Chapter 4
I was finally here.
And it was as amazing as I’d imagined.
Or maybe that had to do with the gorgeous guy who was holding my hand.
At first, I’d headed off for the crowd around the beach stage, Ben and Roscoe trailing behind me. But after a few steps, Ben had caught up to me and grabbed my hand.
I’d turned to him in surprise, and he’d raised his eyebrows, his eyes hidden behind his sunglasses. “Is it okay? I don’t want to lose you in the crowd.”
I’d nodded hesitantly. “Yeah. It’s okay.”
And we’d been holding hands ever since. Even after we settled into a spot toward the back of the crowd as Kind Justice came onstage. And even after Roscoe settled in on Ben’s other side.
And even after my hand had grown sweaty in his grasp.
I wanted to wipe it clean, was actually dying of embarrassment that I was so sweaty, but I also didn’t want to let go.
Ben’s arm brushed against mine.
I looked up and found him staring down at me.
He cocked his head then leaned down to talk/shout into my ear over the roar of the music and crowd. “You a fan of them?”
When he pulled back, I shook my head. I think my mom might’ve been a fan back in the day, but this wasn’t the music I listened to on repeat. Or ever.
A slow smile stretched across his mouth. Then he leaned down again. “You hungry?”
I nodded.
He nodded back, clutched my hand tighter, and then we were weaving through the crowds toward the parking lot inside the security barricade where dozens of food trucks lined the pavement.
I mourned the transition from sand to pavement as the heat off the asphalt was almost unbearable. But it didn’t seem to be bothering Ben, despite his long-sleeved t-shirt hoodie and hat. He looked as cool as ever.
“You know, they have better food in the VIP area,” Roscoe pointed out as he scanned the area for threats and fangirls. A trickle of sweat streamed down his temple. “And misters with fans too.”
My heart twisted with guilt. They were only out here in the heat because of me. I didn’t want to keep the guys from the comforts they’d paid a lot of money for. “You guys don’t have to—”
“It’s not that big a deal,” Ben cut in. “I’ve been meaning to try some fish tacos while we’re here. What’s Oregon known for if not fish?”
“Craft beer and Tillamook cheese?” I replied with a smile.
“Christ, you’re the perfect woman. Is it too soon to say I love you?”
I ducked my head as my smile grew way too big.
Ben let go of my hand and put his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side. Then I felt something press against the side of my hair, and I melted into his embrace.
Gah, he even smelled good while sweaty. All spicy and manly and just uniquely him. It was intoxicating.
So, I let him lead me to a food truck that promised seafood tacos. It would’ve been faster if we split up and I got drinks while he got food, but he didn’t want to let me go, and Roscoe wouldn’t leave Ben.
Twenty minutes later, we were noshing on Dungeness crab tacos while waiting in line at the beer tent.
“I’ve never had asparagus in a taco before, but this is epic.” Ben swiped at the sauce trickling down his chin.
I was too busy watching him eat to even try it for myself. He had this effervescence that was intoxicating. Like this whole experience was something he’d never done before.
“Or nuts,” Roscoe tossed out. “But this is addictive. Good call, Emma.”
“You going to eat any, Em?” Ben asked after a few minutes, and once his plate was empty. “You feeling all right?”
I shook my head slightly. “Yeah, no. I’m fine.” I picked up my taco and took a big bite of the fried crab taco in my hands. The guys were right. The asparagus and nutty salsa were amazing. Though hard to eat. I bobbled my plate and taco in my hands and tried not to drop both. “Whoops.”
“Gotcha.” Ben swooped in and saved my plate while Roscoe took a step forward in the line. Ben guided me to the side of the line and out of the way of everyone waiting impatiently for beer. “Maybe it’s a two-hand job for you—since your hands are so small.”
My eyes bulged. Did he just say… I coughed then gagged as the food fought to go down my windpipe and my body rebelled. I coughed again, and Ben thumped a hand against my back, trying to help me.
After a minute, I straightened and wiped at my teary eyes. “Really?”
“What?” He frowned.
I shook my head at him. “Two-hand job? I literally just met you.”
