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“No!” I said a little too forcefully. “I’m not drunk enough to see him yet.”
Lacey filled up my glass. “Then, let’s get cracking.”
Chapter 24
Knox
Ithadn’tbeenlong,but I’d missed being on stage. Nothing else came close to producing that intense adrenaline high that came from performing in front of a high-energy crowd.
On stage, with the lights shining brightly on me, the stare of thousands of eyes was palpable while I made my guitar sing for the audience. The experience was almost erotic as I coaxed sounds from my guitar that enhanced and blended seamlessly with the sounds being produced by my bandmates until the music pulsed like a living thing through the venue.
Even the meet and greet couldn’t crush the high that was still coursing through my veins. I had to wiggle my fingers to relieve the bundle of excess energy that was building up in them.
Tonight’s show had been the culmination of a few weeks of casual practice. On Monday, we would get back to a regular band schedule, working on new songs that we’d eventually take to the studio. I couldn’t wait to get back to it.
I waited in the limo with my bandmates until the security guys waved us out. We were parked at the side entrance to the fancy hotel where the after-party was being held. We were told to be on our best behavior tonight since this party was for the mostly straight-laced donors and sponsors of Lacey and Kaylie’s charity.
As we were led into the party, a woman in a slinky red dress stopped me and asked for an autograph. I chatted politely with her for a few minutes and then left to catch up with my friends, leaving the woman visibly disappointed.
Sex was a fun way to burn off the excess adrenaline from a concert, but I wasn’t interested in any girl except for Summer and she was out celebrating her birthday with her friends. I’d love to ditch this party early and stop by her house tonight, but I’d promised Summer to take it slow. I didn’t want to scare her off after she’d finally agreed to date me. Instead, I’d call her tomorrow and try to see if she’d do something with me, even if it was just watching TV with her like the other night.
And, as Ryder had said, I knew how to be romantic; I’d just turned that off somewhere along the way. I wasn’t about to woo Summer half-heartedly. She wasn’t going to slip away again. I was going to go all out until she knew how great we could be together. That thought left me more excited and hopeful about the future than I’d ever been.
I entered the large, open room, which held a flurry of activity — people milling about and waiters weaving through with trays laden with delicious appetizers. The guests in attendance were dressed in an eclectic mix of clothing, from elegant floor-length gowns to rockstar-chic outfits. People clustered around standup cocktail tables that were scattered throughout the room and at the two bars set on opposite sides from each other. The sound of conversation mixed with laughter filled the room as people mingled and conversed over the music playing in the background.
Ghost was always easy to pick out of a crowd. I spotted him right away, attracting a crowd of people near one of the bars. I headed his way.
Ryder intercepted me before I made it to the bar. He handed me a shot glass filled with clear liquid. “You’re going to need this.” He patted me on the shoulder. “Good luck.”
I tossed the shot back. “What’s going on?”
He didn’t answer. He laughed under his breath like an arsehole, shook his head, and then walked away.
I accepted an appetizer from a passing waiter and then headed closer to the bar, where I saw Sid and Kaylie standing. Once again, I was stopped by a girl who looked way too young for a party like this; maybe she was the daughter of one of the donors. I took a selfie with her and was making polite conversation with her when Lacey put her hand on my arm.
She squeezed my arm rather forcefully to get my attention. “Knox, someone is here to see you.”
I scanned the room, and then my eyes landed on her. She was standing next to Talia, not even ten feet from me.
Without looking away from Summer, I spoke to the young girl, “It was great talking to you. I’ve got to go.”
I closed the distance between us in a few strides. The smile on my face felt like it stretched from ear to ear. I knew I should dial down my excitement, but it was uncontainable. She was here, and nothing else mattered.
I went straight to her and pulled her into my arms. “What are you doing here? I am so happy to see you, Sunshine.”
“So, I was at your little show, Scotty. Or should I call you Knox?” She cocked her head to the side with a half-amused smirk. “Your guitar licks are pretty decent ... for a roadie. Tell me, how precisely does one acquire such formidable music skills from pushing equipment around?”
My cover was blown. Not that I hadn’t planned on telling her, but this wasn’t how I wanted her to find out. I could feel my face flush and a wave of heat wash over me. My heart raced as I tried to think of what to say, sweat breaking out on my forehead.
“Summer...” I trailed off. I felt the eyes of my friends on us. They were all watching and listening and I wasn’t about to make a spectacle of us. “Let’s go somewhere and talk. I can explain all of this.”
“Really?” She didn’t look convinced.
Lacey handed her a full glass of champagne. “Go hear what he has to say. Talia, Kay, and I will be here if you need us. We can make sure you get back home safely.”
I wanted to insist that I’d take care of her, but I bit my tongue. I held out my hand to her.
When she finally took it, I sighed with relief. Before she could change her mind, I led her through the room toward the exit. Hudson, my security guard, stepped forward before we could leave the room.
