Page 17 of Just Wait

Kincaid loves his Telecaster, but I’m a tried-and-true Les Paul fan. My Gibson is my baby, and I still take it off, tossing it at the tech and praying he has the coordination to catch it. Once it’s in his hands, I beeline for Lumen.

“Don’t make me tell you again, ma’am,” the security guy says, sounding like a total dick.

“I have an all-access badge,” Lumen says, trying to hold it up. “The friends-and-family kind.”

The asshole knocks her hand away and grabs her arm.

“Whoa, hold the fuck on.” I whip my mask off, resting it on top of my head as I come to a stop at his side.

If he doesn’t let her go in the next two seconds, I’m going to miss the show. Can’t play for a sold-out crowd when I’m in jail.

The security guy twists toward me like he assumes he’s going to have another fan to take care of.

Recognition clicks a half second later, and the scowl on his face disappears, replaced with confusion.

Where the hell is Tangled Desires’ manager?

I think his name is Grant. Garrett? Whatever his name is, he should be handling this.

“She’s with the band, like she was trying to tell you,” I growl. “Let her go.”

Lumen’s eyes widen as she spots me, but she nods, pulling her arm free of his grasp.

“Unless there’s an emergency or someone gets violent, you shouldn’t be grabbing anyone like that,” I snap, looking around for Benji.

Our manager comes to a stop on the side closest to the stage, his head swiveling between us. “What’s wrong?”

“She’s got family access,” I growl. “Not to mention, the security team shouldn’t be putting their hands on anyone unnecessarily.”

The drummer from Tangled Desires stands and heads to the front of the stage with his bandmates to say their goodbyes.

Shit.

That means we’re on now.

“Keep him away from her.” My eyes meet Benji’s, and I nod to the security guy. “And make sure she’s okay until her boyfriend makes it back here.”

Our manager looks annoyed, but too bad.

I’m riled now, and I have to go out on stage and pretend like I’m not.

What the hell is Theo thinking?

She needs full-time security. Having someone to watch out for her while he’s busy is the bare minimum a decent boyfriend should do.

When the tour first started, I would have understood. It’s easy to underestimate how hectic things get, but he’s been living it for a little over a month now.

“Mal,” Kincaid calls from behind me.

I keep my eyes locked on Benji’s until he nods.

“I’ll look after her,” our manager says. “Now put your goddamn mask on, get your guitar, and go out there and handle business.”

“I can do that.” I smirk and wink at Lumen. “Enjoy the show, Lulu.”

I don’t see Lumen after the show, and it’s kind of a bummer. Between the meet and greet and interviews with the press, there’s no time for me to search for her before we’re crammed onto the buses.

The trip from Atlanta to Savannah takes all damn night, since we didn’t get going until late.