The irony doesn’t escape me, but I don’t have time to contemplate any of that because Tommy is winding down for real this time.
It’s been eighteen years and eight months since I last performed.
Now I’m about to sing in front of 19,698 people.
I’m either going to faint or puke.
Chapter Eight
Ross
There’s a little scrambling as the crew adjusts the set list and finds me a wireless microphone.
And I just stand there, trying to distinguish the past from the present.
Almost nineteen years since I was on stage and yet, there’s no stage fright.
There are ghosts instead, ricocheting through me in the form of memories.
So many fucking memories.
Clara standing in the wings, leaning up to give me a good luck kiss before the show.
My old guitarist, Joey, flipping me off before grabbing his guitar and running on stage.
Rambo, my bassist, grinning as he pulls off his shirt and picks up his eight-string.
The roar of the crowd as they chanted.
Rock-its – Rock-its – Rock-its
The strobe light moving back and forth across the audience, highlighting their excitement. The full house. The fact that we were on our way to the top.
“You ready?” Kingston grips my arm, forcing me to look at him. “You got this, man. I’ll introduce you as?—”
“No.” I cut him off, shaking my head. “If I’m going to sing, I’m going to be who I am. And I am Ross Rockit. For one more night anyway.”
He smiles. “Yes. Yes, you are.”
Then he turns and runs back onto the stage, leaving me frozen in place.
A warm hand on my arm makes me look down and Wynter smiles, her eyes dark with excitement and compassion and support. That’s the best way to describe how she’s looking at me.
“Go out there and own it,” she whispers. “For one night, take back everything you lost. And no matter what happens, you’ll always have one fan waiting right here.” She leans up on her tiptoes and presses a soft kiss on my cheek.
Damn, she’s pretty.
“Will you go out with me when this is over?” I ask spontaneously.
“I will.”
I press my lips to hers, firmly, letting her know I mean it.
Our eyes meet for a fraction of a second and then it’s time for me to go.
“…tonight we have a very special guest helping us out on vocals—anyone remember Ross Rockit from the one and only Ross & the Rock-its?”
The crowd goes wild as Kingston introduces me, and whether it’s because Kingston seems excited or because there’s genuine interest in seeing me perform again, I’ll never know, but it’s enough to propel me forward.
