Page 13 of For Eva

I hesitated as Denise pressed against my side and discretely clasped my hand. It was only a matter of seconds after we stepped inside that I spotted Danny practically tripping over himself to get to us, ignoring several nearly-naked girls attempting to get his attention.

“Eva. Oh my God. You came.” His shaky voice and wide-eyed expression hovered somewhere between surprise and relief.

He looked incrediblein his black jeans and silky purple shirt, which was mostly unbuttoned, revealing his smooth chest. I wanted to fall into his arms, forgetting all my fears and doubts. But I remained stoic, refusing to give myself away—although I suspected that actually showing up at the gig had already done that.

“Yeah, uh, thanks for getting us in. You’ve got a crowd out there.” I motioned to the door, my body as stiff as my voice, which sounded like I was about to engage in an official business transaction on a Monday morning rather than hang out and listen to music on a Saturday night.

What the fuck. Loosen up, Eva.

“Yeah, we do okay,” he said, a humble smile appearing on his lips.

Suddenly, Denise, who was standing just off to my side sizing Danny up, let out a squeal. We turned our heads to see Matt grabbing onto her waist as she tried to wriggle out of his grip.

“This is a goddamn miracle. Youactuallycame to see me play. I’m wearing you down, Denise.”

“I’m here with Eva, you idiot,” she said, punching him in the arm. “And no, you’re not coming over after the show.”

“Hey, Eva.” Matt ignored Denise’s insult and nodded in my direction. “Good to see you again.”

I gave him a small wave as a guy with an easy smile and a sleeve of tattoos approached us.

“So is this the old friend from Illinois I heard about?” he asked, adjusting the backward baseball cap on top of his shoulder-length light brown hair and extending his hand. “I’m Will.”

Danny cringed at his description of me, and I had to fight the urge to show my cards as well. I didn’t know if that was what Danny had told him or if Will was just being cautious with his words. Whatever the case, being given the titleold friendmade my stomach drop, and I wasn’t sure if it was because I thought Ideservedmore based on the past, or I wanted tobemore in the present.

“Eva. Nice to meet you,” I said, giving his outstretched hand a weak shake. The half-dilapidated couch pushed up against the wall had more personality than I did. I was wound up tighter than the fucking strings on one of Danny’s guitars.

Will lit a cigarette and motioned to a girl with teased red hair calling for him from the other side of the room. “You, too. I’ll let you guys catch up. Gotta run.”

I was trying to think of what meaningless topic of conversation I could offer up when a tall, slender figure stalked into the room. Long dirty-blond hair hung over his shouldersonto his bare chest, and his black leathers rode low on his hips. He made a beeline for Danny and stopped in front of him.

“I can’t get the vocals right on ‘Another Night.’ We gotta drop it from the set list.”

Danny rolled his eyes. “Your vocals are fine, I heard them at sound check. Calm down, dude.”

The other guy looked down at me, surprise flickering across his face as if he’d just noticed I was there. “Who’s this?”

He continued to study me like I was the subject of some appraisal I wasn’t aware I’d have to endure. It didn’t feel like an assessment to determine whether I was worthy of taking home that night; it was more to decide whether I was worthy of even being in his presence.

“Eva,” I answered, squaring my shoulders. “And you are?”

“Eric,” he said in a voice as sharp as a razor’s edge before turning his attention back to Danny. “Anyway, we’re dropping the song.”

“I don’t care, cross it the fuck off,” Danny said.

Eric nodded. “Fine.” He gave me the once-over again, turned, and walked back out of the room.

I scoffed. “Wow. Nice guy.”

“I’ll just apologize for him and say his social skills are lacking. Hell of a singer, though.”

“Ten minutes, everyone,” a woman sauntering by us announced.

Danny placed his hand on my arm and my knees buckled, but I didn’t recoil like I had that morning. “Listen, I gotta get ready, but I’m gonna have one of the security guys take you and Denise out to the front of the stage.”

I shook my head. “This place is packed. We’ll find a spot in the back and—”

“No,” he said, cutting me off. “It’s been five and a half years since I got to play a show for Eva Holloway. I want you down front with me.”

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