Chapter 30
Chase
There was no way I was going to be able to concentrate at the office. With the show tonight, it was a moot point to even be at work. Since I didn’t want anyone else to know about it, I needed to forge on and do my best.
Maryellen came in handy. Any time I struggled, I simply walked out of my office and down the hall to her desk. I might get a smile or a hug.
Anything helped to take my mind off the anxiety I was feeling.
Mallory was a help as well, even though she wasn’t aware. She kept me on task with a couple meetings I wasn’t completely prepared for. She provided me with the necessary notes to get through them without looking like a total failure.
When the workday finally ended, I couldn’t get out of there quick enough.
“Ya ready?” I asked Maryellen.
“I am.”
As she shut down her computer, I grabbed her bag to speed things along.
“Where you guys off to tonight?”
When I heard Gage’s question, I dropped my head in frustration. This was what I’d been trying to avoid.
“Harper said you couldn’t make it over for dinner.”
Maryellen gave me a quick side glance, then touched my hand as she joined me standing next to her desk.
“We have plans with Evie at her gallery,” she said. “But I can’t wait for the next invite. This is going to be fun with the four of us.”
I grasped her hand, gently tugging on her finger as a show of thanks. She was smooth with her little white lie for me.
“Maybe next weekend, have a good time,” Gage said as he entered his office and closed the door.
Dragging her down the hall, we jumped on the elevator to avoid any more delays.
“That’s a bit scary how easy you lied to him, and so believable.” I pulled her into my arms, thankful for the privacy to be able to feel her body against mine. We made sure to keep it professional while at the office.
“I hated lying to him, I really did. It was for you, though.” She clasped her hands around my neck and looked up at me with a bright smile. “Anything to make this night perfect for you.”
My lips landed on hers just as the doors opened to the first floor. The lobby was crowded with people from every other company that worked in the building; no one down here paid any attention to us.
“C’mon, Tommy’s waiting for us out front. I want you to come to my place and we’ll head to Iggy’s together.”
That was when I felt the bag in my hand. Mare’s overnight bag I was carrying for her.
“Yeah, damn, forgot we already decided you’re staying at my place.”
She grabbed my hand and laughed. “That’s OK. You’re excited, and that makes me even more excited for you.”
Iggy’s was packed. Mare and I weaved our way through the crowd the best we could, being careful with my guitar as we did. My pulse ratcheted up a notch knowing I’d be up on that stage soon singing for all these people.
Singing my own shit.
“Chase!” Jerry was a sight for sore eyes. He was always smiling and in a good mood. “Hey, man, you ready for this?”
“I don’t know, there’s a shit ton of people here.”
He cackled. He literally cackled. “Yeah, word got out you were playing tonight.”
My stomach dropped. Maryellen squeezed my hand, and I felt her excitement.
“Jerry, do you remember my girlfriend Maryellen?”
He took his cap off as he bowed in her direction. “What are you doing with this bozo? You’re too pretty for him.” He moved over to the side of his stand and pulled her behind him. “I have the perfect seat for you, my darling. Away from this craziness, and right up close to the action.”
She smiled at him, then me, as she walked toward her guest of honor seat.
“You,” Jerry said, pointing to me. “Get your ass backstage.”
Moving over to Mare, I leaned in for a kiss.
She held my face and looked me in the eye. “You’re gonna do great, babe,” she said against my lips.
Once I made it to the back, I settled in with a couple other performers who were already here. They were busy readying their instruments or looking over their music. I took out my guitar, put on my headphones, and listened to some Lifehouse.
It was what calmed me most. If I were to look at my stuff, I’d start panicking. Instead, I listened to other people’s music, songs that have inspired me to write my own shit.
One by one, the other artists headed out to do their thing.
The closer it got to my time to go…the calmer I became.
This was where I was supposed to be.
A girl I didn’t recognize tapped me on the shoulder. “Chase Parker?”
I nodded. She waved for me to follow her and brought me to the short staircase leading to the stage.
I was up next.
“Let’s hear it for Milly!” Jerry yelled. The crowd cheered and clapped. “I think many of you out there came for our next performance. This is his Friday night live debut, so give a warm welcome to Chase Parker!”
The crowd roared as I walked on stage. The spotlight blinded me, the crowd a blur as I stared out. I positioned the stool to the side of the mic stand to allow my guitar to hang just right. As I sat, I lightly strummed a few strings getting their attention.
“Thanks, everyone, for that warm welcome. I hope I live up to your expectations tonight. Let’s give this a whirl, why don’t we.”
I felt like my life had finally begun as I sang the first word.
I knew I should go straight to Mare, but I needed a moment to myself back here. A moment to allow what just happened to sink in.
I played a gig on stage. With my own music. And people loved it. I got a standing ovation.
The adrenaline coursing through my body made me tremble to the point I had to put my guitar on the floor. The sweat poured from my temples as I took deep breaths to calm myself.
I felt amazing.
As I continued to relish the moment, I heard the next performer take the stage. I figured it was time for me to head out front. Opening my guitar case, I set my guitar inside.
“Chase?” I thought it would be Jerry, but when I turned around, the person standing there was a stranger in a suit.
“Yeah, can I help you?”
As I rushed to make my way to Maryellen, I banged against people left and right in the crowd. I wound up being backstage for an hour after I finished.
She was swaying to the music of the performer currently on stage. I hated taking her away from this since she was enjoying it, but we needed to talk.
“Mare,” I said in her ear. She turned and her eyes went wide.
“Where have you been? I was getting worried.”
“Grab your stuff, we’re heading out.”
I wasn’t giving her much time, forcing her to follow quickly behind as I snaked my way through the crowd to the front door. Her grip on the back of my shirt was the only way I knew she kept up.
Once outside, I turned to face her.
“What’s going on?” she asked. “After you played, I thought I would see you. You were fantastic, by the way. I mean, you were so good, Chase. The whole place went crazy for you.”
An electric current ran through my entire body. The news I needed to share, to scream. I grabbed her by the arms, unable to keep it in any longer.
“There was a scout here tonight, Mare.” My voice trembled as I spoke. “And they’re interested in me. They offered me a spot on a small tour with a few other singers. Can you fuckin’ believe it?”
Her mouth fell open as she stared at me.
“Chase,” she said. “Oh my God. That’s incredible.”
I picked her up and spun her around in my excitement. When I put her down, her face had changed.
She asked me a question that hit hard.
“What does this really mean?”