Page 35 of Wish You Once More
Mat walked to centre stage and took a bow while the crowd went wild. A ripple of excitement trickled down my spine. A few people had subsequently spotted Scott, and pointed in our direction, cheering. Scott raised his plastic cup at them, then turned to Mat and did the same. Then he pulled Rosie to his side and focused his attention back to the stage.
“This is our second to last song,” announced Jonny. “I hope you recognise it.”
He plucked the opening chords of God Only Knows by The Beach Boys.
My heart jumped into my throat.
It was our song.
I gulped down almost half of my beer in one go. Had Mat known they would be playing this? My attention moved to him, his head slightly bowed, seemingly focused on the floor of the stage. I could only imagine what was going through his head right at this moment.
Much as I wanted to stay and watch, I couldn’t bear it. Seeing Ellie so excited to watch him perform, knowing the four of them would be going out afterwards, realising I’d be left on the side-lines, again. I simply couldn’t do it.
Before they were halfway through, I finished my drink and dropped it onto the grass. Although I probably should have felt guilty, I knew I’d be the one clearing up later.
“Ellie, I’m going to have to go back to the information point now,” I said, trying to make myself heard over the noise. “I’m sure I’ll see you later.”
“Lovely to meet you, Bree.” She enveloped me in a hug and kissed me on both cheeks. “It’s great to meet more of Mat’s friends.”
I nodded, forcing a smile.
Friends.
After that kiss last night?
Yeah, right.
17
Mat
Looking out onto the crowd in the park brought back memories of the first time Jonny and me had played the Dart Sundowner. We were in our late teens, green around the gills, with no real knowledge of how to be a band, only how to play a few tunes and whip up some interest. Almost ten years later, I still felt like that whenever I took the stage with Trash Gun. By now, I’d honed my playing skills and could come up with a banging bass line whenever Scott wanted me to. Back then, I hadn’t realised the adoration which could come with being a rock star. Back then, there was only one person I wanted.
My gaze fell on where Bree stood with Ellie, Rosie and Scott. She looked as delightfully out of place as ever, that blue streak in her blonde hair clashing with her regulation issue orange polo shirt.
The memory of kissing her last night swirled with technicolour clarity in my mind.
She hadn’t slapped me or pushed me away. After everything, I thought she would have done.
All I had to do was come up with some excuse as to why I couldn’t spend this evening with Ellie. I looked to the side of the stage where Dad stood with Melinda and Henry, shuffling around to the songs.
Bingo.
I wasn’t going to be here long, so it made sense for me to see my family. Once I was back in Manchester, we’d be in the studio again or out on tour, so I didn’t know when I might come back.
It was the perfect excuse.
As long as I could convince Bree to talk to me.
Jonny had slipped God Only Knows into the set without telling me. When I’d seen it on the setlist seconds before coming onstage, I’d almost refused to play it. It was mine and Bree’s song. Jonny must have known that. But, being the consummate professional I was, I got through it, trying to gauge Bree’s reaction. When she threw her empty cup onto the grass and hugged Ellie before we were even halfway through, I had my answer. I watched her walk across to the information point and have a chat with Bryan, and then busy herself with something on her phone.
We launched into the last song of the set,Chelsea Daggerby the Fratellis, always a crowd pleaser. Then we were done, and I was relieved of my responsibilities.
“Just like old times,” Dad said, as we walked past him off stage. He slapped my back, then Jonny’s. “Made an old man proud.”
“You’re not old, Dad.” Jonny pulled him into a hug. “Reckon you’ll probably outlive us all.”
“You guys were great.” Melinda joined in the general love fest. “Mat, it’s good to see you back on a stage with your brother. Your dad is so proud of you both.”
