I smiled into my pillow, remembering the way he’d looked at me when he’d told me he was renting a limo to take us to the concert and he had a “surprise” for me afterward.
“I think he’s a closet romantic. I think he wants it to be… perfect.”
Aimee snorted. “You could be waiting forever.”
“Feels like it sometimes.”
But I had a feeling my wait was almost over.
“Left me standin’ on the porch too many times
Kept the boys in the band waitin’ at the bar
His voice inside yellin’ out my crimes
Ain’t comin’ to the door no more I’ll be waitin’ in my car
Are you daddy’s girl or are you gonna be mine?
Lemme know now girl cuz I just ain’t got the time…”
The screams were deafening. Bodies pressed all around us, and I had to hold onto Dale to keep from losing him. Aimee, next to me, screamed along with the rest of us girls in the first few rows who had squeezed up here.
“Are you daddy’s girl or you gonna be mine...?” Tyler Vincent sang right above us now. When I reached out and touched his boot, he winked at me. I thought I was going to keel over right there. Aimee grabbed my arm and squealed her approval. Matt, behind her, had his arms about her waist.
“Are you having a good time?” Dale practically had to yell to be heard.
I didn’t do anything but beam back at him, no words for how grateful I was to have the experience of a Tyler Vincent concert, front row center. I looked at him, curious about the expression on his face. This was what he wanted to be—this was what he wanted to do. This was what he was clearly born to do. I could see it in the longing in his eyes.
Tyler Vincent was talking to the audience now, and things had quieted down so we could hear him.
“This is a little song I wrote about what it’s like to be a rock star.” He took a long swig of water. “Sometimes it’s like Living Out Loud and you guys make it all worth it, I got to tell ya.” The roar of the crowd really was deafening then. “There are good things about being me.”
“I want to have your baby!” a girl from behind us screamed clearly.
“Like that.” Tyler laughed and the band started to play behind him.
There was more laughter, more screaming.
“But sometimes…well, be careful what you wish for…”
I could have sworn he was looking right at Dale.
“Last time we met you said be careful what I ask for
Before you left you whispered that the door’s always open
Barely heard you with my handlers shovin’ groupies out the back door
If I’d known what I was tradin’ for the life of a rock star
Wanted more than these work jeans ripped and faded
Wanted more than four am gigs and six am time clocks
Now my guitar’s shiny new but I’m old and jaded
And I can’t get enough of what I never really wanted…”