Page 46 of Edging Obsession

I wrap my arms around him, my head tilted back, and respond, “Thank you. You bought it.”

My dad clears his throat, and I release Miles. Miles asks if they’d like something to drink, and they choose hard liquor to settle their nerves.

Miles asks both my parents, “What kind of music do you two like?”

My mom says, “Folk. I’m more of a fan of acoustic instruments than electric.”

His eyebrow rises. “Elise. I didn’t think you had it in you.” She lets out an edgy laugh. “I agree. Acoustic is much better. The rhythm is felt at a higher level.”

My dad chimes in, “No way. I like the hard guitar vibrations. Classic rock is my favorite.”

“Then you might like our band. Elise, not so much.”

We all seem to unwind, and my father continues the conversation. “I bought one of your records when you started dating Jules.”

“Daddy! I didn’t know that.”

“Curiosity got the best of me.”

Miles asks, “What did you think?”

“Good. Some of the songs are a little too romantic for me, but Elise might enjoy those. It’s the drummer who sucks.”

Miles chokes on his drink, looks at my dad, who’s wearing a shit-eating grin, and says, “I guess I’ll have to tell the drummer to step up his game.”

From there, we all settle into a forgetful period where the secrets and lies lay dormant while we enjoy the concert. My parents haven’t been to a show since I was born, which was Bon Jovi. Miles introduces my parents to Lee and the rest of the band, and we tour the backstage area. He tells us where we’ll be standing for the concert. It’s separate from the crew, so we don’t get in their way but can see the entire stage.

The opening act is ready to go on. Miles leaves us there so he can change into his black ensemble and combat boots. He’s delicious with or without clothes, yet my preference is without. He’s a woman magnet. Women want to be the next one in his bed. But I smile at the thought because he’s mine. My doubts of him wanting a relationship, of being faithful, have fallen to the wayside. Miles has proven over and over what I mean to him. This is why I’ve accepted his secrets, and why it’s important my parents do the same.

My parents are in awe. Big lights. A stadium filled to its limits while some people lingered outside the gates in hopes to hear them and possibly come across one of the members.

Mom is bobbing to the beat of the opening act. Their tempos are milder than The Coven and they sing a mixture of German and English songs. It’s wild to hear another language sung to a crowd who knows every word. Dad’s head swivels in all directions, watching the band, crowd, and crew work together.

After their set, they exit in our direction, fist-bumping people on their way out.

The lead singer veers over, offers his hand to us and says, “Guten Abend! Hat Euch unser Auftritt gefallen?”(Good evening! Did you enjoy our set?)

We shake our heads in confusion.

The singer is still holding my hand, eyes roaming up and down my body. “Sorry. I thought you spoke German.”

The foreboding energy associated with Miles sizzles behind me when he says, “Anton! Hör’ auf, meine Frau so anzusehen!”(Anton. Stop looking at my woman that way.)

Anton steps back, hands raised in surrender. “Entschuldigung, war mir nicht klar.”(I apologize. It wasn’t clear.)

He bows to us, thanks Miles for allowing them to open for The Coven, and leaves.

Miles pulls me into his arms, kisses the top of my head, and whispers, “Show time, Schatzi.” He holds his drumsticks up to my mouth and says, “Kiss them for good luck!”

I kiss them and he releases me. The three of us watch the band take their places on stage. While Miles walks to the drums, his head turns back to me, and he winks. I’m about to burst from pride. My parents smile after seeing Miles wink at me. High heels or not, I’m bouncing on the balls of my feet, taking one hand of theirs and kissing them. They huddle closer to me, listening to the roar of the crowd.

The set starts with Miles striking the Hi Hat in a continuous beat and the crowd chants,Smash it Nash. He adds in a Tom drum, there’s whooping, and the guitars join in, followed by Callan’s melodic voice to my favorite song,Butterfly Winds.I’m dancing and clapping to it and find my parents’ bodies moving to the music. Mom’s hips sway in her cute little jeans, and Dad’s foot taps to the beat. Watching their response brings tears to my eyes, and I wave my hand in front of my face to dry any that escaped.

Song after song, the energy builds in the stadium. By the fourth song, Callan has the crowd singing along with him. He’s sweaty, running around the stage, flipping his hair downward, hitting some of his loyal fans. The women scream his name, and their hands reach out to him. Callan grabs one of the women’s arms and hauls her onto the stage. At first, she’s covering her face, screaming, and then she starts dancing with him. Her hands snake over Callan’s body, kissing his face, and grabbing his cock. Callan loves it. She dances up to Ace and Thomas, wiggling her hips, and runs behind the drum set. My heartbeat pauses because I can’t see what’s happening from this vantage point, so I move several feet to the left. Security and Miles’ bodyguards enter the stage to remove her, but not before she kisses him on the cheek. She shouts out,I love you Nash, as they take her off stage. He isn’t even fazed by her actions, just continues the song. When it ends, his eyes lock on mine and he brings the drumsticks to his lips for a kiss.

That woman means nothing to him.

He loves you.

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