Chapter 15
For all her worries, Liv had the crowd eating out of the palm of her hand. She was crushing it. My foot tapped along to the music, my eyes glued to the live feed. The camera couldn’t do her justice, but even through the digital filter, I was mesmerised.
Her voice soared over the screaming crowd; her smile was electric under the lights. My chest ached with a mix of pride, admiration, and more than a little desire.
And she thought she’d screw it up.
The mere idea was laughable to me. She had something special, and I intended to spend every moment I could reminding her of it until she believed me.
“Oi, Lewis!” Tom’s voice cut through my reverie. “Quit drooling and come have a beer with us. We’re meant to be celebrating and preparing, not mooning over a screen all night.”
I rolled my eyes but tore my gaze away, grabbing the offered bottle.
Around me, the room buzzed with barely contained energy, the air thick with pre-show jitters and booze-fuelled laughter. Between my bandmates, the Rhiannon guys, their partners, and a couple of dancers, the green room was packed.
“How’s she doing out there?” Andy asked, nodding towards the screen.
“Bloody brilliant.” My voice deepened, giving away far too much emotion. “She’s got the crowd in the palm of her hand.”
“I’m not surprised.” He tapped his bottle against mine. “Lily knows how to pick ‘em.”
I chuckled. That she did. I just don’t think our lead singer and oldest friend intended to find my perfect match at the same time.
“So when are you gonna stop drooling and actually talk to her, mate?” Tom nudged me, waggling his brows.
I shoved him off, heat creeping up my neck. “Sod off. It’s not like that.”
But that was a lie. One that stuck in my throat the more I said it.
“Could’ve fooled me,” Alex muttered as he joined us. He took a long pull of his beer.
Dan and Mel’s daughter’s giggles broke the awkward moment as she darted between us, her little hands sticky with what looked suspiciously like chocolate. Mel followed close behind, her scowl a mix of exasperation and barely concealed amusement.
“Which one of you lot snuck her sweets again?” She snatched the munchkin up and settled her on her hip. “I’ve told you, she’s hyper enough without the sugar rush!”
Tom held up his hands, warding her off. “Don’t look at me, love. I learned my lesson last time.”
James and Jared snickered from the sofas. Mel rounded on them.
“Aw, c’mon Mel, she’s just excited.” Jared laughed, popping open his own beer. “It’s a big night for all of us.”
“She’s five, Jared. She doesn’t need to be bouncing off the trucking walls.”
A burst of cheers from the live feed drew my attention away from them, just in time to catch Liv hitting a particularly impressive high note, her face alive with joy.
God, she was something else. I couldn’t take my eyes off her, the way she commanded the stage, the way her voice seemed to reach right into my chest and?—
Alex chucked a balled-up napkin at my head. “You’re doing it again.”
I flipped him off good-naturedly, but my face still burned. Was I that obvious? I sneaked a glance at the guys, but they were back to ribbing each other and laughing. Only Tom met my gaze, a knowing smirk on his lips.
I looked away quickly, hoping they would let it go. Fat chance of that happening.
The green room door opened, and a familiar tall figure stepped in.
“Rhys!” Lily shrieked, launching herself into his arms before he’d taken more than three steps. “What are you doing here?”
A very good question.
Rhys laughed, spinning her around. “Couldn’t miss opening night, could I?”
She pulled back, smacking his chest lightly. “You could’ve told me you were coming!”
“And ruin the surprise?” He grinned, leaning down to kiss her softly. “Never.”
I watched them, a pang of envy mixing with the happiness I felt for my friends. They made it look so easy, being together. No secrets, no hiding. Just love, plain and simple.
Tom sidled up to me, smirking. “See? That’s how it’s done. Take notes.”
I rolled my eyes, shoving him away. “Sod off.”
But he wasn’t deterred. “Seriously, if you don’t make a move soon, one of us might have to.” His voice was laced with amusement. “Can’t let a bird like that slip away, can we Andy?”
Andy shook his head. “It’d be a right shame. Girl’s got pipes and looks to boot.”
“Lay off, will you? I’m working on it,” I said, feigning irritation.
“Working on what? Boring holes into the screen with your eyes?” Tom laughed. “Liv deserves better than your longing stares.”
“I know that,” I managed, struggling to keep a straight face. “I just… I don’t want to screw it up, alright?”
It wasn’t a total lie. I was constantly terrified of mucking it up somehow. She meant too much to me.
Andy clapped a hand on my shoulder. “You won’t. Anyone with eyes can see she’s just as gone on you.”