“Oh fuck.” Ben laughed and shook his head. “Guess I’ve gotta watch what I say around you.”
I bit my lip as I looked at this ridiculously attractive man in front of me who’d just paid out the nose for crab tacos for us because I’d mentioned missing my dad’s version. “Maybe you don’t.”
Ben’s eyebrows went up, and I would’ve given anything to see his eyes from behind those stupid sunglasses.
But then I didn’t need to guess at his reaction as he slowly leaned toward me.
He was going to kiss me.
My heartbeat pounded in my ears.
I eagerly parted my lips.
“Here. This should help with the fire that the salsa started.”
We jolted as Roscoe appeared, shoving biodegradable cups of beer at us.
“They gave me some hassle about buying more than one cup. It would’ve been so much easier in the VIP tent.” Roscoe huffed. “You good with Belgians, Emma?”
I blinked up at Roscoe’s sudden hulking presence then took the beer he held out. “Sure. Sounds good.”
Ben’s eyes were still hidden behind those damn sunglasses as he took a sip of his beer. And I felt like I was the only one saddened by our interruption.
Maybe I’d imagined it.
This was such a weird day. Kinda felt like I’d fallen down the rabbit hole into Wonderland or something.
We wandered away from the beer tent drinking our beers while I finished my crab taco. Ben held out my plate for me so I could dab at the guac with my last few bites. Then he offered a napkin he’d hid somewhere before throwing my empty plate away.
Gah. This guy. So sweet and thoughtful.
“So who are you looking forward to seeing?” Ben asked before he took a swig of his beer.
“Kelly Evers will be playing tomorrow. And I really want to hear Tattered Monarchs. Oh, and Monica Moore. I love her songs.”
“So girl bands or artists? Are there any male acts you want to see?”
I shrugged. “I wouldn’t mind hearing Long Licks or the Tin Gods, but I mostly like female artists.”
“Huh. And no rappers?”
I laughed. “Yeah, no. Not my vibe.” I shrugged. “I like music that speaks to me and bonus points if they use dancers.”
Ben coughed, no doubt regretting even asking the question. I was used to guys dogging my taste of music. Like it was a crime to enjoy a female artist. Like their storytelling abilities were somehow less than because they were women singing about love. Didn’t male artists do the same thing?
But then Ben surprised me.
“Kelly Evers usually puts on a good show. Her dance routines are crazy good. And Monica Moore is pretty fun, too. She’ll be headlining festivals like this in a few years. I don’t think the Monarchs have dancers though.”
I smiled as Ben totally made me rethink my assumptions about him. “They don’t. But I still like their music.”
“I know Kelly and the Monarchs play tomorrow. But I think Monica is on in a few hours. Let me look.” He pulled his phone out and tapped at the screen. “Yeah, she’s on the beach stage at eight tonight. The Tin Gods are on the floating stage tomorrow.”
“Floating stage?”
A huge smile spread across his lips. “You don’t know about the floating stage? Come on, let’s go check it out.”
Ben grabbed my hand and pulled me through the crush of the crowd around us. People laughing and talking near the beer tent, lining up for the food trucks, rushing over to the beach stage we’d left.
But further down the beachline another crowd came into view.
And there, only a few feet from the shoreline, was a huge stage floating on the water.
It had vertical towers on either side with a canopy overtop.
Lights and speakers overhead warred with two large screens on either side of the canopy.
There wasn’t an act onstage currently, but a few people scurried around, setting up equipment.
“Wow,” I whispered.
Ben leaned into my side and put his free arm around me. “It’s badass, right? They only started doing it a few years ago. But if there’s lightning, everyone gets evacuated off the stage and the beach.”
“They do that for the whole festival since we’re on the beach,” Roscoe said behind us.
Ben turned, his arm coming off my shoulder for a second before he turned back and pulled me close again.
I fought against the smile tugging at my lips. Nice to know I wasn’t the only one annoyed by our chaperone’s presence. I turned back to the empty stage in front of me. “How do they get on it? And all that equipment. Each act has their own instruments, right?”
