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“I’ll go track down the boys.”
Leaving Skylar and Erica on the stage, Elena made her way backstage, where she found Gordon, Michael, and Andy huddled around a table, all watching videos on one of their phones. She put her hands on her hips and laughed.
“So, you just left me and Skylar with Erica, huh?” Elena’s voice startled them out of their movie, but they all quickly realized she was joking. “You’ll be happy to know the arrangement is exactly like we first had, but Erica’s actually okay with it now.”
“Thank god.”
“She’s insane.”
“Be nice,” Andy quipped at Michael. “Are we ready to rehearse?”
“Yeah, we need to make sure we have everything nailed down.”
Gordon confidently nodded as he stood. “We do, Elle.”
“Then go show me.”
Leading the boys back out to the stage, they all took their positions as the lighting tech lowered the lights in preparation for the beginning of the show. Elena looked over at Skylar, standing almost exactly five feet away from her at the other microphone. Skylar winked as Gordon gave them a count-in on the drumsticks before the band erupted into their first song.
They were on fire for the entire two-hour set. Every note was perfect; every lighting effect was timed perfectly. The screen behind Gordon projected different visuals for the songs, which were also being shown to the band via a projector in front of them. Elena couldn’t have been happier with their rehearsal, and she didn’t stop herself from once again hugging Skylar.
“You were great,” Skylar whispered in her ear. She hugged Elena tighter and longer than she was expecting, but Elena wasn’t going to complain.
“So were you.” She forced herself to end the hug and acknowledge the rest of the band, who were hugging each other as well. “That was awesome! I think this is going to be one hell of a tour. I can’t wait to start this next journey with each of you.”
Elena locked eyes with Skylar’s blue eyes.
“It’s going to be a great tour.”
She tried not to let her emotions get the best of her. Embarking on this tour was such a pinnacle for Elena’s career that she didn’t want to mess it up. Of course, she always didn’t want to mess things up with Skylar. Again.
With the tour starting in a little over a week, Skylar had arranged to go home for a few days to decompress before the tour. Elena wished she’d asked her to go with her. She would have said yes faster than a New York minute. But Skylar hadn’t asked, and Elena tried not to overthink why.
Skylar most likely needed and wanted time to herself. After all, they’d been together nearly every day for the last few weeks with the band. Elena knew Skylar wasn’t normally an outgoing person, so the tour prep had taken a lot out of her. She could see it in her eyes. They were tired.
As the band and crew gathered their things to call it a day, Elena found Skylar by the snack table, downing a bottle of water.
“Hey, you ready?” Elena was taking her to the airport on her way back to Santa Barbara. She’d even toyed with the idea of booking a ticket on the same flight but didn’t. “Your plane leaves in a few hours.”
“Yeah, I’m ready.”
Skylar said quick goodbyes to the rest of the band as they left the studio. Instead of the Mustang, Elena had opted for her all-black Dodge Charger with tinted windows. She felt it helped her blend in better than the vintage Mustang. As Elena got into the driver’s seat, Skylar tucked her guitar into the backseat.
“Can I leave this at your house? I don’t want to have to lug it across the country and back again.”
“Sure.”
With a flick of her wrist, Elena turned on the engine as Skylar buckled her seatbelt. The studio wasn’t far from LAX, but with traffic, it seemed longer. Well, the traffic and the silence.
Elena didn’t know why they weren’t talking. Maybe it was because they’d just sung for over two hours. Or maybe it was because what wasn’t being said was louder than any words could have been. Turning on the radio, Elena hoped the music would fill the space between them.
But, of course, a Maine Event song was ending as the DJ came on. Elena laughed at the coincidence.
“This is Cool Carl, and that, awesome listeners, is Maine Event. Their sold-out reunion tour is coming to LA, and we’re the only station in town that has your chance to win tickets. Stay tuned for how!”
“I’ll tell you how,” Elena rolled her eyes. “His brother is married to Erica.”
Skylar laughed. “Seriously?”
