And then Cal.
Lead singer.
He stepped to the mic, black leather jacket open over a white tee, jeans low, hair falling into his eyes. Hazel eyes that caught the spotlight and threw it back gold. Jaw sharp enough to cut glass. Voice when he spoke..."Vegas, you ready?"...was smoke and gravel and something that made my stomach flip.
The crowd roared.
Zariah elbowed me. "See? Told you they're gorgeous."
I couldn't look away from him.
He moved like he owned the stage. Not cocky. Natural. Like breathing. When he sang the first note, low, raw, building, the whole place shook.
Zariah leaned close. "You're staring, Had."
"Am not."
"You so are. Falling already?"
I shoved her lightly. "Shut up."
But I didn't look away.
Their set was tight. Songs I didn't know I knew, stuff that played on the radio when I was cleaning houses, stuff Eli sometimes hummed without realizing. Catchy hooks, heavy guitars, Cal's voice cutting through everything. He owned every note. Every glance into the crowd felt personal, even though I knew it wasn't.
Halfway through, he wiped sweat off his forehead, grinned crooked. "This one's for the city that never sleeps."
The opening chords hit. Slower. Sexier. His eyes swept the front row.
And for one stupid second, I swore they landed on me.
My heart slammed.
Zariah noticed. "Oh my God. He looked right at you."
"He didn't."
"He did!"
I laughed it off. Shook my head.
But I couldn't shake the feeling.
The set flew. Encore. Two more songs. When the lights finally came up, my throat was raw from singing along, my hands hurt from clapping, and something inside me felt... awake.
Zariah grabbed my arm. "Backstage. Come on."
I followed her, pulse still racing, telling myself it was just the music.
Just the music.
Chapter 3
Cal
The room smelled like stale smoke, expensive perfume, and the kind of regret that hits you before your eyes even open. My head was a war zone, throbbing temples, dry mouth, that metallic tang on my tongue from whatever pills we'd chased with tequila last night. I groaned, rolled over, and felt warm skin against my side. Soft. Curvy. Naked.
Fuck.
