Page 43 of Conviction
“I can’t believe my brother never told me he was gonna be here. You just wait till I see him.”
“It’s not your brother’s fault, Soph. It’s just one of those things. I’m surprised it’s not happened sooner. Not that Conner and I have mixed in the same circles the last fifteen years,” I say with a shrug.
“What d’ya wanna do?” Sophie asks. “Stay and watch the show or leave?”
“Drink myself into oblivion?” I ask her with another shrug of my shoulders.
Can I be out there? Where he is?
In the same building? The same room?
Breathing the same air?
“I’m gonna go and find Ty. I don’t wanna miss Reed’s performance.”
My heart stutters.
“Conner’s performing? Here?” I ask. My eyes land on Sophie. I really should capture this moment. Her mouth is wide open, but no words are coming out. This is something that rarely happens unless, of course, there’s a sex act involved. In which case, I make a point of not being around to witness such deeds.
“Yeah, it’s all been kept hush hush. He’s been really nervous.” She gives me a big smile. “You should stay and watch, I know you’ll love the performance.”
My eyes move to Sophie. “Your call, babe. I’m happy to do whatever you wanna do,” she tells me.
I stand from the chair, and my head spins a bit. I’ve sobered considerably, and I don’t like it. I want to get so drunk that I can’t remember my name. I don’t want to be able to feel by the end of the night. I want to be numb to the ache in my chest, and oblivious to every single memory I have of Conner Reed.
Jenna unexpectedly wraps her arms around me. “Stay Nina. Tyler would love to see you. I’ve no idea what went on between you and Reed, but it’s been too long since we’ve seen anything of you.”
“Okay, we’ll stay. I’ll come and find you both,” I tell her
After I use some ofthe makeup that Sophie never leaves home without, and fix myself up in the bathroom adjoining the office, we head back outside to where the concert is in full swing. Sophie grabs us a couple of drinks from a passing waiter and captures my hand as we make our way out to the balcony that overlooks the stage.
We watch a couple of bands, and then listen as a well-known TV presenter appears on stage, giving a running total of what the day has raised so far and tells us that we’re in for a surprise with the next act that’s about to perform.
My stomach churns, and I knock back the third glass of champagne I’ve had since leaving the office we were in.
The whole place falls silent. The lights go out, leaving only the emergency exit signs glowing. The curtain is still covering the stage when the very first notes of a song I know so well starts to play. The whole place erupts as the curtain lifts to the band hidden behind it playing, ‘With You,’ an old hit of one of my all-time favourite bands, Carnage.
Sophie and I scream like we used to as school girls when we heard this song. We lose ourselves in the music for a few seconds. I dance with my eyes closed and my arms in the air. I know every single word and sing at the top of my voice, letting thoughts of the fucked up mess I’ve made of my life disappear.
And then the crowd roars even louder, and I swear, I actually feel the building shake.
I open my eyes to see what everyone is reacting to and for the second time in a matter of hours, my heart comes to an abrupt halt.
He’s there.
On stage.
The boy I loved so very long ago is now a man.
A God.
A rock God.
“Conner Reed and Marley Layton both on stage together. My heart can’t take it,” the girl standing next to me, says to no one in particular.
“Oh my God, Neen, look at him.” For some reason, I feel a pang of jealousy in my chest at the thought of these women watching him, wanting him. Thinking that they know him.
“Don’t look at me like you wanna punch me. I meant Marley Layton, not fucking Reed. Although… I’ve gotta say, Neen, watching the pair of them on stage has given me a bit of a clit-on.”
