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“Hell, yeah, gorgeous,” Charlie cheered from somewhere behind us.
“Now I know that doesn’t guarantee you’ll be okay, so if you’re not comfortable you don’t have to come, but from the research the lighting team has done, it should be okay. Marshall will stay with you all night and if you feel strange at all, he’ll escort you backstage and our band doctor is here tonight, just in case.”
Tears filled Ionee’s eyes. “And these,” I took the baby pink ear protectors out of the box. “Will let you listen without it sounding too loud.” I slid them onto her head, pressing a kiss to the tip of her nose. “Now, do you still want to stay here?”
“What?” she yelled.
Easing them to rest around her neck, I tried again. “Do you still want to stay here?”
She shook her head.
“Good. Now go get ready and we will see you afterward.” Ionee threw her arms around my neck, kissing my cheek. “But promise me, if it gets too much or you don’t feel comfortable there, you’ll let Marshall bring you back. Promise me you won’t push yourself.”
She smiled a smile that warmed my heart. “I promise, Arch. I can’t wait to see you do your thing.”
And with that, she turned and left and I felt like we’d taken a tiny step forward to findingusagain.
Chapter 33
Archer
Sweatyandhighonadrenalin, with a wide smile spread across my face, I made my way back to the greenroom, Charlie and Fox close behind. Stepping inside, we were congratulated on the show by some of the crew and Dawson, shaking our hands and slapping our backs.
As I moved through the room, Eliza from Riverstone Rollers, one of the two bands currently opening for us at our gigs, stepped in front of me, pulling me in for a hug before I could say a word. Her leather bra-covered chest brushing against me as she pressed her hips to mine.
“You were so good, Archer,” she whispered in my ear. Placing my hands on her hips, I sidestepped her, putting some distance between us. “You wanna grab a drink somewhere? It’s been too long since we caught up.”
I shuddered at how many times we’d gotten drunk together when Ionee was missing; how many nights we’d sat up, passing a bottle of whatever liquor had been closest, spilling my secrets. “Sorry, Liza, I have plans tonight,” I replied, not even looking at her because my eyes only cared about finding one person.
And then they landed on her.
Standing to the side of the room, she positively glowed. Her long, caramel hair braided so it covered her scar and hung down over the sheer black dress that she wore over black jean shorts and a black lace corset, showing off her athletic figure. She carried her ear protectors in one hand and her calf length, black boots in her other, staring at me like she was seeing me for the first time.
“Nee,” I murmured as I got close. “You look beautiful.”
“You were so good,” she let out on a sigh, to which I could only shrug. “Seriously, you’re so talented. I’m so glad I got to watch you tonight.”
“And I’m glad you got to watch. It felt good knowing you were out there.”
Chewing her lip, her cheeks flushed, and then her attention shifted to the now busy room.
“Do you want to get out of here?”
She nodded.
“You’re gonna need to put your boots back on.”
“Spoilsport. Fine.” She bent to slip them on, instantly gaining three inches in height. “Where are you taking me?”
“We’re going to have some fun, Ionee Millar. Give me ten minutes to change and we can go. Stay with the boys until I get back.” I winked at Charlie, who I’d already asked to keep her busy until I got back. He ran over to her, pulling her into his arms and spinning her around slowly. “So, Nee, who is your favorite member of the band now… come on, girl, you can tell me it's me.”
I left the room with Nee’s giggle drowning out all the other noise that tried to follow me, knowing that I had the whole night to try to make her make that sound just for me.
“What the hell, Arch?”
“You’re on a date with a rock star, who just played to a sell-out crowd. I wanted you to travel in style. Now put your helmet on and listen to the nice man tell you how it works.”
Nee grinned through the entire safety briefing, as we were taught how to use the Segways we were using to explore the Tampa riverwalk.
