Page 50 of Rock God

Not that I was in a rush to end the show.

I was loving every minute of this.

The crowd seemed happy too, clapping and singing along.

I bobbed my head in time to the heavier beat of the next song, “Shiny Pieces,” itching for my eight-string. I just hadn’t wanted to make this first show too complicated. Now I regretted being so conservative. I was absolutely going to change things up when we started rehearsing for the tour. The show would be bigger and longer, so everything would be different, and even just two songs into this one, I knew I wanted to level up. I wasn’t a star yet, but I had the potential, and I was going to do everything in my power to show the world I deserved to be Carter’s replacement.

“God damn, Hollywood, it’s hot in here.” Kingston ran his hands through his now damp hair. “Is anyone else feeling the heat? Anyone else want to ‘Cool Off’ tonight?” That was another one of the band’s hits.

We launched into the next song and after that, one song morphed into the next. I knew the set backward and forward, so it became one long, non-stop plethora of music that fed my soul. I forgot about the past, Larry, and even my current hesitation in immersing myself in the band.

There was nothing but this.

Music and sweat and the roar of the crowd.

My fingers moved on the neck of my bass with ease and precision, and my body remembered the moves, the choreography, even the rhythm, anticipating what I had to do even before I did it.

It had always been this way, from my first live gig when I was seventeen. I’d done piano recitals and school marching band shows, but that had been different. Playing live rock and roll was something else entirely. No one could understand unless and until they could experience it. And at this level? With a band like Onyx Knight? There was literally no greater feeling in the world.

We took our final bow, threw picks and drum sticks into the crowd and retreated into the wings. I handed my bass to the waiting roadie and a wave of emotion washed over me that was so strong, tears stung my eyes.

Oh, fuck.

I turned, and the first person I saw was Kingston.

It wasn’t planned and if I’d stopped to get control of myself, I never would have done it. But the emotion and excitement of the night was more than I could deal with, and before I knew what I was doing, I threw myself into his arms.

And adding insult to injury, I burst into tears.

“Hey. It’s okay.” His arms closed around me without hesitation. “You’re good. It was amazing. Let it out.” He gently stroked my back, and even though I knew the band and crew and most of our management team was watching, all I could do was hang on for dear life.

“God, I’m sorry,” I whispered against his neck since we were almost the same height.

“It’s okay. There’s a lot of emotion involved in this.” His arms were strong and steady around my waist. “No one here will judge you. We’ve all wanted to cry after a particularly emotional show. But we’re guys, so we don’t. You’re allowed to be who you are, though.”

The whirlwind of emotions shooting through me were almost overwhelming, but somehow, with Kingston holding me, it was okay. I’d convinced myself I’d healed from the band-related trauma in my life, but sometimes it didn’t feel like it. Like right now. Except Kingston made it okay. And he didn’t know anything about my past.

I’d never felt as safe and content as I did right now, and a big part of that was the man whose arms I was currently crying in.

It made no sense.

We weren’t a couple.

We were friends, but we’d only known each other a month or so.

The sexual attraction between us didn’t mean anything.

Did it?

I was going to have to think about that, but not tonight.

Not now.

I took a shaky breath and finally pulled away, averting my gaze because I didn’t want to acknowledge just how good it felt to be in Kingston Knight’s arms.

“I’m sorry, guys,” I said, when I could finally find my voice. “That was the most intense…”

“It’s okay.” Z reached out and hugged me next. “We get it. Believe me, we get it. It was an incredible show. You went out there and showed them who you are—which is exactly what we wanted. Listen to them—they’re still cheering. For you.”

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