Page 151 of Cherry Beats

“Tess, just remember one thing, okay?” Molly said, dragging my attention to her face.

“What?” I asked carefully.

“He wants you here.”

I blinked wildly, and she copied Bourbon by curling her arm over my other shoulder until the three of us were in a line, each of them keeping me protected.

He wanted me here.

He sent the tickets.

He sent me his letters.

He’s respected me by leaving me alone and not forcing me into anything.

He’s…

Holy shit.

He’s walking out on stage right now.

Chapter Forty-Six

“How’s everyone doin’ tonight?” Rhett cried, his whole body leaning back as he tipped the microphone to the sky before he popped himself back upright and began to walk down the T-section of the stage that led into the depths of the crowd.

We were only a few rows of standing people away from him when he reached the end. So close to Rhett, yet so far from Presley.

Presley.

I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

The crowd were going crazy for the frontman. All I could see was the shining star at the back, twirling his drumsticks around in his hand as he pushed down a couple of times on the drum pedal, testing out the bass drum by his feet.

There were fewer times when Presley looked better than when he was on stage. He was born to be behind those drums. His hands were created to manipulate those sticks between his fingers. His arms were moulded to create music.

The bright lights were mainly on Rhett, with just a little ball of yellow light illuminating Presley on his raised platform at the back of the stage. He was so focused on the task at hand that he never looked up into the crowd once. A part of my heart dropped, knowing he wasn’t seeking me out. But what did I expect? For him to follow Rhett, take out his binoculars, ask the technicians to light up the whole crowd so he could find me? And what if I was a no show? Did I expect him to make a fool of himself by trying to find me, only to be disappointed when he realised I wasn’t there?

You’re more selfish than you ever thought, Tessa Lisbon.

“He looks sad,” Molly said into my ear.

“Do you think so?” I asked, my lips barely moving as I stared at him, rising onto my toes when the crowd began to get crazier thanks to whatever the hell Rhett was saying.

“He hasn’t looked up once, Tess. He keeps tucking his hair behind his ears like he’s lost.”

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “He’ll tie it up soon. He always does. When he sees the crowd for the first time properly, he makes sure he’s sat down, and that’s when he pulls his hair back, ties it up and smiles at them all. It’s like a little move he does to introduce himself to the show.”

“I forget how well you know him sometimes.”

“So do I,” I whispered, watching him, unable to take my eyes off the tight muscles of his tanned arms. The way the vest he wore hung so low under his armpits, revealing the tight band of muscle over his obliques.

Look up.Look up.Let me see your eyes.

“Who here has seen us play before?” Rhett asked the crowd. They responded with enthusiasm, their cheers growing louder and louder. “Fuck, that’s a lot of you. Way to go, MK Bowl. We love your loyalty.”

The crowd cheered again, and I blinked, taking in Rhett’s words with my ears while my eyes got drunk off of Presley.

Look up, goddammit.

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