15. Chapter 15
Chapter 15
C HAPTER FIFTEEN
RORY
"I didn't know these tickets were so expensive," I said, staring at the blue band wrapped around my wrist as Callie and I moved through the crowd. A big crowd of people had gathered in Central Park to watch No Limit perform. The sky was dark, with stars scattered across the black expanse. The air was filled with the sound of screaming girls, and a large stage was set up in the middle.
"But worth it," Callie said, sighing. "Besides, all proceeds go to charity. Isn't that so nice of them?"
I shrugged. Callie and I hadn't actually bought tickets. Raphael had come back from practice a week ago and handed a bunch of them to me, asking if I wanted to come. I couldn't say no. Callie had squealed with delight when I sent them to her and had taken a long time to choose an outfit for tonight. I also gave one to Vivian though I wasn't sure she made it.
From where we stood, I could see the stage. Lights were strewn around, and the band's instruments lay untouched. The crowd was pushing against the barrier and Callie was pushed right into my back, her head poking out above mine.
"Sorry," she said.
"It's fine," I replied. "We should find Tori."
Using my elbow, I nudged a few people out of the way and stepped forward. We found a spot to stand where we could still see the stage but weren't being crushed by the rest of the fans.
"Wow, there are a lot of people here," I said, taking a deep breath.
"Well, they're not the biggest rock band of the decade for no reason," Callie said, bouncing up and down on her feet.
"Rory?" a voice called and we turned to see Tori walking up to us, waving. Behind her, a tall man walked with his hands in the pocket of his jacket. His blonde hair was swept over his forehead, his eyes sharp.
"Hey, you guys made it!" Tori said, smiling. She was wearing a yellow sundress, her brown hair tied in a braid. "I was worried I wouldn't find you."
"Hi, Tori," I said. "Nice to see you again."
I met Tori the day I met the rest of the band. I got to know that she was Mason the leader's girlfriend and also a successful romance writer.
She was pretty impressive.
"Likewise," Tori said, pulling the guy beside her closer. "This is my brother, Will," she said.
Will waved at us, a small smile on his face. "Hello."
"Hi, I'm Rory, and this is my sister, Callie," I said.
Callie and Will exchanged greetings as Tori stared at her phone. "The show is going to start soon. We should head to the front."
We moved, the crowd pushing us closer. Callie was right. There were a lot of people, all of them dressed in black or wearing band merch. The excitement in the air was electric, and I felt it. I had never seen Raphael perform live before but I was looking forward to it.
The lights began to dim and the crowd started cheering. "I think the show is about to start," Callie screamed in my ear.
A figure walked on the stage, and the cheering intensified. His face was painted and he was wearing a leather jacket. He picked up a guitar and tested the sound, then the lights dimmed and the crowd went crazy.
"Holy shit," Callie muttered, her voice shaking. "It's Mace!"
The leader of No Limit struck the first chord, a deep sound that shook me. The crowd was jumping, screaming. I felt Callie's hands clench my shirt.
"Your sister's a fan huh?" Tori yelled into my ear.
I nodded. "A big one."
"Have you ever seen Raphael perform before?"
"Never," I replied.
"Prepare yourself," she said.
I turned back to the stage where Mason was now adjusting the microphone. "Hello, New York," he said.
The crowd screamed back.
He grinned, a huge smile spreading across his face. Four other figures stepped out from the curtains and the noise grew even louder. Rex, the drummer hit the drums and my gaze followed Raphael as he moved into position, a guitar strapped to his neck. He looked so different in his ripped jeans and black tank top.
"One, two, three, four!"
They played. The music was loud and it filled my head, consuming my senses. I watched Raphael as he strummed the guitar, his body moving to the beat. His expression was intense and his hair fell over his eyes. The song was familiar, something he had played a few times before.
"Damn, Raphael looks so hot," a girl behind us muttered, and a laugh bubbled from my throat.
He did.
As the music went on, the crowd moved to the rhythm, jumping up and down, their arms moving. My eyes couldn't leave him, watching as his fingers moved over the guitar, the veins in his arm bulging. Sweat ran down his forehead, his chest heaving.
When the song was over, the crowd cheered.
"Now, now, we're not even done yet," Raphael's voice was smooth as he spoke, a wide grin on his face. He wiped the sweat off his face. "What do you say we play a new song for you guys? Something we haven't played anywhere else."
"Yes, please!" a girl in front of us yelled.
"I can't tell if they really want it," Rex said.
"Yeah, me neither," Mason said. "Do you guys want it?"
This time, the crowd screamed back.
"Then let's fucking go!" Raphael yelled, and they launched into a song.
He sang this time and his voice was smooth and low. The crowd went wild, the noise deafening. Raphael looked like he was having the time of his life, grinning, his face flushed. He moved forward, his hand running through his hair.
