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“Are you sure you don’t want to perform?” I asked them. “Even one song? They would love it.” We’d talked about it, and they decided against it.
Reed shook his head. “Tonight isn’t about that. This is for us, not our music.”
“You are your music though. When you’re on stage, you’re not a different person. You’re still you, just doing what you love. That’s felt by everyone. How many others can say they get to do what they enjoy for a living? You share it with the world.”
“He’s got you there,” Casper said.
“You want to play, Cas?”
He shrugged. “I could.”
“You were working on a song last night. There was something about it that made me want to put lyrics to it. I wrote a little down before I fell asleep. We usually blend it though, so it’s not an entire new song shared.”
“I’ll do mostly instrumental, and you come in with the chorus. Pieces.”
Reed focused on me again. “Are you sure? It’s going to put you in the spotlight too.”
I’d had some time to think more about this. It was one thing to talk about my past to their family, but it was another to have the entire world dig up my life’s history. What I had asked myself was if it was worth having my past exposed to have Reed and Casper in my future. The answer was unequivocally yes. Casper was right when he said no one else mattered. It would hurt, I knew that for a fact, when they talked about me after they dug shit up. It would be okay though because I’d have them to help me through it.
“I’m sure,” I told them. “I want to hear you.”
Reed leaned forward, his lips a breath away from mine. I wanted him to kiss me so badly, but not here, not now. “The words I sing, they’re going to be about you, El.” He pulled back and stood, holding his hand out for mine.
I readily took it and got to my feet. Casper put cash inside the book the server dropped off and stood as well. They always paid, even though their family owned the place. He wrapped an arm around my waist. “Last chance.”
Peering into his eyes, I whispered, “Play for me.”
He nodded and looked like he wanted to say something else but decided against it.
Together, we went inside to find Cadence and told her they were going to play a song. I had a feeling one wouldn’t be enough. Dash and Slater weren’t here. The sound wouldn’t be the same as it would be with them, but it would still be the band’s music.
A murmur ran through the room as we walked to the stage. I was careful to avoid going near anyone. Casper kept me tucked close to him, navigating the floor with ease. People watched us, openly staring with curiosity. I could feel their eyes on me, probably wondering who the hell I was. It was hard for me to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving. If this was the life I wanted with them, I had to do it. Had this been a big stage with tons of screaming fans, I would have hidden backstage. But we were in the restaurant their family owned. No one would hurt me here. I had to keep my gaze on the two men who were quickly becoming my whole world.
They pulled stools that were off to the side to the center of the stage. Casper brought one down for me to sit on since the tables nearby were full. It would have me sitting higher than everyone dining, so I placed it near the wall, not wanting to be the center of attention, even though I knew I would be. People would wonder who I was to garner Reed’s and Casper’s attention like I was.
Reed turned the microphone on while Casper picked up the guitar that sat near the back of the small stage.
“Hi, everyone. I hope you’re enjoying the food tonight. We dined outside before coming in. Someone convinced us to play.” Reed gave me a wink. “Not that it takes much. Cas and I create songs in our sleep.” That got a few chuckles from the patrons. “Anyway, we’re just going to play and hope you like it.” He took a step back and nodded to Casper, whose eyes caught mine before he focused on his guitar.
The music that poured from him was almost haunting. It was beautiful and sad at the same time. It wasn’t surprising, given the emotion that ran hidden through him. Casper kept so much to himself, only allowing a select few to see.
Being so sucked into what he played; I startled when Reed joined in with the vocals.
You came into our lives on a busy street
You walked into our hearts, making us complete
Words weren’t needed as the world receded
We didn’t know what was missing
While we spent time wishing
For something to change
For us to rearrange
To the people we were meant to be
