Page 65 of Rockstar's Accidental Marriage

But soon, it’s time for us to hit the road again.

The energy can already be felt as we pull into the venue's loading dock for the night’s performance. The crew moves like a well-oiled machine, unloading equipment and checking setups as the band stretches out after the drive. Emily is in full manager mode again, with a clipboard in hand, her sharp gaze scanning everything, her earlier weak tears forgotten.

But even as she barks a command here and there, I can sense a tension in her. It’s subtle—a tightness in her posture, the way she glances over her notes one too many times. Something’s on her mind, and it’s bugging me.

“Everything all right?” I ask, stepping up beside her as she checks in with the stage crew.

“Hmm?” She glances at me distractedly, then nods. “Yeah. Just making sure everything’s in working order.”

Her response is smooth, but the slight edge in her voice tells me otherwise. I let it go for now, but I’m keeping my eye on her.

Then it happens. A crew member jogs over, looking panicked. “We’ve got a problem with the amp setup,” he says, clearly distraught.

Emily stiffens. “What kind of problem?”

“Two of the main amps aren’t functioning. We’ve already checked the cables and power sources, but they’re just dead,” the crew member says, looking panicked.

Emily’s face hardens into a calm but no-nonsense expression. “We don’t have much time. Bring me the backup equipment, and let’s test it.”

“That’s the thing,” he says, wincing. “The backups are here, but the power draw from this venue’s older system is inconsistent. We could blow a fuse.”

Her jaw tightens as she considers the options. “All right,” she says, her voice steady. “Redirect the stage lights to reduce the power load and test the backups at seventy percent capacity. They won’t be perfect, but they’ll get us through the show.”

The tech nods and runs off to relay the instructions. As the crew scrambles, Emily pulls out her phone and starts making calls, her fingers moving quickly over the screen.

“What are you doing?” I ask, stepping closer.

“Calling the next venue to confirm their system specs,” she mutters, not looking up. “If this is a regional issue with older systems, I need to know now so we can prepare.”

I blink, caught off guard by her foresight. “You’re already planning for the next stop?”

“Of course I am,” she snaps, then sighs, rubbing her forehead. “Sorry, didn’t mean to take it out on you. But, If we’re not prepared, we’ll be scrambling every night. I’m not letting that happen.”

Ten minutes later, the crew gives her the all-clear. “Backup amps are working, and power levels are stable. We’re ready.”

Emily nods, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. She thanks the crew, but as they walk away, I catch the way her fingers tremble just a little as she tucks her phone into her pocket.

“Hey,” I say, lowering my voice. “You handled that like a pro.”

“It’s my job,” she replies, brushing off the compliment. But the flicker of unease in her eyes stays with me.

“This kind of stuff happens, you know,” I say, lowering my voice as I step closer, “No need to stress.”

She glances up at me, her expression guarded. “I’m not stressing. It’s under control.”

I don’t push her further, but a nagging worry settles in my chest. I’ve been doing this long enough to know these things happen all the time. But Emily’s acting like it’s more, and I’m curious to know why.

By the time the soundcheck is done, the tension in Emily’s shoulders hasn’t eased. She’s running through the schedule with Kendrick, her voice calm and professional, but I see the strain beneath it.

“Hey, Boss Lady,” I call out as she heads toward the dressing rooms. She stops, arching an eyebrow at me, but there’s no fire in her gaze this time.

“Sam,” she says, clearly in no mood for my teasing. “What do you need?”

“Just wondering if you’ve got time for a break today.”

She exhales sharply, shaking her head. “I don’t have time to relax. Everything has to run smoothly.”

“Everything already is,” I point out. “You’ve got this under control.”

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