Page 91 of Flipping the Script

13

SEBASTIAN

“Areyou sure you don’t mind if we head out?” Adam asked.

“Not at all,” I said. “I’m almost done here.”

“In case I haven’t said it enough, that was amazing.” Hannah threw her arms around my neck and hugged me tight.

“Thanks for coming,” I said when she stepped back. “It means a lot.”

“Of course we came.” Adam shot me a “duh” look. “And we’ll be at every other show too. Like your own personal cheering section.” He did a sassy little strut, then got into a pose like he was about to lead a victory cheer. “Give me an S, S.” He struck another pose and made the second letter softer, like he was getting a response from his imaginary audience. “Give me an E, E. Gimme a?—”

“Bastian,” Hannah finished for him. “We’ll be here all night if I let you finish.”

“Yeah, that only works when your name is Bob or something short like that.” Adam slung his arm over her shoulders. “But like I was saying, we’ll be at every show until you stop telling us about them.”

“Thanks,” I repeated, hating how emotional I felt at all their support.

Tonight’s show had gone amazingly well. The audience was into it, and we’d had a great back-and-forth going.

I’d wanted to do interactive shows for a while now, and it finally felt like the right time to shed the expectations people had of me and stretch my wings as an artist.

“Have fun,” I said to them. “Try not to stay out too late.”

It was after midnight, and they were on their way to a party on campus. The only place I was headed was to my bed so I could crash.

“Okay, Dad.” Hannah shot me an amused smile. “We’ll make sure we’re tucked into bed at a reasonable hour.”

“Don’t you worry about us, old man. You just make sure you get home so you can get your beauty sleep,” Adam added.

“Brats,” I said affectionately. “Enjoy your youth while you can.”

“We plan to,” Hannah said. “Have fun being a boomer. Next you’ll be yelling at kids to get off your lawn.”

“And talking about how much we need rain every time it’s cloudy,” Adam added.

I pointed at the door to the tiny dressing room the club had behind their stage. “Out.”

“So touchy.” Adam clucked his tongue. “He needs a nap.”

“You’re not wrong.” I laughed at their antics. “Go enjoy being young and carefree.”

Laughing, they waved their goodbyes and slipped out of the room.

I finished putting my guitar away, making sure to not leave anything behind.

When I was all packed up, I slung the strap of my guitar case over my shoulder and left the building through the side entrance so I wouldn’t have to go back through the bar.

I was halfway to the parking lot when the hairs on the back of my neck rose and a shiver moved up my spine.

Someone was watching me.

Keeping my pace steady, I stuck my hands in my pockets like I didn’t have a care in the world and focused on the sounds around me.

A footstep, then a skittering rock. They were close. Only a dozen paces behind me, if that.

My stalker was behind me.

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