Now That I've Found You - Kristina Forest Page 0,39
that I’m here. But I don’t dare move, because, as I said, that urge is absurd.
This is the boy who is mooching off your grandma, Evie! Get ahold of yourself!
When they switch songs, Raf takes the lead again. It’s more upbeat, and Raf, Milo, and Vinny do a funny synchronized dance routine, while Ben stays behind the drums. The crowd eats it up. After they finally wrap up their last song, Raf thanks everyone for coming, but he can barely be heard over the applause and shouting. People are still cheering when they walk offstage, and Raf lingers behind to grin and soak it all in.
Something about the smile on his face and the wonder in his eyes is so familiar. The way the crowd shouts his name with such enthusiasm. It takes a minute for me to realize this is the same way I looked during the film festival panel back in May. When I thought my career was about to take off. I thought the world was my oyster then too.
I envy him, and I’d give anything to trade places right now.
Raf finally leaves the stage, and I watch as the boys slip through a side door by the stage. I ease my way through the thick crowd until I’m standing at the same door. Adrian is guarding it, of course. He frowns at me.
“Not you again,” he says.
“I need to talk to Milo. That’s it, and then I’ll be out of your hair.”
He reaches back and turns the doorknob. “You his new girl or something?”
“What? No. Absolutely not.” I shake my head so hard I’m worried that my wig might fly off.
“Okay.” He chuckles and moves to let me inside the room, quickly closing the door behind me. Again, he’s not that much older than I am. What’s with all the authority? He’s the perfect example of what happens when a person lets too much power go to their head.
The boys are sitting on a beat-up couch, and despite their great show, they don’t look too happy. One by one, they glance in my direction.
“Evie,” Milo says, standing up. “You came.”
He walks toward me, and his smile is so genuine it almost makes me forget how annoyed I am that he left me at the gala. Almost.
“You left me there,” I say, frowning. “You could have at least tried to find me first.”
“I know; I’m sorry,” he says quickly. “There was an emergency. Raf accidentally broke Vinny’s neck strap.” He pauses. “Was she there?”
I shake my head, not wanting to get into what’s going on with Gigi in front of the other boys. I glance over to find them staring at us.
“Um, great show, guys.” I look at Milo. “I mean, really. I didn’t know you were a singer too. Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I don’t know.” He does a little shrug.
“He’s shy,” Raf says mockingly. “Why is it that the girls always want the shy ones?”
“We have more important things to worry about than who the girls do and don’t want,” Vinny mumbles, his head down as he cleans his saxophone.
“That’s why you think I’m upset?” Raf asks, suddenly jumping to his feet. “We played a damn good show like we promised we’d do, and that asshole A&R guy didn’t even show up!” He whirls around and points a finger at Milo. “You said he’d be here.”
A lot of the music majors at Mildred McKibben were always trying to get meetings with artists and repertoire executives from different record labels back in LA. The fact that an A&R person was supposed to see Doves Have Pride is pretty impressive.
Milo holds up his hands. “That’s what I was told. I can’t help it if he didn’t come tonight. I already said I was sorry.”
“Doves Have Pride does not get played,” Raf says, fuming. “We play other people.”
“We don’t do that either,” Ben says. “Our next show isn’t for another two weeks. Your A&R guy won’t wait that long, will he, Milo?”
Vinny sighs. “I’m sure he has better things to do.”
“I’ll fix this.” Milo stands in front them and holds his palms up like he has an offering. “It will work out. I promise.”
Raf huffs. “That’s what you said last time. You know, I was always skeptical about this. Ever since you said—”
“Can we not do this right now?” Milo asks, shooting a glance at me. “Don’t you want to go out there and talk to your fans?”