Page 40 of The Second Deal

“Cool.Thatshould get us by tonight.”Shannonfocuses on me, brows raised high. “Youready,Steph?”

“No!”Iexclaim.

“C’mon,” he beckons, “you’re the notoriousStephaniWade.Yougot this.”

“Oh,God,”Igroan under a shaky breath as we all turn to face the darkened stage.

Ahand grabs mine, squeezing hard.Adriansays in my ear, “Yougot this, princesa,” before kissing my cheek and letting go to march out onto the stage withShannonandRobbie, drumsticks in hand.

Ileap forward to catch up, and the crowd hoots and hollers.

I’mhere.

I’mon stage.

I’mon stage with my old band and my ex-boyfriend’s unfamiliar guitar hanging from my neck and a breath stuck in my lungs thatIcan’t quite let go of becauseIkeep doing thingsIthoughtIwould never do again.

Shannonreleases an unholy growl from deep within his chest that shakes the venue.

Lightsflash on, dancing across the stage and illuminating a jumping crowd.Idon’t have to look to know all eyes are on me.

Andlike riding a goddamn bike, my fingers dance across the fretboard, plucking a familiar riffIremember composing in our first practice space in high school.

Asea of phones and flashing lights take photos and video of my unexpected guest appearance, butIcan’t stop staring at my hands onZak’sguitar.

Eventually, my stare breaks, scanning the crowd before looking over at my former bandmates for something.Anything.Somereassurance thatI’mnot royally fucking up songs we wrote together over ten years ago.

Robbiefocuses on his bass between interactions with the crowd, mouthing words along with them.Shannonjumps up and down with the crowd, waving them on before hiking a leg up on an amp and bending over to scream from his diaphragm.

Adriannotices me desperately looking around as he beats his set, crashing cymbals between toms and the snare, powerhouses for legs pounding a double kick set.Hesmirks in a way that makes the breath caught in my lungs disappear completely before he points a drumstick in my direction and winks.

Thefirst song ends with a literal bang.

Thelights lower, and fans go wild.

Shannonsaunters over and throws an arm over my shoulders, looking out over the crowd. “Steph’sbeen gone a while, so she doesn’t know any of our new shit by heart.Sohow about an old school set tonight?Y’allfuck with that?”

Thehollers and screams the crowd responds with sends goosebumps flooding throughout my skin.

Everysingle one of my limbs is numb.

Flashesof blue and purple and green lights blur people and instruments together into one amalgamation.

Shannon’sshrieks and growls scramble my brain until it pushes my face toward the microphone in front of me andIsing or scream with him, precisely on cue likeInever forgot.

Adrian’spercussive explosions set the pace for the beating in my chest.

Afew fans that scream and headbang in front of me remind me whereIam and whatI’mdoing when my mind starts floating out into the ether above the crowd.

Ishouldn’t be on this stage, but my head bangs as ifIcouldn’t possibly be anywhere else.

“How’dshe do tonight?”

Fanscheer, the sound consuming the entire venue and then some.Realizingthey’re cheeringfor me,Iwave afterItake a quick gasp of breath sinceIcan finally breathe a little.

Butthe rhythm of my heart falters.

It’sover already?

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