Chapter 16 #2
He stared at me incredulously. “Drake, all anyone’s been talking about is how much work you’ve been doing to make this festival go smoothly. Zeke’s always impossible to get hold of if they have issues, but you’ve made it easy.”
My face felt hot. “I’ve just been handling things as they came up.”
He rolled his eyes. “Exactly. Anyway, stand here.” He positioned me right in the middle of the walkway, forcing all the festival-goers to walk around me. “The amphitheater frames you nicely in the background. Tilt your hat up a little.”
I obligingly adjusted my cowboy hat, then I let him manhandle me, arranging me to his satisfaction.
As Alex started clicking his camera, Finn appeared over his shoulder, still wearing his scrubs from work.
I grinned. “Hey!” I decided Alex had had enough time to get his shots, so I walked around him to embrace Finn.
“Thank you so much for my shoes. I’ll pay you back. ”
He kissed me. “Nope. You’ll come on the trip with me, Charlie, and Kirk.”
I stepped back and searched his face. “Really?”
“Really.” He kissed me again, and I hugged him as tight as I could.
I smiled against his neck. “Is that your fanny pack, or are you just happy to see me?”
He broke away, laughing.
“Are you two done yet?”
“Oops. Sorry, Alex.” We turned to face him, but Finn kept his arm around my waist. “I’m assuming you’re still working?”
I held up my tablet. “Probably until at least 11:30.”
“Damn, that’s late. I’ll wait for you in the cabin, okay?”
I frowned. “Are you sure? Doesn’t Charlie need you at home?”
He shook his head. “I asked Mom and Dad to stay over.”
I hugged him again. “Boyfriend of the Year.”
His cheeks were a little red when I let go.
Thursday was easier than Wednesday had been, in large part due to my feet not hurting. But also the vendors were settled in, the bands were ready to go on time, and everyone found their respective stages without issue. All in all, it was a fun day.
Zeke had agreed to put up the Hall of Fame guys in a couple of the cabins, so I met them at the compound driveway to get them squared away.
“Thanks so much for doing this at the last minute, y’all. Especially when you’re not headlining.”
Bastian, a forty-something hottie, grinned. “The band’s taking a break, but it doesn’t hurt to get some practice in here and there.”
“Well, I appreciate it. And Satyr’s Kiss is over the moon about you opening for them.” They’d be telling this story for decades.
“Sorry you’re not playing anymore. Hey, would you want to join us on stage for a song or two? We’d love to have you.”
I smiled and shook my head. “Thanks, but I need to focus on running the festival. And I’m not trying to promote myself as an artist, so it’d be a wasted effort on your part. But it’s nice of you to offer.”
He looked insulted. “Wasted effort? Who the hell have you been hanging out with? Drake, we’re doing this gig as a favor. Having you play with us would be fun. Fun is always worth the effort.”
Ouch. I rubbed the back of my neck. “Sorry. You’re right. Every once in a while my asshole father comes out of my mouth. I still have to pass, but I appreciate the invitation.”
Bastian nodded. “Lots of us have had people in our lives who continue to sabotage us even after they’re gone. No worries. See you at the show.”
I didn’t see Finn at the festival Thursday, but he was waiting for me in bed when I got back to the cabin around midnight. I showered, and when I slid under the covers, he cuddled close. Fuck, I didn’t want to leave him. Would I ever find anyone else who’d treat me as well as he did?
Plus, I wanted a chance to spoil him for a change. How long could I stay?
Or was the better question, did I really have to leave?
Friday afternoon I told Zeke he was in charge for the next few hours, and I went to the compound to greet Poppy and her husband Mac, along with their entourage of security and band members.
“Drake!” Poppy hopped out of the huge SUV and surrounded me in one of her all-consuming hugs. Something inside me eased. I’d been lonely for people who knew me, I realized.
“It’s good to see you. Hey, Mac.” I had to nod at him over Poppy’s shoulder, as she still hadn’t let me go.
He chuckled. “Hey, Drake. Full disclosure, I’m under strict orders from my dad to make sure you’re okay up here in the wilds of Vermont. I may need photo evidence.”
I rolled my eyes. “Wesley’s the one who asked me to come here. But sure, whatever makes him happy.”
Poppy eventually released me, only to hold me at arm’s length and look me up and down. “I think Vermont agrees with you.” She whirled toward Mac. “We should rent a house here next summer.”
He smiled at her in that besotted way he had. “Whatever you want, hon.”
She beamed and bounced on her toes. “Yes! Then we can hang out more, Drake. I’d love it if we could write some songs together, but we’ve never had time before.”
“Um, sure? I mean, I’d love that, and I’m happy to meet you up here.”
She cocked her head. Then her eyes widened. “Oh, right. Yeah, you should meet us up here.”
I heard a smacking noise, and I turned to see Del, who’d been Poppy’s head of security for ages. He was rubbing his forehead.
“Hey, Del. How are you?”
“I’m good, Drake. Can you add me to the security app for the gate? I need to let the tour bus in.”
I got him set up, then Poppy grabbed my arm. “I’m dying to hear your new songs. When do you have time to play them for me?”
“How about now? Zeke’s handling the festival stuff for the next couple of hours.”
I brought my guitar over to Poppy and Mac’s cabin, and once everyone had glasses of water or tea, it was showtime.
“Okay, this first one’s fairly final, lyric and melody-wise. The second one, I’ve got the words where I want them but the melody’s giving me trouble.”
“Got it.” She put her phone on the coffee table to record, so she could listen to the songs later.
“This one’s called, ‘Better than Blood’.
” I launched into the song I’d been inspired to write by my relationship with Dirk and by Finn’s relationship with his friend group.
Poppy, as she typically did when Dirk and I played her something we’d written, spent the entire song leaning forward with elbows on her knees and her eyes closed.
Mac smiled throughout, but he wasn’t my primary audience.
When the song ended, Poppy nodded. “That’ll be a great concert song. My fans will love it. Hell, I love it.”
I grinned. “Good to hear.”
“Alright, play me this other one.”
I took a deep breath. “I call this one ‘Friends with Benefits’.” I sang it for her, bumpy melody and all. It was one of the most personal songs I’d ever written, and as I sang, I was incredibly glad Finn and I had gotten over ourselves and moved into actually dating.
During the second verse, Poppy sat up and opened her eyes. She didn’t smile, she didn’t frown, but she also didn’t take her gaze off me for the rest of the song.
I brought it to a close, and she shook her head, pressing her lips together. “Drake.”
I frowned. “You hate it?”
She shook her head harder and then she fucking wiped her eyes. My mouth dropped open. She sucked in a shaky breath. “Drake, I see what you mean about the melody, but those lyrics are probably the best you’ve ever written.”
I couldn’t speak. I stared at her, my mouth hanging open.
“That line, ‘I wanted to kiss you when you walked in. But you just said hey.’” She shivered. “Devastating.”
“Um, thanks?”
Then she turned into the mega-millions businessperson. “But you’re right, the melody isn’t doing it justice. Let’s work on it.”
I didn’t leave her cabin until 9:00 p.m. I texted Zeke to apologize and see how things were going, but he told me he had things under control and I should get some rest. Fuck, yeah.
I opened my text thread with Finn.
Me:
Heading back to the cabin. I have the rest of the night off! What are you up to?
Finn:
Waiting for you
I broke into a jog.