4. Savvy
Savvy
I ’ve been pushing my way through the crowd gathered in front of the stage for the last few minutes, but it honestly feels like I’m not getting anywhere.
I should have just stayed in the closed-off section; however, I thought I had enough time to reach the main floor and get to the front before Oliver’s set started.
I wanted a front-row view of him performing and also to be close by if he needed me.
I come to a halt when two huge guys step into my path, completely ignoring me when I ask them to move.
I’m on the verge of stomping my foot down on one of theirs, but then I see a small gap and quickly duck under one of their arms, continuing to make my way forward.
I manage to get about halfway to the front when the crowd starts cheering.
Glancing up, I see Oliver walking across the stage, slowly making his way to the mic set up at the front.
His eyes keep darting to the left side of the club, where I’m supposed to be, and I feel a pang in my chest when he finally gives up trying to find me.
He mumbles a hello to the crowd, introduces himself, and then squeezes his eyes shut.
When he opens them again, I see the panic on his face, and I just know I have to get to him right the fuck now.
I double down on my efforts to get closer to him, my eyes never leaving his face. I’m almost at the front when a hard body slams into me, knocking me to the ground. I grunt as I try to push myself up when a set of tattooed hands lifts me right off the floor .
“Are you okay?” A gruff voice asks me, and I glance up, doing a double take at the behemoth of a man standing in front of me.
This is not the time to gawk at him, idiot.
“I’m good, thank you!” My eyes widen as my brain formulates an idea.
Without thinking, I grab his shirt, pulling him down until we are face to face, and I can whisper in his ear.
He looks slightly taken aback but mostly amused.
“My friend is up there,” I point in the direction of the stage.
“He needs me right now, so if you could get me to the front right now I’ll owe you one. Or ten. I’m desperate.”
He let out a little chuckle before squatting down in front of me.
I scrambled onto his back, wrapping my limbs around his waist and neck.
When he was sure I was holding on tight, he got to his feet and started making his way toward the stage where Oliver began playing the opening lyrics on his guitar.
He sounded good, but I could tell he was shaken by how some of the notes came out.
People make room for the guy carrying me to pass easily, and we reach the front just as the singing part of the song begins.
Oliver opens his mouth, but nothing comes out.
His eyes widen, and I wave my hands frantically, trying to grab his attention.
He finally sees me, and I feel a glimmer of hope that just my presence would help him continue.
I swear my heart breaks when he ultimately shakes his head before slamming his eyes shut, but not before I see the fear in them.
Nope. Fuck this. My alpha is hurting, and I’m not just going to stand by and allow that to happen.
I channel my inner monkey, climbing the poor guy holding me, until I’m sitting on his shoulders.
I pull him by the hair, tilting his face so he is looking at me upside down.
“You need to get me on the stage,” I yell at him over the crowd screaming .
“Are you insane?”
I shrug one shoulder. “Yes, but that doesn’t change the fact that I need to get up there.” I glance up at Oliver, who is currently backing away from the mic. The fact he has forgotten I was even down here, on a random guy’s shoulders, shows how lost he is in his own thoughts.
I yank at the guy’s hair again, letting a growl that shocks even me. “NOW!”
“Jesus, calm down. I would like to have some hair left by the end of the night.”
He easily lifts me over his head and onto the stage; I take a second to mouth thank you to him before getting to my feet and rushing Oliver. I launch myself at him, apparently still role-playing a monkey, and he turns around just in time to catch me, wrapping his arms around me.
“How the fuck did you get up here Savvy? Are you crazy?” I let out a small laugh, “You’re the second person to ask that in the last two minutes.”
I see the sides of his lips tilt up a little, but it quickly goes away. “Savvy, I can’t do it. Can we leave?” He asks me in such a broken voice, I almost cry.
A guy standing off to the side points at his watch, and I flip him off. The asshole smirks at me but holds his hands up in surrender and, thankfully, backs off.
