“I think we can do one better than that.” I raised my brow in question to the rest of the guys. They nodded their agreement to whatever plan I was cooking up on the fly.
“No way,” Grace gasped, her eyes lit up with excitement. It was then I knew exactly what I had to do. I hoped on all that was holy that she wouldn’t think I was a total creeper.
“Way,” I said with as much smoothness as I could muster. “I think we could make room for you guys to watch the show from the side of the stage, but I’m going to need one small favor in return.”
“Yes! Anything!” Grace shrieked. “Whatever it is, yes.” Liv and Ella eyed me suspiciously. Not nearly as suspiciously as the rest of the band. What the fuck was I even doing?
“I’m gonna need your Aunt Liv’s phone number.” I smiled down at Liv and chewed my lip nervously, as a soft flush of pink crept onto Liv’s face. Dallas looked at me with wide eyes, clearly not expecting me to go in this direction. Hell, even I wasn’t entirely sure what I was doing. Cash glanced up from his phone call and shot me a questioning look.
“Excuse me?” Liv asked. “You want my number because why?”
“Here it is.” Before Liv could protest any further, Grace had already pulled up the number on her phone and had it in my hands.
“Grace,” Liv hissed.
I whipped my phone out of my back pocket, snapping a photo of the screen with Olivia Sinclair’s number on it.
“I love you, Aunt Livvie.” Grace beamed as I handed her phone back to her.
“It’s settled then,” I announced, still completely unsure how I’d managed to pull off this little stunt. “Lovely doing business with you, Miss Grace.”
“Thank you.” She chirped happily as Liv stood with a bemused look in her eyes. “It was my pleasure.”
“Hold up a second.” Liv crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes at me. “Don’t I get a say in this?”
“Um, yes.” My voice faltered as I raked my hand through my hair, trying my best to look charming. I’d never done anything like this before, and I couldn’t explain what made me do it now. I was afraid I’d crossed a line, but there was something about her that made me feel like I couldn’t let her walk out of this dressing room and never see her again.
“If you want to keep my number, you’ve got to dedicate a song to Grace on stage tonight.” She tilted her chin up at me with playful defiance.
My mouth twitched into a grin. “I think we can make that happen.”
Grace shrieked. “Really? Please let it be ‘Fortress.’ It’s my favorite.”
There was a knock on the door, followed by a low voice. “It’s showtime, fellas.”
Derek opened the door, and the room was suddenly alight with activity.
“Wait,” Luca said. “We’ve gotta take a photo first.”
“Right.” Ella shook her head, completely flustered. She had clearly been so engrossed with watching what was going down with me and Liv that she’d forgotten this was a meet and greet. Honestly, so had I. “Which one of you guys has the longest arms? I’ll never be able to get us all in the picture.”
“That would be me.” I took the phone from her as everyone piled in close and faced me. Grace wrapped herself around Derek, and Luca enveloped Ella in a giant hug. Before Dallas could even try to move in on Liv, I tucked her under my arm and felt her tentatively settle her arm around me.
“I see how it is.” Dallas feigned offense. “Nobody’s got love for Dallas.”
“Without Dallas, thereisno Midnight in Dallas, so you better get your ass over here,” Liv joked, holding her free arm out to him.
“That’s more like it.” Dallas laughed, sliding in next to her. I was appreciative of her kindness toward Dallas, and admittedly, a little jealous.
“Here we go.” I tightened my arm around the curve of Liv’s waist. “One… two… three.”
Cash ended his call, laughing at us all smushed together. “You guys look great,” he said, slipping his phone back inside his pocket.
I glanced at the photo before handing the phone back to Ella, and my chest tightened seeing Liv nestled under my arm. “Wait!” I dug my phone out of the pocket of my jeans. “I want to take one with mine too.” Dallas exchanged a curious look with me as everyone piled back in their places. This time, Dallas and Luca sandwiched Ella. “We, uh, like to take a photo from each meet and greet. You know, for Instagram.”
Luca couldn’t hide his snort as the lie escaped my lips, but the girls didn’t seem to notice.
“Doin’ it for the Gram.” Grace resumed her position next to Derek.