I realized I loved his voice.
It was smooth, low, and sexy.
It was perfect.
"Oh wow," I muttered.
"You like?" Tori asked.
A little too much.
The song went on for a few minutes, and the crowd learned the chorus at some point. They sang along, screaming and cheering. It was incredible.
I could see why they were so popular.
After their performance, the crowd screamed and cheered. "We'll see you all again soon," Mason said before they left the stage.
The energy in the air was still buzzing as the crowd left Central Park. Tori, Callie, Will and I headed to the back of the stage where we could meet up with the band.
The guys were sitting in a circle, drinking water. Mason stood the minute he saw us and hugged Tori. He and Will hugged too. "You made it," he said.
"Of course I did, I'm your biggest fan," Will said.
"You were so amazing," Callie gushed. "I swear I almost fainted."
"Oh my God, Callie," I groaned.
Raphael walked over to us. There was still a bit of paint on his face but most of it had been washed off. His hair was wet, clinging to his face. He had a towel around his neck.
"Rory," he said, a smile on his face. "Did you like it?"
I swallowed. "I did," I said. "You were really good."
His eyes lit up and a warm feeling settled in my chest. "Thanks," he said. Then he turned to the rest of the group. "Rory and I are going to head home now," he said.
"We are?" I asked.
"Yeah, you need your rest," he said.
I raised a brow. "How do you know?"
He rolled his eyes and turned to the rest of the guys. "See you guys tomorrow?" he asked.
"Yep, we'll meet you at the studio," Rex said.
We walked out of the park together, the night air cool on my skin. A few guards walked with us to the car. Fans stopped us every now and then, asking for pictures.
"That was the best thing that has happened to me all year," Callie gushed.
Raphael laughed. "Get used to it, you're family now."
Family.
It had always been just Callie and I, since the death of our parents. Now, Callie was slowly building a support system for herself, finding friends and getting involved. Meanwhile, I was so used to being alone that Raphael saying that we were family was a foreign concept to me.
When we got into the limo, I sat in the back seat. The air conditioner was turned on and I shivered, wrapping my arms around myself.
"Are you cold?" he asked.
Before I could respond, he slipped his jacket off and wrapped it around me. "Thanks," I muttered, avoiding his eyes.
"You're welcome," he said, his voice low.
Callie was staring at us, her gaze switching between the two of us. I raised a brow at her. She looked down at the screen of her phone, biting her lip to stop a smile from forming.
We dropped Callie off at the apartment while Raphael and I headed back to the mansion. It was past midnight, and the staff had gone home. We walked through the foyer together.
"Are you hungry?" he asked. "I'm sure Susan left something for us to eat."
I nodded. "Yeah, but I think I want to have a shower first."
We walked up the stairs and just as I was about to separate from him, Raphael grabbed my arm. "Wait," he said.
"Hmm?"
"I want to show you something," he said, pulling me over to the east wing.
"What are you doing?" I asked, following him.
He didn't answer. We moved down the hallway and only stopped in front of a set of double doors. Raphael pushed it open and we stepped inside.
I gasped.
The soft, pastel-hued walls were adorned with delicate, hand-painted murals of friendly woodland creatures and twinkling stars. A gentle, mint green transitioned into a calming sky-blue. A vintage white crib, complete with a canopy draped in sheer, fairy-like fabric stood at the center. To the left, a plush, velvety rocking chair in a soft blush pink sat next to a small, empty bookshelf. Above it, a mobile of fluttering butterflies, crafted from colorful felt, danced gently in the air.
I moved inside, taking in everything. Raphael watched me from the door, his eyes bright.
"Is this...?"
"The baby's room," he said, nodding. "What do you think?"
"Raphael, I..."
It was beautiful.
Tears welled in my eyes.
I didn't expect it.
Raphael moved inside, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jeans. "Do you like it?"
"Like it?"
Like it? No, I loved it.
"This is perfect, Raphael," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me," he said, smiling. "I wanted to surprise you, that's all."
My chest was warm.
I didn't know what to say.
Raphael walked closer. He touched the fabric of the crib and said, "I wanted to make this room as comfortable and soft as possible because our baby isn't the only one who's going to spend a lot of time in here. You're a strong woman, Rory. But it's okay to be scared. It's okay to not be able to handle things on your own. Because I'm going to be there, okay?"
A tear fell from my eye and rolled down my cheek. I wiped it away quickly before he could see. "Did you paint those by yourself?" I asked, pointing at the murals.
He nodded. "I took art lessons as a kid. It was easy."
Of course, he did. Once again, Raphael Barlowe had proven that he was too good to be true.
And I was So, So, Screwed.