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Layla gave him a dirty look as she rested her palm on her waist and popped out her hip. “We’re old enough. Now can we please go back there to meet the band? I paid too much for the passes to stand out here with your salty ass.”
I choked on my spit and whipped my gaze to her, pleading with her to keep her cool. Now that we were this close to meeting the band, I didn’t want to be booted out because Layla couldn’t hold her tongue.
The bouncer scoffed, and I swear I could see his eyes rolling behind his glasses. He opened the door and jerked his head, grunting, “Have fun,girls.”
Layla gave him a fake smile and flicked her hair over her shoulder, patting his chest as we passed him. “See? It wasn’t that hard, now, was it?”
“Layla,” I whispered. “Just drop it.”
She would get us kicked out if she kept this up.
Layla whipped her head toward me and scowled. “He won’t do anything.”
I clenched my teeth and balled my hands into fists.Just drop it, Grace. It’s not worth the argument. It’s already over.I took a deep breath through my nose and let it out through my mouth.
Layla arched an eyebrow and turned away from me.
The room was just as dimly lit as the hallway, and the black walls and furniture only added to the shadowy vibe. Other VIP pass holders mingled within the space. I kind of figured we wouldn’t be the only people with VIP passes.
Cigar smoke and vape clouds filled the room. A bartender at the bar in the back of the room mixed a drink for one of the band members, who still wore his mask.
I tripped over a step and stopped when I saw the singer. I could tell it was him because he still wore the mask from earlier. He frowned as he wrapped his arm around a girl about my age and posed for a picture. He didn’t smile, but the blonde girl beamed and clapped her hands after her friend snapped several shots.
“See ya,” Layla said before she walked ahead of me, pushing her way through the crowd and making a beeline toward the singer.
I clenched my jaw and awkwardly stood there, unable to make myself follow Layla. I really wanted to meet the band, but my heart wouldn’t stop pounding in my chest. What if I stuttered while I talked to them? What if they thought I was some stupid girl? Maybe their masks were riling up my nerves; they weren’t exactly welcoming and could even be considered frightening.
I winced as Layla shouldered a guy out of the way and stopped right in front of the singer. I loved my friend, but she shocked me with her actions tonight. She was usually a little rough around the edges, but seeing her shove people to meet the band embarrassed me.
A shadow passed in the corner of my eye, and I squeezed them shut to calm down.
Just think about Sebastian. How he makes you feel safe and loved.
I imagined the bright blue-gray eyes and sweet smile that he saved just for me. I also pictured how he made me feel safe while he wrapped me in his embrace, like all the times we cuddled in his bed as he played with my hair.
My heart slowed and I opened my eyes, feeling more stable.
That was a close call.
I blinked and swung my gaze toward Layla again. My breath caught in my throat. The lead singer stared right at me, ignoring Layla as she tried to talk to him. I checked around me to see if he was gazing at someone else, but I was the only person in his line of sight.
Oh god, oh god, oh god.
So, he really was looking at me.
I turned back to him, finding him still looking at me. He mesmerized me, making it impossible to look away. The weight of his stare made my legs tremble, and my skin broke out in goosebumps. It was as if he was dissecting me and looking at who I was at my core.
“Are you nervous, too?”
I jumped, blinking and turning my attention to the woman who’d spoken to me. Freckles littered her nose and rosy cheeks. It looked as if she’d been sitting outside under the sun for a few hours. She couldn’t have been more than five years older than me. Dark-copper hair framed her face, and her green eyes glittered in the low light.
“A little,” I half-lied. Okay, maybe it was the truth. I’d been a fan of Satan’s Priest for years, and they stood feet away from me, sharing the same air I breathed. How could I not be nervous?
The young woman offered a gentle smile. “Want to go together?”
“Yeah.” I nodded and swallowed.
It wouldn’t hurt to have someone who looked like the sweetest person alive to give me the confidence to approach them. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to meet the lead singer, though. If he could make me tremble from feet away, what would happen if I stood not even a foot in front of him? I feared I’d pee my pants, which would have been embarrassing.
