AllFreeNovel
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Two days after our road trip began, a wave of doubt slaps me like an unexpected tsunami as we wait in line for our camping spot. Swarms of young women in barely-there bikinis line the fences, desperate for any interaction with anyone even remotely connected to a band.
"I'm too old to be here," I say to myself.
"Seriously? Is that what you think?" Lindsay asks.
"Shit. I said that out loud?"
"Ya did. And we are not too old; those girls are way too young. They’re just looking for their fifteen minutes of social media fame. But you want to know the biggest difference between us and them?"
Her smirk already has me laughing. "What?" I ask, pulling up to the guard gate.
"This." She leans over me, smiling widely at the guard as she passes him her driver’s license. "Lindsay Moore. I should be on the guest list for Jacob Bell."
The guard flips through a mess of papers on his clipboard. "Miss Moore. Yes, here you are. Welcome to the Ace in the Hole Country Festival. Mr. Bell has reserved your spot adjacent to his. Follow this road until it ends, then turn left and you will see the entertainment campground.” He passes a map across me to Lindsay with our campground circled in red ink. “This is your campsite.” With his red pen, he points to a corner site across from ours. “This is Mr. Bell’s. You can’t miss it.”
“Thank you,” I say as he steps back onto the curb.
“My pleasure.” He tips his cowboy hat. “Enjoy your weekend, ladies."
"Are you fucking kidding?" I'm practically bouncing in my seat.
"I told you this was going to be a fun weekend. And who knows, maybe you'll find a guy who doesn't wear a netted flamingo banana hammock."
I shudder. "That was so wrong."
Finally backing into our spot, I'm now looking forward to this weekend more than ever. Leaning forward on the steering wheel, I stare out the window; campers and buses are parked as far as the eye can see. The campground walkways are crowded with partygoers already filing in for the weekend; women in barely-there bikinis and guys in board shorts, cowboy boots and hats made out of beer boxes.
"Jacob just texted me and told me to hurry up and get our pretty asses over there. He's got a Meet and Greet in fifteen minutes and wants to take us backstage with him."
"Fifteen minutes? Oh, no way in hell. I need to shower. I need to get ready."
"Ready for what?" Lindsay asks. "We'recamping. At afestival. Girl, you'll be lucky if you get a shower all weekend."
My lip curls in disgust. "No way. New rule. To sleep in my R.V., you must shower at least once daily." I laugh.
"Well, maybe I'll just have to stay with Jacob." My best friend's eyes sparkle with excitement about her new relationship.
A knock on the window makes us both jump.
"Linds? Are you in there? It's time to head to the meet and greet."
Oh God. It’s the sexiest voice I’ve ever heard, and he’s not even singing. My guts churn and my palms break out in sweat. “Is that…?" I whisper. JacobfreakingBell. How will I ever play it cool?
Her smile spreads from ear to ear, then she gives me an enthusiastic nod and flings the door open, flying out of the R.V. to jump into Jacob's arms.
My mouth drops open. I’m five feet away from my favorite musician—and celebrity crush, if I’m being honest—and the way he’s kissing my best friend has me teetering between turned on and terribly uncomfortable. I never would have thought of myself as a voyeur, but… there are first times for everything.
After twenty-two years with Jason, I can't remember a single time he kissed me with such passion.
Lindsay, with evident reluctance, pulls herself off the six-foot perfect specimen of a man. "Jacob, this is Andrea Raffield, my best friend. Andi, this is Jacob Bell. But I think you already knew that."
"Nice to meet you, Ms. Raffield." He takes my hand, kissing the top of it. My legs turn to jelly, and my knees attempt to give out on me. My voice locks up, unable to produce a coherent sound. "Ladies, I'd like you to meet one of my oldest friends and newest stage crew member, Rome Abrams."
"It's Daniel. And it's a pleasure to meet you both." His voice is deep, almost sensual, sending electricity through my veins. Or maybe it’s just the remnants of that kiss I witnessed between my best friend and Jacob Bell.
Daniel is tall, with perfect olive skin, and his thin white t-shirt hugs every tattooed muscle perfectly. I'm captivated by his dark eyes, heavy with a deep sadness.
"I'm telling you, man, the Daniel thing will never stick. Just like always, Rome will rise from the ashes. Now, let's get a move on. Our chariot awaits." He points to the golf cart with a young kid behind the wheel, feverishly checking his watch.
