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I let out a chuckle. “You’re right. Thank you. I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know how it all went.”
“You better!”
She said her goodbyes and then we hung up.
I took a deep breath and tried to calm my nerves. Scotty had invited me here, so I was determined to enjoy it. Activity bustled around me as I settled into my red velvet seat and played on my phone, waiting for the theatre to fill up and the concert to begin.
A few minutes later, a woman dressed in a black leather blazer with a white silk shirt underneath moved down the aisle in front of the stage and headed right for me. I could hear the clicking of the heeled boots she wore under her dress pants as she approached. I shrunk in my seat, wondering if she was coming to kick me out of the exclusive section.
Between her impeccable makeup, shiny red lips, and luscious blonde hair flowing down her back and her expensive, trendy outfit, I knew she must be someone important. The rows of delicate gold chains glinted around her neck as she stopped in front of my seat.
She thrust out her hand when I looked up from my phone. “Hello. I’m Lacey Davenport, co-founder of Cyber Angels.”
I had no choice but to acknowledge her. “Hi. I’m Summer Meadows,” I said as I shook her hand.
Her forehead furrowed and her nose wrinkled, like she was trying to make sense of something. “I don’t recall...” she trailed off, searching for the right words as she tilted her head slightly to one side. “You’re one of our VIPs, but I don’t recall your name. Are you one of our sponsors or donors?”
I swallowed nervously. This woman looked like an absolute barracuda. She could chew me up and spit me out in a second flat. “No, uh, Scotty invited me.”
She cocked her head slightly to the side. “Scotty?”
Oh, jeez. Here was where I got escorted out by security while the crowd watched. “He’s part of the crew.”
“Oh!” She laughed. “You’re a friend of the band. Thank God! I thought I had a rogue VIP donor that I hadn’t wrangled properly. I don’t know your friend Scotty, but there are a lot of different guys working tonight’s show since it’s a one-off.”
A nervous giggle bubbled out of me. “I thought you were about to kick me out. Scotty didn’t mention the dress code for the VIP section. I feel out of place.”
She looked me up and down. “You look fine. Tonight’s an exception because we’re raising money for Cyber Angels and there’s a party afterward with Ghost Parker.”
“Scotty mentioned the party. Would I get tossed out if I tried to show up like this? He really didn’t explain this event to me all that well and I’m new to ... all this.” Lacey seemed friendly enough, so I thought I’d ask and maybe relieve some of my anxiety.
“I’m hosting the after-party, so don’t worry about it. Besides, the guys in the band and the crew won’t be dressed up and none of them will care what you’re wearing, either. In fact, I’m sure they’ll appreciate it. You look great.” She looked at her watch. “I’ve got to get back to Kaylie and schmoozing our donors, but Talia should be here soon. She’s backstage with the guys right now. I’ll text her and let her know about you. She’ll take care of you until the crew finishes load out. I really have to run. I’ll see you later, Summer.”
“Bye. And thank you.”
I watched as she walked away, turning the heads of everyone she passed. She was extremely beautiful and had such a commanding presence, but she’d been so nice to me. She’d accepted me without judgment, even knowing I was just friends with a crew member, that I felt much better. I didn’t know who this Talia was, but I didn’t even need her help. Lacey had given me the boost my confidence needed.
It was past 8 o’clock when the show was supposed to start, but the stage was still empty, even though the venue was at full capacity. I guess they were running behind.
A girl who looked like she could have just stepped off the stage herself pushed past the front row seats until she sat down in the empty seat next to me.
Her dark blonde hair was streaked with bold highlights of copper and purple and was woven together into an intricate braid. She was wearing leather pants that fit tightly against her curves, and her shiny, iridescent top gave her a rocker girl vibe. Her skin sparkled as if she’d rolled in glitter, and her piercing blue eyes looked like they held secrets no one else knew. She was the essence of feminine confidence and style.
She gave me a friendly smile. “Hey, I’m Talia. You must be Summer. Lacey told me all about you.”
I checked the time on my phone. “The band must be running late.”
“Oh, they’ll be on any minute.” Her eyes swept over the crowded section we were in. “I usually don’t come out here to watch them, but with this venue set up and the VIP section for the charity people, I don’t think we’ll get crushed.”
“Oh, that’s good. There won’t be any mosh pits?” I asked jokingly.
“Not today, at least. So, you are friends with one of the crew guys?”
I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans. “Yeah. Scotty Stewart. He invited me here tonight.”
Her eyes widened slightly. “Scotty Stewart?” she repeated slowly, as if not believing what she was hearing.
“Yeah,” I confirmed. “Rock concerts aren’t my thing, but we just started dating, so I decided to come. He doesn’t even know I’m here. He gave me the tickets and I originally couldn’t make it. But I decided to come and surprise him.”
