Page 100 of Never Again (Never Blue)

Tali

We’d been backfrom tour for a week and had spent every night together, first at Jude’s place, then at mine in Baltimore. For the most part, I worked from home unless I had a meeting to attend, but a couple days a week, I went into Rein Records. When I went this week, Jude went with me, checking out the recording booths and sitting in on a session while I did some work.

I hadn’t asked him about signing with the label yet since I still wasn’t sure. I couldn’t quite articulate the source of my hesitation. Jude was writing new music, and he played his guitar and sang to me all the time. His voice sounded better than it ever had, and the lyrics he came up with dove into my chest and clutched at my heart. He’d fit in well at Rein, there was no question. But still, something stopped me.

Tonight, he was taking me out, so I set aside thoughts of record contracts and concentrated on Jude.

He was playing a small club in Baltimore, one of the few shows he played each year, and my heart pumped with excitement to see him on stage once more.

With a possessive hand on my back, Jude led me through the small tables scattered around the intimate venue. My dress dipped low, nearly to the base of my spine, so his hand warmed my skin even more than normal.

“Where are you taking me?” I asked.

“You’ll know when we get there.”

A few more steps, and we stopped at a table near the stage. Four people already occupied it, so I was confused.

But not for long.

“Tali-bear!” Jin unfolded his lanky body from his chair and pulled me into a hug. “It’s been far too long.”

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

Jin and Jude gave each other a back-slapping hug, then he turned back to me. “I’m here to see our man on stage.” He grabbed Erin’s hand as she got up from her seat to greet us. “And Erin’s mom agreed to babysit. There are skid marks down our driveway from how fast we peeled out of there.”

“We?” Erin tossed her waist-length braids behind her shoulder.

Chastened, Jin slid his arm around her narrow waist. “Probably, it was mostly me.”

Erin raised a dark eyebrow, and Jin pulled her closer to him. “All me. But damn, girl, I need some quality time with you without worrying what sort of hijinks our adorable children will get into.”

“They’re not demons now that we’re in public?”

“Oh no, they’re still demons. I’m just hoping to get in your pants later, so I’m on my best behavior,” he replied.

And Erin laughed. She laughed and gave him a kiss. They had to be the most well-matched couple I knew. In other words, Erin not only put up with Jin’s antics, she found them amusing.

While I greeted Erin, Jude had moved over to the other side of the table to say hello to Nina and Lydia. Nina was mildly wary, but she was friendly enough to him. Lydia was beside herself to both meet Jude again and have the chance to see him perform from the front row.

I hugged Nina. “I’m going to kill you. You didn’t tell me you’d be here.”

“It’s called a surprise, Tals. Jude thought you’d enjoy the show more if your people were here. Plus, we got a hotel room and a child-free night. No way was I turning him down.”

Jude was right, of course. I would have enjoyed the hell out of watching him on stage by myself, but I’d enjoy the show even more with my friends.

Jude’s hand found the place on my back he’d claimed as his own. “I gotta get backstage. Are you good?”

“Perfect.” I gave him a soft kiss, but he pulled me back in for a deeper, longer kiss.

“I think I’m ready now,” he said, then kissed me one more time. “Okay,nowI’m ready.”

He left, and I took my seat between Nina and Jin.

The wait wasn’t long for Jude to take the stage. There weren’t opening acts or a warm up. We’d get one-hundred percent Jude tonight.

There were maybe two-hundred people sharing the space. Tables were filled with diehard Jude Goldman fans. These people loved his music and paid through the nose to be here.

Jude strode out in dark jeans and a grey T-shirt. His wallet chain hung on his hip, and his hair was pushed off his face. My stomach did the same kind of flips it had done the first time I saw him on stage. He belonged there, and he knew it. The room almost wasn’t big enough for his presence.

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