Page 56 of It Started with a Kiss
‘Pretty good, I think. Nervous, which is understandable, but I think he’ll be fine.’ I hoped I was right.
Tom sucked air in through his teeth. ‘He sounded terrible when I rang him today. Totally freaked out.’
I shook my head in vehement protest. ‘No, no. He’sfine, Tom.’ I think I was trying to convince myself more than Fin’s best friend.
Siân nudged Tom and scowled at him before turning to me. ‘We have a date to propose to you for the start of the exhibition.’ She clapped her hands giddily, ignoring the look of worry on Tom’s—and no doubt my—face.
I nodded and forced a smile. ‘Oh... yeah. Yeah, great.’ I tried to sound enthusiastic but failed miserably.
‘Two months from tonight,’ Tom confirmed, joining in Siân’s enthusiasm.
I gasped and almost spilled my precious nerve-calming elixir. ‘Wow, that’s... that’s very soon.’
Tom simply shrugged. ‘Na. It’s ages away. Loads of time. Don’t panic. You two make a right bloody couple. Never known two people to be so unhappy slash terrified to have their dreams handed to them on a plate.’ He chuckled and I rolled my eyes. He kind of had a point, I guess.
When I turned again, the rest of the band was on the stage and the lights had dimmed. A guy over by the mixing desk announced Mr Hyde, and the place erupted into raucous applause and whistles.
My shy, unassuming man stepped out into the spotlight. His gaze was fixed on the floor and his jaw was working so hard under his skin I could almost feel the grinding. The way his chest rose and fell told me he was on the verge of hyperventilating, and I longed to leap up there and just hold him, tell him he didn’t have to do this if he really didn’t want to. He had nothing to prove, despite his father’s constant jibes and hints to the contrary.
It was so hard to comprehend the way he changed as soon as the music began. It was just like watching Dr Jekyll down the potion. Sure enough, the opening bars to Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop me Now’ kicked in, and the transformation took place. Fin gripped the mic, raised his head, and my heart almost stopped. The determination in his eyes verged on arrogance and he effervesced sex appeal that struck me like waves crashing over my body. As the song ramped up he dragged the mic from its stand, and strutted across the stage as Freddie Mercury’s apt lyrics fell fiercely from his lips like he owned them.
Once again, he sang with such realism. Every word meant something to him. Every lyric filled with so much joy that I believed him.
Every. Single. Syllable.
He was singing about fulfilling a dream he’d had for so long and was finally living it. Okay so it was a club in Edinburgh not Wembley Arena but it may as well have been. Shivers travelled down my spine as I watched him. Utterly consumed. Beguiled even. And so damned proud.
I don’t remember placing my drink down on the table, but before I could think, my camera was at my eye and I was snapping shots of him as he took command of the stage, and the audience were worshipping at his feet. It was the most natural thing for me to do as I watched him in his element.
Sweat dripped from the straggly strands of hair that fell onto his forehead, and he swiped his T-shirt from his body and wiped it round his face before tucking it into the waistband of his jeans. Most people would think he was doing it to draw attention to his sculpted body. But I knew different. It was simply a means to an end. He needed something to wipe his face on—it was as simple as that. He was the least showy showman I hadeverwitnessed. But that didn’t make him any less mesmerising to watch. His inability to see himself how others saw him was both frustrating and endearing. And the people in the audience couldn’t have been happier if they’d been on the front row of some private gig with a huge star. This is what he did to people.
What he did to me.
The entire show was amazing. The band was seamless. As the night wore on, Fin even began to speak to the audience in between songs, taking over from Nate who grinned widely as if he too saw the change in his frontman. My heart was full to bursting with love and pride.
My man, the rock star.
Alec and his on/off boyfriend Gil arrived and made their way across to me. The way they looked at each other told me things were distinctly on again. Alec handed me a Jack and Coke and turned his attention to the stage. ‘Well hello rock god,’ he said with a pout. ‘I wonder if he needs anyone to wipe the sweat from his brow.’
I rolled my eyes. A terrible habit when in Alec’s presence. ‘You do remember you’re not alone tonight,’ I said pointedly.
Gil stepped forward and hugged me. ‘Hey sweetie. Looking as gorgeous as ever. And take no notice of Al, he may pretend but he only has eyes for me.’
I smiled and wondered if it was true. They did make a lovely couple.
Another song ended and Fin stuck the mic back in its holster before stepping over and whispering something to Nate, who agreed with whatever was being suggested. Fin returned to centre stage as Nate passed around whatever Fin’s message had been.
‘You know, in life there are roads you travel because youthinkyou should, and there are people you try to impress, even when they’re the people who should love you unconditionally. I’ve been there. But no more. It stops right now. I say you do what you want to do. You do what makes you happy. You rise above it all and make your own plans. I dedicate this next song to every single person who has tried to be a square peg in a round hole. This is an oldie but a goldie… Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life.”’
A cheer erupted once more as the band began to play.
As always, I listened as he told the story of his experiences through song. I listened as he took a stand. The lyrics evidently resonated with him as he sang them with determination in his eyes and both hands gripping the mic in its stand. My stomach fluttered, but this time it wasn’t butterflies or anxiety. This time it was a wonderful feeling of hope.
I was thankful for the fact that I’d remembered to bring along several memory cards for the camera as I eventually lost count of the number of images I shot. But I was excited to get home and load them onto the laptop and see what I’d captured.
Towards the end of the gig, the intro to our special song began to play, and Fin sauntered sexily over to the side of the stage where I had perched to get the best view. He crouched down so he was at eye level with me, his muscular chest glistening with sweat, and with a love-filled gaze, he sang ‘Strange and Beautiful’ as my insides clenched with need for him, and the last piece of my heart was lost to this mercurial man.
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