Page 2 of Exactly What I Needed
“Do I keep my bra on?” I asked, and she shook her head no.
“What would you do without me?”
Once it was on, she squealed again and pointed toward her full-body mirror in the corner of her room. I stared back at my reflection. It may not be my usual style, but I felt gorgeous.
Smiling to myself, I slid my gaze to my best friend, who slipped on a low-cut, red shirt and tight black leather pants that hugged her hourglass frame.
Now that was perfection. Not like me, who was built more like a popsicle stick.
She clicked her tongue, seeing the shift in expression on my face. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. You look gorgeous, and that top makes your boobs look amazing.”
I rolled my eyes and followed my best friend out of her room.
In no time, we were zooming down the street with the sun casting a dark orange glow about the sky. By the time we arrived at the arena, the parking lot was crowded with cars, and the line of people zigzagged back and forth between metal bars outside the stadium. Sydney barely glancedat the crowd, brushing some hair over her shoulder and navigating the crowded lot. Once we managed to find a parking space, I stepped out of the car, only to have Sydney drag me toward the crowd. I could barely keep up as she took us closer to our group of friends, waiting near the entrance.
Ducking beneath a couple rails and through throngs of people, she waved excitedly and shot toward them. I swallowed stiffly, and, plastering a smile on my face, I followed along.
Mischievous grins spread across several of the girls’ faces as hugs were exchanged. “Sydney, you did so good,” Megan said, running her eyes up and down my figure. She bit her lips seductively and threw a hand on her robust hip, teasing the world with her high-slit black dress.
“Be careful there. Your husband might think you’re not interested in him,” Tera retorted, bumping her shoulder against Megan’s.
I giggled, a bubble of nerves churning in my stomach. “Sydney says I look like I have boobs now.”
“So, what you’re saying is you’ll possibly flirt with someone tonight like the rest of us?” Megan replied and stuck her tongue out at Tera.
“Obviously, she will. She’s coming to the afterparty, too!” Sydney answered for me. That was a bridge I’d cross when we got there because no, I wasn’t doing that, especially with the mess I now needed to clean up back at home. I was at least here at the concert; that should count for something.
Leaning against the rail, I smiled at my best friend as the scent of a packed crowd assaulted my senses. A change in my usual routine seemed to have been exactly what I needed. Sydney didn’t have to know that I was actually grateful she’d pushed me into coming tonight. My heart jumpedin my chest in excitement as the doors finally opened and the crowd began to filter in.
Time to let loose and enjoy myself. Once in a while never hurt. Right?
Chapter 2
The opening act finished—not too shabby for an unknown band. Sydney shook my arm excitedly, gibbering on about how amazing the band was. Katie giggled with her, as Tera and Megan disappeared to grab drinks for us.
I wasn’t planning on having anything, knowing that if I did, I wouldn’t be able to get my papers graded by tomorrow with the hangover that would ensue.
My thoughts remained distant as Sydney’s words fell on deaf ears. The smell of smoke and sweat hung stiff in the air. A familiarity twinged in my heart when reaching forward and tracing my fingers along the metal railing separating us from security. The flashing stage lights glinted off the steel as the sound guys double-checked the feedback. Oranges, crimsons, and dark shades of cobalt danced across the dimly lit arena.
I spun in a slow circle and silently gasped, dazed by the sheer size. Beyond the pit I was crammed into, rows and rows of seats rose all around me. Hordes of people allwaited to see this band.
It was shocking, and part of me wondered if I should start paying more attention to my students’ gossip. I bet they all knew about this band and what I was to expect. This single concert was already turning out to be more than just a simple evening out with friends, and the main event hadn’t even started.
Suddenly, all light snapped out, silencing the thousands of people and turning my vision black. A slender hand wrapped around my arm, Sydney’s fingers dug into my skin, and she squealed quietly in delight as everything fell still.
Wind noiselessly swept through the crowd.
The hushed whispers of curiosity danced through the arena.
Stuffy inhales of excitement passed amongst the masses.
The scent, laden with alcohol and smoke, sweat, and perfume, brushed around me.
My heart raced in anticipation as a slow hum filled the stadium. A steady beat began to drum, then a single strum of a guitar, and the mob went absolutely ballistic. (1)
I was shoved forward into Katie’s back while the crowd roared in excitement, and spotlights of yellow and orange snapped on. Rising on the stage, almost directly in front of where I was standing, was a single man, his sinewy frame dancing with the shadows. Dark hair brushed into a wolf cut, swept across ears that glinted with jewelry.
The spotlights flashed against his earrings as he lifted veiny hands and wrapped them around the microphone. The notes that left his lips melted against my chest and slithered across my body, bringing goosebumps to thesurface. I stared in awe as the rings upon his fingers lifted and then gently slid down the microphone stand.
