Page 89 of When We Burn

One of the things that I enjoy about going to shows like this is some of the people-watching. It makes me happy to see others so excited and having a good time, so I take a second to glance around at the crowd, smiling because so many of us are singing along with Sidney, and the happiness is contagious.

My eyes skim over a face that’s all too familiar, and I freeze, but then a tall man walks in front of my line of vision, and when he’s gone, so is the person I thought I saw.

No way.

I shake my head and turn back to the show. There’s no way I saw that.

“What’s wrong?” Bridger asks against my ear.

“Nothing.” I shake my head, but he holds me closer.

“You went pale on me, sweetheart. What’s wrong?”

I look up at him and cup his cheek. “I’m fine. I thought I saw someone, but I was mistaken. Honest.”

He narrows his eyes, and for a minute, I think he’llpush a little, but then his gaze falls to my lips, and he’s suddenly kissing me for all he’s worth, here in the middle of this huge crowd amongst all of the people we love.

I guess my man has no issue with public displays of affection.

When the show’s over, Bridger walks with us back to the Wild farmhouse, where Birdie and I will hang out with the others while Bridger helps with the traffic control back into town.

“That was the best concert I’ve ever been to,” Bee says with a happy sigh as she leans against me and rests her head on my shoulder. I have Birdie in my lap, snoozing away, and Alex is sitting on the other side of me.

We’re all wiped out, in the best way, talking about the show and waiting for traffic to thin so we can all go home.

“I’m glad to hear it,” Sidney herself says as she walks into the room. She’s already dressed in leggings and a T-shirt, her hair and makeup still done, and she collapses into a chair next to Erin. “It was the most fun I’ve had at a show in a long time.”

“Don’t you have VIP photos and stuff to do?” Erin asks her.

“I did them,” Sidney responds with a happy sigh. “I did a bunch before the show, too. I snuck away to come hang out with you guys.”

“We are the most fun,” Blake replies with a laugh. “How can you do what you do? Obviously, you’re in great shape, but you sang and danced for two solidhours, Sidney. What kind of training does that include?”

“When I was gearing up for the world tour,” she begins, “I sang every single song in my catalog while running on the treadmill.”

The whole room rumbles at that.

“You’re kidding,” Alex says.

“No, ma’am. I don’t lip-sync, ever. Now, remember, there are some numbers that I’ll sit on a stool and sing, and that is when I rest. Then, it’s time to move again. It’s rigorous. I have a specific diet and a nutritionist who goes on tour with us because I want to deliver the best show out there. I know that it’s an investment, and I’d be mortified if anyone ever walked away disappointed.”

“I don’t see that happening,” I reply.Holy shit, am I talking toSidney Sterling? “Your concert has been on my bucket list for years, and this surpassed all my expectations.”

“And that, right there,” Sidney says as she points my way, “is why we do it. Your daughter is adorable, by the way.”

I feel a pang in my heart as I brush my fingers over Birdie’s dark hair. “Thank you, but she’s not mine.”

But, oh, how I wish she was. I don’t think I could love this peanut more if she’d come from my body.

“She fits with you,” Sidney says, and then is pulled into another conversation, and I feel my eyes fill with tears.

“She’s right,” Bee says softly next to me. “Birdie fits with you, and you fit withthem.”

I nod and take a deep breath.

“I know.”

It’s been back to regular life since the concert on Saturday night. Some of my kids were a little cranky today in school because they were still tired from the show, so we took it easy in class.

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