Strung Tight (The Road To Rocktoberfest #1) - Ann Lister Page 0,87
of appreciation. It made me wonder what we’d experience with a full audience.
We played the song three times, and the lighting guys went through their prompts on what kind of display we wanted for the set. By the time we left the stage, I felt pretty damn good about our show. All we needed to do now was nail our actual set tomorrow and go home with our heads held high.
As we came off the stage high-fiving each other, Dagger was waiting for us and eased an arm around my shoulders.
“What’s the verdict on the choir?” he asked us.
I glanced around at my guys, and we all smiled broadly. “We love them!”
“I was hoping you’d say that because the layer of sophistication they add to the production is going to have people’s mouths hanging open,” Dagger explained. “When the choir stepped up onto the riser, my heart slammed in my chest and completely pulled me into the performance, which is precisely what you want. You’re going to exit the stage tomorrow to a thunderous roar from the crowd. They’re not going to want you to leave, which means we’ve got to get something recorded as soon as you get back to LA.”
I loved the confidence he had in us, and I had to say, it flooded me with the same feeling. The fact he believed in Chaos made us want to work harder and continue to reach for our goals. He was a great motivator, and I very much wanted to make him proud. Since I didn’t have parents to get that pat on the back from, I looked to Dagger as my role model. He was the kind of man I hoped to be one day.
“We’ll be ready to record when you are,” I said to Dagger.
“For now, you can practice a while longer with the choir back in the same room and then enjoy some chill time,” Dagger instructed.
A couple of younger men waved at Dagger to get his attention in the hall that led away from the stage area. He seemed to recognize them to some extent and held up a finger to let them know he’d be with them shortly. “Okay, guys,” Dagger said. “I’ll catch up with you later on, and I might have some news to share with you.”
I wondered what that was all about, but Mike was already pulling me in the opposite direction before I could allow my brain to linger on that thought. I waved at Dagger before we were swallowed up in the crowd clogging the hallway.
We were almost back to the small rehearsal room we’d used to practice with the choir when my phone rang. The screen lit up with Dallas’s name, and I quickly answered it.
“Hey, how are you?” I asked as I walked alongside my band.
“I know you’re busy, but I needed to hear your voice instead of a lame text message exchange,” Dallas said.
“I’m glad you called,” I said. “Our soundcheck was awesome. Dagger brought in an eight-person choir to sing backup for us on ‘Strung Tight.’ It sounds incredible. We’re going to end the encore with that song.”
“Jesus, I can’t wait to hear you play,” Dallas said.
“You really think you’ll be able to make it here?” I asked him.
“That’s the plan,” Dallas admitted. “No way am I missing my guy perform at his first big show.”
“Is that what I am—your guy?” I asked like a silly teenager.
“It’s what I want you to be,” he answered, “and I’m going to work really hard to keep you too.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Dallas,” I said in a lowered voice.
“I wouldn’t blame you if you did,” he said. “I’m a fuck up, even though I don’t mean to be.”
“I don’t think you’re a fuck up.”
“My father sure does. He doesn’t want me at the event because I got into trouble again, but I told him he couldn’t stop me from seeing you,” Dallas admitted. “He wouldn’t do anything to help me out, not even make a phone call to the police or a lawyer, and left me to spend the night in a holding cell because he doesn’t believe that I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I believe you, and I’m the only opinion that should matter,” I said.
“That’s true. You are the only one who matters to me,” Dallas said in a soft voice. “My dad has never been entirely on board with my life decisions, and I’m done trying to please him. From now on, I’m going to be