Page 71 of One Day Like This (Excess All Areas 1)

Say it. Just say you’re too busy.

“Could you just do an online order or something? I wasn’t going to go home between leaving work and going to the concert.”

“If I ordered stuff, someone still has to be home before it’s delivered and then put it away. I’d really appreciate if you could be flexible.”

Urgh.

“Let’s get a load in when we get home after the gig on Sunday night, pop it in the drier in the morning. And I’ll pop to the store before I go to work to pick up the basics; it doesn’t take too long,” she said, mentally berating herself. She owed him. While she contributed to food and what bills she could, he was bearing the weight of rent and insurance.

At that moment, Matt reappeared, rubbing his finger along his gum. And she’d seen the action in movies and at the shelter enough to know when someone had just used cocaine. But even if she hadn’t, his nervousness had been replaced with a euphoric energy.

“You’re the best.” Luke went to hug her, but whatever he saw stopped him in his tracks. “Iz. A fucking love bite. How old are you? Who did that?”

Izabel pulled her dress higher up her shoulder, Luke’s words snapping her from her worry. She’d thought it was faint after she’d applied some concealer over it. “I’m twenty-six, and it’s none of your business who did it.”

Luke raised his hands in surrender. “Fine. But tell the vampire to keep his teeth to himself.”

Ben tapped Luke on the shoulder. “Come on, we’ve got to go. Nice necklace, Izabel.”

Izabel reached for it and smiled. “Thanks, Ben.” As she touched it, happiness at how personal the gift was rippled through her. Luke had told her he fully intended to pay for the hotel room he’d booked her for the night. She’d got a text from her mum and an email with a gift card in it, which was about as personal as a car wreck.

But the necklace was ... special. Made her feel cared about.

Jase walked by with Alex, giving her a chin tip.

Matt was last to head to the stage. He slipped his hand into hers and led her along. She tried to shake his hand loose, but he held tight. “They aren’t looking at us, Iz. No one is.”

Her heart beat a little faster, remembering the feeling after Luke had nearly caught them. She understood a little of what Matt meant.

Matt grinned at her, his eyes dark, his dimples reminding her he was still the Matt she loved. “Stay stage right, I want you near me. I want to see your face.”

Izabel bit down on her lip. This was the Matt everyone in front of the stage wanted. Decisive. Determined. Talented. Energetic. There was something utterly capable about him. He leaned in to kiss her.

“I saw. I know, I saw you rubbing your gums after you disappeared with Ben. I’m not stupid,” she blurted suddenly. Confusion flooding through her.

Matt looked down at the floor for a moment. “I know you aren’t.”

“I don’t think I can watch you destroy yourself, Matt. I understand that doing this, stepping out there, is a lot. But there has to be a better way.”

“I know that too. I felt like shit sneaking off with Ben to do it. I’ll figure out some other way. Okay? Just ... don’t go anywhere. Knowing you are there is how I’ll get through those first few minutes onstage.” He cupped her cheeks and pressed his lips to her forehead. “Wait a second before coming up,” Matt said, before stepping ahead of her.

Ignoring the flip her stomach did when she was reminded of their secrecy, she did as he asked before taking the last few steps to the stage. She glanced toward the moving, surging crowd of people. Faces blurring into darkness, lights shining towards the band.

She could feel the energy of it push against her chest before a single note was played. But as Luke settled himself into his drum kit and, after a nod from Matt, crashed his sticks down, the roar became a pressure she could barely breathe through. The wood beneath her feet vibrated. Matt’s lips were so close to the microphone as he harmonised with Jase, they almost brushed it.

They were all so fluid. Alex practically danced as he played the music. Ben bounced on his toes. Jase stood with his arms wide open as he leaned into the microphone. And her brother made the weird drummer faces she’d always teased him about.

But Matt. He tapped his foot to the rhythm as he played. A steady anchor to the band who looked like they were fit to vibrate right off the stage.

The audience screamed for more. Louder than she’d ever heard them.

She thought back to the small gig she’d gone to with Gemma. They’d been good. But this was something else. It was as if their confidence inflated to the size and roar of the crowd.

“They’re good, aren’t they?” the voice said from behind her. Niles, the lead singer from Stryker stepped to her side.

“Hey. Yes. They’re amazing,” Izabel yelled over the wall of sound. “Thank you for asking them to join you.”

“Are you with them?” Niles asked.

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