Page 74 of California Wild

Jesse had never seen her like this.

Not here. Not at this level.

And tomorrow, he wouldn’t be watching.

She took a slow breath, rolled out her shoulders, pushed the thought away.

Tomorrow was the biggest night of her career.

But Jesse Navarro was a ghost in her heart.

* * * * *

Friday. The stadium vibrated with energy.

Hours of prep had built to this moment—soundchecks, light tests, last-minute adjustments to the setlist. The crew had been running like a well-oiled machine, radioing back and forth, fixing minor glitches, swapping gear. They’d done a final rehearsal early in the afternoon, tightening transitions, locking in cues.

Now, it was go time.

The air backstage was thick with adrenaline.

Everywhere Hayley looked, people were moving—bandmates stretching, crew members giving final nods, stagehands double-checking everything. The countdown was on, minutes ticking away before they stepped out under the burning white-hot lights.

Hayley could feel the bass thudding in her chest, the steady pulse of the crowd beyond the curtain. The roar had been a constant all evening, a living, breathing thing—tens of thousands of voices rising as one. The kind of electric atmosphere that artists lived for.

She was in it. The moment. Her moment.

But her nerves were hitting hard.

She flexed her fingers, shaking them out, rolling her shoulders to release some of the tension. This wasn’t her first big show. She’d played countless stages, sung her heart out in packed bars, festival slots, underground clubs.

But this?

This was different.

Auckland. The first night of the tour. Opening for Linkin Park.

This was everything they had worked for.

A ripple of movement caught her eye, and she turned to see Emily Armstrong—Linkin Park’s new frontwoman—striding toward her.

Emily was a fucking force. A powerhouse on stage, her vocals raw and full of fire. Offstage, she was effortless. Easy. No rockstar bullshit, no ego. Just pure talent and energy.

“Fox,” Emily grinned, stopping beside her. “You ready to kill it?”

Hayley exhaled, trying to match her confidence. “Trying to keep my breakfast down first.”

Emily laughed, bumping her fist. “That’s how you know it’s gonna be good.”

Hayley smirked, but before she could reply, Emily tilted her head.

“You ever think about doing a collab?”

Hayley blinked. “With you?”

Emily gave her a look. “Obviously. You got a fucking killer voice, Fox.”

Something warm rushed through her chest.

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