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“Liam can get as handsy as he wants.” She pops her hip.
“The only way Liam’s hands are going to be on you is if he has to carry your ass out of this park to keep the guys away from you. So don’t push him,” I only half-tease. I wouldn’t put much past Maddie if it meant getting Liam’s attention or having him finally admit he finds her attractive.
“I’m sure someone here would love to help me make him jealous.” Maddie searches around, and I see that look on her face. She’s serious, and she might just do that. Maddie’s beautiful, and I often worry about her. She’s flirty, sometimes too much, but I know Liam and Mason won’t let her do whatever she wants. Though, when Liam is around, Maddie doesn’t have eyes for anyone else; she just likes to make jokes about it to get a reaction out of him.
From the corner of my eye, I see Mr. Moody, my conductor, walk on stage while others arrange the music stands. “Crap. I gotta go. I love you. Be good.”
She grins. “Break a leg!”
“God, I hope not. I need my legs,” I remind her for the thirteenth time. The saying is a thespian tradition, not one for musicians, especially considering I have my clumsy moments. I give her a quick smile before I turn and force my way through the crowd of people. When I make it on the stage, I look out into the audience and see Maddie chatting with Liam and Mason. I breathe a little easier, knowing they found each other, though she might have a tracking device on Liam at this point.
I arrange my sheet music and then grab my violin from its case and start warming up by running through the scales. My heart beats furiously in my chest, and I’m somewhat nervous about Mason being here. Knowing he’s out there watching me is a big deal to me even though it may not be for him.
Mr. Moody moves to the front and gets our attention by tapping the baton on the stand in front of him. One by one, the instruments stop playing until we’re sitting quietly, watching him.
“We’re all here? Ready?” he asks. I glance around and don’t find an empty seat on the stage. If there’s one thing about this group, we’re punctual as hell.
We all nod, and he sucks in a deep breath and grabs the microphone. It’s customary for him to do a small introduction and give a speech. I look out into the park and am blown away by how many people are waiting for us to play. The number of people in the audience this year are almost double of last year’s attendance.
As I search over the crowd, I spot Maddie sitting between the guys close to the front on a blanket. Mason’s laughing and so is Maddie, so I’m sure she said something inappropriate, as usual. Liam is as stiff as a board, and it has me cracking the hell up. As I’m lost watching them, I look back at Mason and find him staring at me. I glance back at Mr. Moody and try to pay attention to what he’s saying.
“It’s our seventeenth year to perform for the city of Sacramento. We’re honored you’re here. Sit back and enjoy the show.” After a slight bow, he turns back toward us, and we all straighten our spines and get into position. He counts down, and we flawlessly start playing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The music whisks me away as I play, getting lost in it. I don’t take a single day of having this as my job for granted. Performing, though it makes me nervous, also lights a fire inside me.
As I bow each note, a smile touches my lips, and I’m sucked into the melody. Though we’ve made it through most of our setlist, I’m shocked when the cellos begin the final song. After the cymbals crash, I look out at the nameless faces smiling, and it makes me so damn happy because I can see how the songs affected them. Once it’s over and the audience applauds, I grab my sheet music and put my violin in its case, then tell several of my colleagues goodbye. My phone vibrates in my pocket and pulls me away as I walk down the stairs.
Maddie: We’re coming to meet you.
Sophie: K!
Before I can get lost in the hoards of people, Maddie comes bouncing up.
“You are a rock star!” she nearly yells, which causes me to blush.
I shake my head. “Nah.”
“I’m impressed as fuck right now,” Liam tells me, giving me a side hug. “I literally had no idea you were a part of something that good. I mean, Maddie jokes about you being a mistro all the time, but I don’t think it’s a joke anymore. That shit is real talk.”
