

Violet’s encouraging words echo in my mind, spurring me on as I grip Johnny Blue tightly. Luna stands next to me, and as the spotlight bathes us in a warm glow, I take a deep breath, centering myself and making eye contact with her before I begin to play.

Then I start.

Every note I strike reverberates through the air, mingling with the energy of the crowd. I get the feeling that I’m exactly where I’m meant to be—on stage, sharing music with a captivated audience.

We met in some dive we’ll never see again

Was a Thursday night drinking wine with your friends

I glance over at Luna in the split second we have before the chorus starts. I have a holy-shit moment, because that’s exactly how I met Luna. Okay, there are coincidences in life, right?

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