“Yeah. They pull those floating piers over there to the stage and tie them on.” Ben gestured with his beer to the pier about a hundred yards from the stage. “And after everything’s in place, they pull it back, so it doesn’t spoil the aesthetic.”
“Wow.”
Roscoe scoffed. “It’s a pain in the ass for the roadies. Can you image carrying all that shit over an unstable surface? And if you step wrong, you’re dropping thousands of dollars of equipment in salt water. Ridiculous.”
“Seriously, man?” Ben turned again and shook his head. Some kind of silent conversation took place because, while nothing else was said, I was pretty sure I heard Roscoe walk a few steps away.
I cleared my throat. “Do you know who’s on stage next?”
“Exempty,” Ben answered.
I tried and failed to muffle my groan.
Ben laughed. “You’re not a fan I take it?”
“I mean, I don’t mind some metal bands. The Tin Gods are amazing. But Exempty is… not my favorite.”
“Why do you think they’re the first act on this stage on day one? They’re no one’s favorite.” Ben laughed lightly. “So do you want to watch them anyways or wander around and wait for the next act on the beach stage?”
I was pretty sure I heard Roscoe mutter something about the VIP section.
We would not be doing that. Or I wouldn’t anyway. Ben could go to the VIP area if he wanted, but I knew if there was one place here I’d be guaranteed to run into the step-monsters it would be there.
“Oh!” I spun to face Ben. “Where’s merch? I really need to get a festival t-shirt at least. I should probably get one for Gwen too.”
Roscoe made some gasping, groaning sound behind me.
I bit my lip. “Is that a problem? I could always go over to merch and meet up with you guys later at the beach stage? You know what? Let’s do that. I’ll meet you guys in—”
Ben cut me off with a wave of his hand. “Not happening. I literally just found you. I’m not letting you out of my sight again. Next thing I’d know some douche who doesn’t need a chaperone would swoop in and scoop you up. Not happening.”
I don’t know why I found that so endearing, but I did. I smiled and ducked my head at the exasperation in his voice and the glare he’d no doubt sent to Roscoe.
“So, merch?”
I nodded decisively. “Merch.”
I giggled as I let him pull me through the heaving masses again.
When we reached the merch area, I almost whimpered at the size of the line stretching out in front of the white tent. It snaked for forever. There were so many people. This was going to take hours. “Maybe we should go back and listen to Exempty. This is insane.”
“Only for people who don’t have one of these.” Ben tapped at the lanyard hanging just below my boobs, and my heart stuttered. I almost didn’t hear what he said next. My pulse was pounding in my ears. “We get to go to the special line over there. Come on.”
Then he pulled me in a different direction before I even registered his words. My body moved on its own. I was too busy trying to get my racing heartbeat under control.
Ben maneuvered Roscoe in the line in front of us and crouched down slightly to kinda hide behind him. That was weird. Was he really so recognizable? I guess people standing in line had a lot of time to people watch, unlike when we stood in the crowd at the stage.
“If this is too chancy for you, we can always—” I broke off because it was my turn to duck as I saw Daphne standing in line about four people in front of us with her whole entourage of high school harpies.
Bree and Tamsin had taken almost the same amount of joy bullying me in school that Daphne had at home.
I didn’t want to be anywhere near them. And I really didn’t want Ben near them either. I could only imagine the embarrassing scene they’d make about him. Hell, they probably knew exactly who he was.
This was a nightmare.
“Everything okay?” Ben asked, leaning down to huskily whisper in my ear like he knew exactly what was up.
I shook my head. “A step-monster is in line in front of us. I don’t want her to see me. I’m supposed to be at work today, remember?”
Fine lines fanned out from Ben’s sunglasses. He was probably only now remembering what a loser I was.
Tears burned my eyes, but I’d be damned if I was going to let them fall. I was going to be strong.
Then I heard Daphne’s light laugh trill through the tent and a wave of fear slammed into me.
I would be strong on Monday.
First thing.
For real this time.
I spun around and pushed my way through the people standing in line behind us. A tear that’d been burning my eyes fell and tracked down my cheek.
I couldn’t even come to a festival with thousands of other people without them ruining it for me.