Now That I've Found You - Kristina Forest Page 0,38

My plan is to find Milo and get his house keys, but once I’m inside, I see that’s not going to happen.

It’s already loud and packed. It doesn’t help that the venue isn’t all that big. It’s hot, and the floors are sticky. I find a semiclear spot to stand near the bar just as a guy appears and announces that Doves Have Pride will perform in five minutes. The crowd erupts into cheers. I have to watch whatever video of theirs went viral because, clearly, it’s doing wonders for their popularity.

When the boys stroll onto the stage, the applause in the room is deafening. Raf eats it up, waving and smiling at the crowd. He even blows a few kisses. Vinny ambles behind Raf, and he has a wide-eyed, almost shocked look on his face, like he can’t believe this many people showed up. He’s carrying his saxophone, so I guess his girlfriend came through with his neck strap. Ben doesn’t even bother to glance at the crowd as he makes a beeline for his drum set. He taps his drumsticks against his thighs, sighing as Raf continues to blow kisses. Milo brings up the rear, and Raf frowns as the crowd’s attention shifts away from him to Milo.

Milo does not blow kisses. He smiles shyly and does a little wave before he hooks his guitar up to the amp. Several girls manage to push their way to the stage so that they’re standing right where he can see them. Interesting.

The boys are wearing the black Doves Have Pride T-shirts along with matching leather pants. I guess Raf got what he wanted after all. I can’t decide if they look ridiculous or charming.

Raf leans into the mic and clears his throat. The crowd gets quiet, and he starts singing a cappella. “My girl left me all by myself. She wouldn’t give me another chance. Maybe I can change her mind if I put on these leather pantsssss.”

Ben counts them off and Raf sings along to the beat. I thought that funk and R&B mash-up was a weird description, but it’s actually the perfect way to describe their sound.

The crowd knows all the words to this song, and they know the words to the next one too. They sing at the top of their lungs as they dance and jump around. Even the bartender, who keeps glaring at me because I’m standing by the bar but not ordering any drinks, is moving her hips to the beat.

I find myself glancing again and again to the girls who are dancing in front of Milo. He’s not looking at them. He’s either staring down at his hands as he strums his guitar or glancing around at his bandmates, like he’s making sure that everything is going smoothly, that they’re all okay. Every now and then, he does a quick sweep of the crowd, but he never notices me all the way in the back. Which is fine. It’s not like I came here for us to lock eyes across the room and for him to sing to me.

I didn’t come to this smelly, crowded bar to notice how charismatic Milo looks with his guitar. Or that he almost seems like a different person onstage. He’s not clamming up like when he was starstruck at the gala. He’s totally in his element.

I also didn’t come here to ogle him and his handsome face. Or to watch his arms flex as he pushes back his dreads.

No. I came here for house keys and to yell at him for leaving me at the gala.

It’s a good thing he’s not the lead singer, because then I might really be in some trouble.

Of course, the moment that I have this thought, they start a new song, and Milo is the one singing lead. It’s slower, an R&B love ballad with hints of soul.

“When I see you, I feel like I’m home. Girl, I know we’re young, but this love is grown. You kiss me so softly when I sing. For you, I would do anything.”

His voice is deep and raspy, and it makes my stomach clench. He sings with his eyes closed, and as I watch his lips move, I go completely still.

Now I see why those girls flocked to the stage. This is what they were waiting for.

Milo opens his eyes, and I suddenly have an absurd urge to push my way to the front of the crowd. I want him to see me, to know