Page 78 of Before the Encore

Bonnie took a bow, happiness overflowing, heart hammering against her ribcage. She turned to Madison, an idea flashing in her head. She wanted to show her how much this meant to her.

Dare she?

Bonnie gestured across the stage. “And the incredible Madison Moore!” She set down her guitar, barely giving herself time to let go before she was running towards her. Bonnie caught her face between both hands, pulling her close as their lips crashed together. Madison lifted her, wrapping her arms around her, kissing feverishly between bursts of breathless laughter. They stumbled across the stage, her lips chasing hers. And the resulting roar rocked the entire city of London.

Chapter Nineteen

Bonnie

As everyone around her laughed and danced, moving their bodies to the thumping music, Bonnie pressed herself into the wall, vibrations pulsing. She didn’t like parties.

Not drinking helped squash the discomfort, but there was only so many slurred exchanges and glass-eyed interactions she could take before her skin started to crawl.

Champagne flowed. Attractive people dressed in smart button-ups and navy vest shirts weaved through the dancefloor, distributing drinks to greedy hands.

Bonnie didn’t blame them. It’d been a short promotional tour, but it’d also been a stressful one. They deserved to blow off some steam. In just a few months, they’d be back at it again for her album tour.

She combed the room of friendly faces as the lights flickered, most of them recognisable to her. Her band, lighting and sound engineers, wardrobe, caterers, photographers—it took so many people to make a successful tour. Her dancers organised some of them into groups, attempting to teach them steps from the show. Their laughter carried over the music, clumsy steps not up to their standards judging by the way one of the dancers whipped them back into line to try again.

Smoke puffed across the floor, the faint acrid scent mingling with the assault of body odour and perfume circulating the air.

“Would you like a drink?” A man with an impressive bushy moustache offered her a glass of bubbles.

Bonnie shook her head, and he glided away to ask the label executives lounging in the booth. Bailey shmoozed a greying man, his collar unbuttoned, eyes glassy and dilated. Her manager had mostly ignored her tonight, which she took as a sign he wasn’t pleased with the switch up in the show. Bonnie didn’t know why. Since, fans and the media had swooned over the acoustic song and her kiss with Madison. He should be happy.

Carmen and Katy had forwarded her several articles and posts.

‘BLOOM MAKES IT OFFICIAL WITH ON-STAGE SMOOCH’

‘I’M NOT CRYING, YOU ARE #MOOMFOREVER’

Bonnie hadn’t kissed Madison for the fans, but it did make her smile reading all the happy comments. Relief tangled with disbelief at the idea of not fake-dating Madison Moore—but doing it for real.

Loud guffaws erupted from the men in the booth. Bonnie had kept a close eye on them without thinking, noting where the younger women’s drinks were and reading body language. Other than taking it in turns to pass around lines of white powder, nothing seemed off. She just liked to…check.

She pulled at the sparkly dress riding up her thigh, wishing she’d opted for something less flashy. Every loop of the rolling lights caught the sequins, announcing her presence in a flash of reflected colour. Bonnie had been so happy after the kiss and had chosen the outfit with the after-show adrenaline surging through her. She wanted to celebrate. Her acoustic song had been the perfect way to wrap up the successful tour.

But the longer the party went on, the more it dampened her spirits. Bailey’s reaction knocked her. Her confidence fell away, leaving her wrestling with the memories the club tried to resurface.

The high officially wore off, and reality trickled in.

She was heading back to LA in the morning, her schedule full of interviews in anticipation for her new album release next week. Madison was staying here, recording the rest of Lipstick Fever’s. The thought weighed like a stone in her stomach.

Her gaze found Madison on the dancefloor with Kam and Frank. Even from the other side of the room, the magnetic pull snapped taut, humming in her ears and urging her closer. The rest of the club fell away, leaving Madison at its centre, hair scooped in a bun. The pulse of flashing lights highlighted her sharp cheekbones and jaw.

Bonnie tensed as an attractive blonde woman approached Madison’s group, leaning in to whisper something that made Madison nod and smile. Her heart thumped with the heavy beat in tandem, vibrating through her chest.

Realistically, even after their kiss, there was nothing stopping Madison from doing anything she wanted to do. She had the world at her feet now. Bonnie had her word, yes, but in this business, word meant nothing unless it came with a stack of paperwork and ten signatures.

The blonde woman moved away, limbs swaying elegantly as she disappeared into the shadows.

Bonnie was being dramatic. She had to give Madison a chance, but second guessing came too easily to her. A yawn forced its way up her throat, and she caught it with the back of her hand.

She was also ridiculously tired. Catastrophising wouldn’t help anyone right now; she should leave and get ready for her flight in the morning.

“She’s quite something.” The silky voice made her skin prickle as a body slid next to hers. Bonnie didn’t need to look. She’d recognise that voice anywhere. Olivia followed Bonnie’s gaze towards the dancefloor.

Bonnie forced her tone into something that resembled friendly. “Yes, she certainly is.”