Strung Tight (The Road To Rocktoberfest #1) - Ann Lister Page 0,92
in front of us leading the way. The choir waited for us on the stairs and joined us.
So many things were zipping through my mind right now, mainly good thoughts. I was also so goddamn happy Dallas was with me to share in this moment. Once again I was back on track and ready to face this head on. I was going to own this fucking stage. No doubt about it.
The stage director stopped us right at the edge of the curtain. I could hear the ear-piercing sounds of the people out in the audience. Their feet were stomping and the whistles and shouts were deafening. Dagger huddled us together, and I knew he was going to give us some parting words of wisdom before we went out there.
“The only thing I’m going to tell you is don’t forget to enjoy the moment,” Dagger said. “Remember to look around and soak in every single detail. This is a big fucking show for sure, but it’s the first of many, so go out there and have fun while you make some magic!”
We did a group cheer, but my voice faded when I saw Dallas’s father pushing his way through the crowd at the side of the stage to get to his son. My back went straight almost like I was bracing for impact. Dallas turned around just as his father reached us, and I prepared for whatever Skully was about to throw at him, but Dagger intervened.
“Now’s not the time, Skully,” Dagger said with an edge to his words.
“It’s good,” Skully explained. “I heard Dallas had been cleared of any wrongdoing, and I wanted to apologize to him for suspecting otherwise.”
Dagger nodded and then said, “Keep it brief. They’re going on in just a couple of minutes.”
Dallas stepped closer to his father. “I know you told me not to show up here, Dad, but there wasn’t a chance in hell I was missing Fletcher perform,” Dallas spouted before his father had a chance to speak.
“It’s okay, Son,” Skully said, and behind him, I saw Dagger still hovering nearby to where we were talking. “I was wrong to say what I did and I’m sorry.”
“I told you, I’ve changed. I had no idea that car was stolen,” Dallas confirmed with a lift of his chin.
“I heard. One of the cops I know on the force gave me a call to set me straight and that’s really great news,” Skully said. “I wanted to let you know that if you still want your job, you have it.”
Dagger inserted his large frame in between Skully and Dallas and said, “Dallas will have a job with us for as long as he wants one.”
Dallas and I both turned to look at the sternness in Dagger’s expression, and damn, it felt good to have him go to bat for us.
“Why did you doubt me, Dad?” he asked his father. “You wouldn’t even listen when I tried to explain what happened, but you were real quick to believe what the police were telling you.”
“It was my usual knee-jerk reaction, Dallas, and I’m so sorry,” Skully said. “I promise I will never do that again. You have my word.”
The stage director motioned for us to move closer to the curtain at the edge of the stage. “We can talk about this later, Dad,” he said. “I want to wish my boyfriend good luck with his set.”
I was filled with so much pride for Dallas standing up to his father. I knew their relationship was a work in progress and maybe after this weekend they could repair some of the old hurts they’d each caused one another. But for now, I had to get my focus back on my show.
My eyes turned back to the stage, and I briefly watched our road crew finish with the setup of our equipment and then the stage fell to darkness. I squeezed Dallas’s hand and then faced my band and stuck my free hand out, and they all joined me with our fists in the center of a circle.
“Let’s do this!” I cheered to them, and we all banged our fists together.
“Rock out with your cock out!” Dixon yelled, and we all looked at him.
“Dude! Did you just make another dick reference?” Mike asked Dixon.
“Don’t read into it more than there is,” Dixon defended himself.
“Play your hearts out,” Potter added just as the voice of the event announcer came over the speakers.