I shimmy down Oliver’s body and grab him by the shirt when my feet hit the floor. I pull his face close to mine, before pressing a light kiss to his lips. “Nope, not happening. I don’t have time for a big pep talk, but can you trust me when I tell you I have your back? ”
He looks shocked by the kiss, but lets out a sigh, running his hand through his blonde curls. “I trust you Savvy, but I don’t trust myself to pull this off.”
“Well, you’ll just have to let me believe for both of us then.” I shoot him a wink and he gives me a small smile in return. Yay. Progress. “Hand over your guitar. I need you to focus on singing. Can you do that?”
“It’s gonna sound pretty shitty without the guitar Savvy.”
“Well duh,” I roll my eyes at him, making grabby hands at the guitar.
“That’s why I’m going to play it. This just turned into a two-man show.
” His eyes widened but thankfully doesn’t question me anymore.
He hands the guitar over, and I take a few seconds to get comfortable with it.
I haven’t played in almost a year, but it’s like riding a bike, right?
“Okay, Ollie, remember I’m right here if you feel nervous. Just look at me when it gets overwhelming.”
The crowd, bless their hearts, start shouting out words of encouragement and I can’t help feeling happy that there are still good people out there.
I wait for Oliver to give me the go-ahead, and I gently pluck the first chords, the opening lyrics spilling out.
My heart flutters with a bittersweet mix of nostalgia and hope, each note bringing forth a memory I have tried so hard to lock away.
Not the time, Savvy, this isn’t about you. This is for Oliver.
I know that’s nonsense but now is not the time to fixate on it.
I glance over at Oliver, who is staring at me in shock, and I use my eyes to gesture him towards the mic.
I hold my breath when the part comes up where he has to join in on vocals, and when his voice blends with the guitar sounds, it’s my turn to look at him in disbelief .
Holy hell. The crowd goes silent as his smooth, gravelly voice fills the space before chaos erupts. Everyone goes wild hearing my dominant voice, and any doubt about my being an omega vanishes when all I can think about is begging Oliver to bite me.
I hear a “whoop” and a “fuck yeah” from somewhere behind me and glance over my shoulder just in time to see a cute guy with wavy brown hair launch himself behind the drum set on stage. He catches me looking and shoots me a wink before he starts pounding his sticks into the drums,
Okay, I guess we’re a three-man show then.
The part of the song where the second artist joins in on vocals is coming up. I’m so lost in the moment that I don’t even think when I step up to the mic and start singing their part. My heart pounds as I belt out the first few lines.
Oliver takes a small step back, looking at me in awe.
He gestures to the guitar, and I hand it over before gripping the mic and continuing with the song.
It takes Oliver only a couple of seconds to join in with the guitar, and when we reach the part where both artists sing, our voices sync up in perfect harmony.
The crowd starts joining in on the singing, and Oliver starts commanding the stage like a true rock star. Someone throws their bra onto the stage, and I swallow down the urge to go punch her.
I step back, allowing Oliver to finish the song on his own.
When he finishes, the crowd goes wild with some begging him for another song.
I begin to back away, wanting to give him his moment, but his eyes catch my movement.
He shakes his head, and the next thing I know, he has me in his arms, lifting me so we’re face to face.
I stare down at him with what I’m sure are hearts in my eyes before my entire world tilts when he slams his lips into mine.
I can’t help but let out a small groan when his tongue dives into my mouth, my foot doing that little pop thing you see in romance movies.
We only break apart when we are both out of breath.
“Savvy,” he stares down at me, his husky voice doing weird things to my insides.
“Is it too soon to tell you I love you?” He pecks another kiss to my lips.
“Thank you Little Ember, you turned this into the best fucking night of my life. I would never have been able to do this on my own, but you sweet girl, meeting you, that is the highlight.”
He carries me off stage, and I bury my face in his neck, sucking in his scent. He’s sweaty from being on stage, so he smells extra delicious, and all my horny brain can think about is getting him somewhere alone.
The noise of the crowd gets fainter when we make it backstage, and he carries me over to an L-shaped couch before sitting down with me in his lap. He leans in to kiss me again, but the moment is interrupted when the guy who was pointing at his watch earlier, rushes towards us.