Page 38 of Cadence
I keep playing, but I’m on alert, watching his every move as we reach the middle of the song. The nape of my neck prickles, and my gaze darts to Beau as he closes his eyes, singing his heart out, his voice blending with Maddox’s, like always.
I almost think that whatever I’m feeling is all in my head until we reach the bridge and Maddox moves across the stage, not in sync this time, but in sharp, decisive steps. Not quite pushing Beau from the mic, he knocks him aside, and no matter how you look at it, Maddox stole the moment.
And the second the lyrics leave his mouth, I know why.
“Alone on the stage,
The crowd’s just a sea,
But I’m lost in the waves,
Stuck in a cage that I can’t escape.”
It’s epic, exactly what the song was missing, or at least it would be. If I didn’t recognize every single word.
The breath leaves me like a punch to the gut. The words are mine, my suggestions, myhelp. My mind reels, trying to replay what he’d sung, wanting to be sure, but I already know. No heads-up, no glance in my direction, just…changed them without warning.
The beat falters for just a breath, but it’s enough to break the illusion that I belong up here. With them.
I stumble mid-swing, caught off guard, sticks catching air before landing back into the rhythm like nothing happened.
To the crowd, it’s seamless.
But to us…
Eli’s head snaps up, eyes darting around as he scans the stage, confusion etched across his face. Beau frowns as he keeps playing, mouthing,what was that?
So it wasn’t just me who was blindsided. They didn’t know either.
Embarrassment and betrayal coat my skin in searing heat as I keep playing, pretending that Maddox changing the lyrics without telling us hasn’t cracked something wide open.
I swallow the thick lump lodging itself in my throat, trying to ignore the way it chokes as he moves back to his space like nothing happened, fingers skating across the frets, like he didn’t just try to fuck over his entire band.
The rest of the set blurs, the last three songs flowing into each other, the crowd roaring at all the right moments. My body moves, my hands play, and my mouth shapes the words, but none of it feels real.
Not now that the trust’s gone.
As the final chord slams through the venue, thousands of bodies scream our name. The stage lights burn hot against my skin, and all I want to do is get out, get space before I see how far I can shove one of my sticks up Maddox’s ass.
“You guys have been incredible!” Beau yells, grin wide but stilted as he throws his arms out like he’s catching the whole damn room. “Goodnight!”
I’m already moving, kit abandoned, sticks dropping to the floor before the first chant ofone more songeven makes it past the front row.
I disappear into the shadows, a sick, twisting knot forming deep in my gut. I never thought he’d stoop so low.
Not like this.
Not on stage.
Not without a word.
For the first time since joining the band, I can’t hear the music over my breaking point, the thing I love the most being used against me, pushing me out instead of pulling me in. And now, I’m not even sure I feel like I belong.
Chapter Seventeen
Maddox
“Dude,whatthehellwas that?” Beau shouts, getting in my face as soon as we’re off stage, uncaring about the crew awkwardly standing to the side, waiting to help us with our gear.