I ducked my head, hiding a smile. A particularly raucous burst of laughter from the corner drew our attention. A group of dancers were huddled together, giggling and shrieking over something on one of their phones. Alex glared at the dancers. I knew that look. That rigid set of his jaw, the white-knuckled grip on his beer bottle. Ceri wasn’t with them, but I had no doubt she was the reason for his foul mood.
“Reckon we should say something?” I murmured to Tom and Andy.
Tom sighed. “Doubt he’d listen. You know how he gets when Ceri’s involved.”
Andy shook his head. “Still, it might be worth a shot. Can’t have him moping about all tour. It’ll throw off the whole vibe.”
I opened my mouth to agree, but before I could get a word out, the door burst open. Kevin stormed in, his face like a thundercloud.
“Jack!” he barked, making a beeline for Lily’s dad. “A word. Now.”
Jack, who’d been happily chatting with Rhys and Lily, looked up in surprise. “Everything alright, Kevin?”
“No, everything is not alright.” Kevin’s voice was tight with barely contained fury. “We need to talk. In private.”
A hush fell over the room, everyone’s eyes darting between Kevin and Jack. I exchanged a worried glance with Tom and Andy. This couldn’t be good.
Jack’s brow furrowed, but he nodded. “Alright. Let’s step outside then.”
As they moved towards the door, I strained my ears, trying to catch snippets of their conversation.
“… can’t just change things last minute…” Kevin hissed.
“… my daughter’s wellbeing…” Jack’s reply was muffled as the door swung shut behind them.
Lily watched them go. Rhys rubbed her back soothingly, murmuring something in her ear that made her relax slightly.
“What do you reckon that’s about?” Andy asked in a low voice.
I shrugged, unease settling in my gut. “No idea. But it can’t be good.”
Tom frowned. “You don’t think it’s about…” He trailed off, but we all knew what he was implying.
The discrepancies in the books. The sneaking suspicion that Kevin was up to something dodgy. Just a gut feeling that something wasn’t right.
“Maybe,” I said slowly. “But let’s not jump to conclusions. Could be anything.”
Even as I said it, I knew I was just trying to convince myself. If Jack was getting involved, stepping in where he usually left the day-to-day management to Kevin, it had to be serious.
“Has anyone seen my picks?” James patted his pockets, his brow furrowed. “I swear I had them a minute ago.”
Ryan smirked, producing a fistful of colourful triangles from his own pocket. “You mean these? You’d lose your head if it wasn’t screwed on.”
“Har, bloody, har.” James snatched the picks.
I tried to block them out, to focus on Liv’s voice pouring from the speakers. But it was like trying to meditate in the middle of a riot. Every time I felt myself slipping under her spell, another shout or cackle would jolt me back.
Sod it.
I slipped out of the room, letting the door click shut behind me. In the hallway, I broke into a jog, dodging roadies and techs as I made my way towards the stage.
“Where’s the fire, Davies?” Mason, our head roadie, called after me, his arms full of coiled cables.
I didn’t answer, just flashed him a grin and kept running, Liv’s voice growing louder with each step.
Backstage was a hive of activity, a whirlwind of bodies and equipment and barely controlled chaos. I pushed through, my eyes fixed on the wings, on the sliver of stage visible beyond.
I reached the side stage just as Liv launched into her final song. Lovers Knot huddled nearby, whooping and clapping along, ready to take the stage after her.
But I only had eyes for Liv. Her hair gleamed under the lights, her smile incandescent as she poured her heart into every note. She was magnificent, a star ascending before our eyes.
As if sensing my presence, she turned, glancing into the wings. Her gaze caught mine and her face lit up. My breath hitched, my skin prickling with awareness, with the unspoken connection that had sparked between us from the moment we met.
The rest of the world fell away. It was just us, just the music and the connection crackling between us like a live wire.
Her performance took on a new intensity, every lyric, every chord imbued with unspoken promise.
When the last note faded, the roar was deafening. Liv took her bow, blowing kisses to the crowd before bounding off stage. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes bright with triumph and a heat that set my blood humming.
I can’t wait to get her alone.
I wanted nothing more than to go to her, to pull her into my arms and tell her how incredible she’d been. But I held back, mindful of the curious eyes watching our every move.
So instead, I settled for a smile. A small, secret thing that said everything I couldn’t put into words.
Her answering grin was radiant, her eyes bright with joy and understanding. She knew. Of course she knew.
Mia appeared at her elbow, shepherding her towards the dressing rooms.