Page 52 of Omega Rock

I point past the backstage area to the stage. “That crowd is massive. It’d almost be better, I think, to be on the amphitheater stage because at least then everyone’s not packed right in.”

As it’s set up right now, we’re on a medium stage with an audience space that merges in and around merch tents. We’ll be visible from all over this area.

Noah moves in closer. A low, purring vibration sounds in this throat. I lean against him, falling into the comfort he’s trying to provide. “I understand where you’re coming from. This is my largest crowd, too. But if we focus on the music and the first few rows of fans, we’ll be just fine.” Then he laughs dryly. “Besides, who knows. Maybe we walk out on stage and only like a hundred people are watching, and everyone’s moved over to the other stage.”

I bark a tipsy laugh. The wine’s hitting me hard. My veins buzz. “I hope not. Wes might faint if that happens.”

“Two weeks wasn’t a lot of time to build us up.”

“No,” I admit, although I certainly tried. A few live streams, a lot of videos. I worked with the social media manager Wes hired as much as possible. “At this point, the best thing we can do for Exit Fate is perform. We’re right where we need to be.”

“Even if it’s terrifying.”

I clink an imaginary drink against Noah’s beer bottle. “Exactly.”

Aiden appears with Leo at his side. Since the backstage area is outdoors, Leo’s more relaxed about the crowd, but he huddles close to us now.

Leo checks his watch. “Nearly time. We should get ready.”

“Everyone’s all set?” Aiden asks, although he’s got quite the note of nerves in his own tone.

“Are you?” I ask. I never had the pleasure of a VIP backstage pass to a Designation Outsider tour, but I’ve never seen or heard word of Aiden being nervous. At Sound House, it made sense, as our first showing out. And yes, a fully original set-list is a good reason to be nervous. But this feels different.

Aiden shakes out his arms. “You know, I don’t usually get full-blown stage fright, but I think I may be heading there.”

Well, shit.I shoot a glance to Noah who also knows we’re now three for four on pre-show nerves, then meet Aiden’s gaze. I swallow my own worry because if Aiden Paltier is nervous as fuck then I either have every valid reason to also be or I need to deal with it.

I choose to deal with it. Or maybe that’s the wine making my anxiety slowly dissipate. “We’re going to nail this.”

Noah makes a face. I want to shoo him away.

Aiden nods then runs a hand roughly through his hair. “I know. It’s—it’s less actual stage fright, I guess, and more…”

“Are you worried because this is your first Knotty Tour not with Designation Outsider?” I ask. It’s a layered question, I’m aware.

Aiden’s jaw works a little. “I just want to make sure I do the best for you all that I can.”

Leo claps him on the back. “You already are, and you’re not the only person in this band. We’ll do welltogether.”

I may be reading into it, but I wonder if Aiden fears Wes will remove him from Exit Fate like his previous manager did, or if we’ll kick him out of the pack as his previous pack did. But all of the people involved in those decisions were assholes and Aiden’s not had any trouble with his voice or neck in weeks.

It won’t happen here.

A stagehand hurries over to us. “Time to go.”

Noah waves them an affirmative, but no one moves until Aiden finally relents. “Right. We’re good.” He looks to each of us in turn. “Let’s nail this.”

We each bump fists and follow the stagehand to the stage. Our guitars are stored in a rack on the way, so we grab them and Leo pulls his drumsticks out of the cargo pocket of his shorts. There’s a quick, pre-recorded announcement of our band’s intro for Knotty Tour that plays, and then we’re ushered on stage.

I nearly freeze at the size of the crowd. I knew the max size, had joked with Noah about the smallest we’d attract. But it certainlyfeelsas if all of Knotty Tour is right here, right now, watching us.

Leo counts us in right away and then Aiden strums the first notes ofFor the Night.The crowd cheers—but notably not as much as they did for the previous band. It soothes my tense nerves and loosens me up for the entire set-list.

But by the time we hit the band’s version ofDreaming Latewhich is still part of our list as it’s an original from me, the crowd begins dispersing.

I hear booing.

I try to pay it no mind. I know it’s probably just a small but very vocal group of people. But it gets harder to ignore as the set goes on—and as the wine fully hits. Fuck, I shouldnothave drunk beforehand.

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