Page 148 of Fame & Chaos

I understand what it feels like to find someone who settles the chaos in your head. Someone who feels safe and excited at the same time.

Watching Aston with Annie makes me genuinely happy for them. My cousin and one of my best mates found comfort in each other, and honestly, they deserve it. And somehow, Colt is managing not to murder Aston over it.

Well… mostly.

I can still tell he hates it deep down, but he’s trying, and that matters.

Besides, their chemistry bleeds straight into the music. The band sounds tighter now than ever.

Soon enough, we’re lined up at the side of the stage, preparing to go on. The crowd noise thunders through the arena while adrenaline starts coursing through my veins. I bounce lightly on the balls of my feet while warming up my vocals, rolling my shoulders loose as the others head out onto the stage, ready to kick off the set.

My cell suddenly vibrates in my pocket.

I check the screen quickly and grin.

Indi: Good luck, baby, smash it tonight. xoxo

Warmth spreads so hard it almost knocks the air from my lungs. Shoving the cell phone back into my pocket, I bounce once more before hearing my cue, and that’s when adrenaline detonates inside me.

My heart races violently while excitement surges through every inch of my body as I sprint onto the stage beneath blinding lights and deafening screams. And right before I grab the microphone, an image of Indi flashes through my mind.

Her smile.

Her laugh.

Her curled against me in bed this morning.

And the biggest grin spreads across my face.

Indi and music… my two greatest loves.

And somehow tonight they’re colliding together perfectly.

I grip the mic tightly and glance across the stage toward Annie and Aston standing back-to-back while grinning like they own the world.

And in this moment, standing beneath blaring lights with thousands of people screaming our names while the woman I love waits for me back home…

I know this is exactly where I’m meant to be.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Caleb

Walking off stage feels like stepping out of a lightning storm.

Every atom inside me is buzzing so violently with adrenaline and energy that I swear I could probably float straight through the fucking ceiling. Performing does something to me that nothing else in the world can. It charges me from the inside out until I feel unstoppable.

Well…

Almost nothing else.

Because Indi still somehow tops this feeling.

All I want to do right now is get backstage and celebrate with the band. The only thing missing is her. God, I wish she were here tonight to see all this.

The second I push through the backstage doors, chaos erupts around me. Everyone’s grinning, laughing, yelling over each other, still riding the same high I’m drowning in.

“Caleb, you were on fire tonight,” Dad says immediately. “You’re always good, but tonight you had a completely different energy about you.”