Strung Tight (The Road To Rocktoberfest #1) - Ann Lister Page 0,72
off stage where you can see him if you become overwhelmed. How’s that sound?”
“Really? If he could be there at the edge of the stage, that’d be great.” Hell, I felt like an idiot, but I was desperate, and Dagger’s suggestion was just enough to ease my mind a bit. “I don’t want to get him in trouble with his father, though.”
“You won’t and no one else will know what we’re doing,” Dagger said. “This will remain between you and me.”
“I’ll do my absolute best with this show,” I promised.
“I know you will,” Dagger said and patted my shoulder. “Go home, get packed, and relax. The bus will be leaving at five in the morning, so make sure you’re in the parking lot with enough time to load your personal things before then.”
I thanked Dagger again and pulled out my phone to text Dallas.
Me: Do you have time to hang out tonight?
Dallas: I can’t tonight. We’re down to the final hours of getting the gear loaded into the trucks, so I’ll be at this for several more hours.
Me: Sorry about that.
Dallas: It’s my job. Don’t be sorry. The good news is, my father cleared me to ride with you on the bus.
Me: Seriously? That’s fucking awesome!
Dallas: I thought the same, so I’ll meet you by the bus at five tomorrow morning.
Me: See you then.
Just knowing Dallas would be on the bus with me for that long ride was enough to quiet my heart and calm the uneasiness I was feeling all the way to my soul. I knew everything would be okay as long as he was near me. I wasn’t even thinking of the bus ride as an opportunity for us to fool around. This was all about him offering comfort from nothing more than a conversation or a simple glance in my direction. I guess that’s what a real relationship was all about. Dallas and I had fallen into this, not even aware it was happening, but damn, I loved every second we’d spent together.
I also hoped we could keep this going long after Rocktoberfest was done. Recording was up next for my band, which would be done right in LA where I’d be close to Dallas. We could continue to see each other at night like we had been, and I could even take him out on an actual date.
I thought about all of this as I took an Uber home, and even while I was packing my clothes, bathroom necessities, acoustic guitar, and the lyric notebooks I took with me anywhere I traveled. I never knew when inspiration for a new song would hit, so I made sure to always have something with me to write it all down. In a pinch I could use my phone to record notes or melodies, but I preferred my notebooks.
Mike came home just as I was putting the last few items into my duffel bag and zipping it closed.
“Are you all packed up?” He stepped into my room.
“Yeah, I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
Mike leaned against the door jamb and watched me. “How are you feeling?” he asked thoughtfully.
“Better,” I replied. “I talked to Dagger after our meeting, and we came up with a plan that should get me through this show without having a meltdown.”
“What are you going to do?” Mike asked.
I grabbed my backpack to load up with personal things that I’d keep with me at all times during the weekend. “Dallas is good at keeping me calm,” I admitted. “Sometimes all it takes is his smile pointed at me, and it brings me back, so I asked if he could watch us perform from the side of the stage. Dagger is going to make that happen for me. I’m not sure if Skully will appreciate my pulling Dallas away from his job, but too bad.”
“Our set is only about twenty to twenty-five minutes,” Mike pointed out. “Skully can cope without his boy for that amount of time.”
I put my earbuds into my bag and looked across the room at Mike. “I promise not to blow this for us,” I pledged.
“I’m not worried about that in the least,” Mike said. “I’m only worried about you. I don’t like seeing you this way, and I feel helpless that I can’t do more for you when it happens.”
I sat down on the edge of my bed and faced Mike. “Do you think I’ll ever be comfortable playing on stage in front of huge crowds?”