Page 5 of Just My Type of wrong guy

The security guards pull the fan inside the barricade, and he exchanges a few words with her off-mic, maybe asking her name and age, if he doesn’t want to end up in jail or whatever. Then he places his hand on the back of her neck and pulls her in for a kiss that it’d be banned in theaters in at leasttwenty countries because of how he’s leaning over her slender, surrendered body.

“Aren’t you guys afraid of catching thrush” I shout to the redhead after swallowing hard, and she shakes her head, laughing. “Anyway, I’m leaving. See you tomorrow at the same time, in the same stadium.”

That’s enough boyband for today

“Hold on, sweetheart, that’s not how the band works,” her right hand gently grabs my arm.

“I can’t leave?”

“Of course not. We have the after-party for the tour launch at the boys' rooftop after the show. Go rest in the girls’ dressing room.”

“I’m not going. It’s a band party.”

“It’s a party for everyone who helped make this day happen! You saw how they were floating with you two on that stage?” The question is rhetorical because I try to speak, but she raises her hand to me. “You might be lacking heat, but you and A.J. will come around sooner or later.With A.J., we always come.”

I stare at her for a few seconds, too stunned to speak.

“Too much information, you know? See you later.” I try to erase the image of the two of them making out from my mind as I head toward the dressing room.

Apparently, I have one more place to go in this dress tonight.

Chapter Two – A.J.

Keep dreaming like we’ll live forever.

But live it like it’s now or never.

Now or Never - Julie and the Phantoms

Even though Guilherme had warned me about the crowd being different below the Equator, nothing could have prepared me for the emotion of having seventy thousand people screaming my name as if their lives depended on it.

I was enveloped by a cloud of love, passion, and euphoria from the second I stepped on stage until the moment we bowed before leaving. For the first time, every single song was sung by the audience at the top of their lungs, not just the ones from our second album, not just the singles, but all of them.

Our first U.S. tour lasted only a few months. We had come from a reality show, and the expectations from the fans were high, but our first album never broke the bubble. We kept touring the country, performing in arenas for five thousand people, who didn’t always sell out, while Guilherme and Richard worked on new songs and tried to convince Victor, the owner of Next Idol – the reality show where we met – and of the Vicious Bonds brand, to let us record them.

The turning point for this strategy to work was thanks to Daniele Almeida – my best friend and Guilherme’s sister. Dani forced us to use social media to do what she called “connect with the fans,” and we did that for months. We posted so many behind-the-scenes videos, show clips, and personal life updates that, over time, we started reaching the right people. We grew gradually but explosively, and Victor responded by letting us record another album. This album pushed us into the top 50 ofevery relevant chart, not just because it’s great, but because our fans made all fourteen tracks go viral on TikTok.

On the second tour, we toured the United States, went to Canada – my homeland – and spent two weekends in Mexico, with all the shows sold out. It took us a year and a half to consolidate our career with the help of our Vagabonders and become their favorite – and healthy – ‘vicious cycle.’ Now, we’ve started our first tour outside North America, and choosing Brazil for that was starting on the right foot.

“We knew things would be more intense here, but that?!” I confess, staring at myself in the elevator mirror. “Part of me knows that it’s nights like this one that make us do what we do.”

“I think it was the place where they freaked out the most with ‘One Last Kiss,’” Thomas says as he steps away from the mirror when the elevator stops at our penthouse.

“By the way, what was that scene with Alex?” Guilherme asks as our security checks the floor.

The almost protective tone makes me stifle a laugh. If he knew what one of our friends has been doing with his little sister, he wouldn’t be so worried about the kiss I wanted to give his ex-bandmate.

“She’s hot, I thought something might happen…”

“No, you didn’t. Alexandra had already turned you down a few times,” Richard emphasizes, crossing his arms and shaking his hair still damp from sweat.

“Okay, judge a man for trying twice.” I shrug, and the security opens the door as Guilherme says, “It wasn’t just twice.”

“But it wasn’t just ‘One Last Kiss.’ The whole show… it was different.”

“Alright, let’s get inside and celebrate this night responsibly, because there’s more tomorrow, and after that!” Thomas says, pointing at us.

“This role is usually for our grumpy old man,” I remark, and Richard rolls his eyes at me. “But ok. I’ll pretend to obey everyone’s orders because today I’m in heaven.”

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