Say You're Mine - Layla Hagen Page 0,83

stayed behind to give Brayden crap.

“Right. Next time I’ll be more literal.”

Brayden kissed my forehead before heading back to the stage.

As I looked at him, I made all sorts of post-concert plans. My chest kept expanding with joy. He was mine. All mine.

I kept watching the show from the same hidden spot as before. The temperature seemed to be rising the longer the evening went on, or maybe we were all fired up.

Before I knew it, Rick came over to me to talk about my exit plan. I couldn’t leave with the band because they were going to be ambushed by press and fans.

“A bunch of fans have already crowded around the back entrance, so we’d better leave now,” Rick said.

I wanted to stay until the end, because the concert was phenomenal, but I understood why it wasn’t possible.

“Okay. Let’s go.”

We navigated back through the labyrinth of corridors and stairs. Even this section of the arena was vibrating from the music and the bass. Rick opened the door to the parking lot, asking me to stay behind him.

Suddenly, he backed up and shut the door again.

He made a phone call, speaking in a low tone, but I caught every word.

“Send reinforcements. We have a big horde of fans in the back already.” After hanging up, he focused on me. “We need to wait a few minutes. The reinforcements will go through the front and push the crowd back so we have a clear path.”

“Okay.” My heart was pounding faster. Was this normal?

Rick was on the phone again. I tapped my foot, crossing my arms in front of my chest to keep from biting my nails.

I had no idea how much time passed before he finally opened the door, gesturing me to follow him. It felt like an hour, but I was sure it had only been minutes.

Rick’s reinforcement team had created a corridor of sorts that led to our car. There were mobile metal railings flanking my sides. The corridor was wide enough for two people to pass, but fans pressed in from both sides. Their hands stretched out until they could almost touch me. I couldn’t hear what they were saying. Hundreds of voices boomed around us, mixed with the music still coming from the stage. I thought a few of them shouted my name. My pulse thrummed in my ears. The car seemed so far away, and Rick was doing his best to shield me, but I still felt a few fingers brush my arm, tugging at my tank top, scratching as I hurried by.

We reached our dark blue Mercedes at last. I ducked inside immediately, and the second Rick closed the door, I locked it, pressing a hand to my chest. Rick got into the driver seat, and as he drove off, I felt my pulse calm somewhat, though it was still thumping in my ears.

“Are you okay, Ms. Gallagher?”

“Yeah! Just... wow that was insane.” I looked at the crowd through the back window. It all felt so surreal. The more distance we put between them, the more at ease I felt.

***

Back at the hotel, I took a quick shower and changed into my pajamas, cotton pants and a T-shirt that said “Coffee is for Losers, Naps for Winners.” As soon as I lay down on the bed, tiredness slammed into me. I wanted to wait for Brayden to come back, but I didn’t think I could keep my eyes open for that long.

A ping from the nightstand startled me. I picked up my phone, discovering a message from Brayden.

Brayden: Rick told me what happened. Are you okay? We just finished.

Isabelle: I’m okay. It was a little scary.

Brayden: I’m going to make it up to you tonight.

Isabelle: I can’t find the eyebrow wiggling emoji, but I’m wiggling my eyebrows.

He didn’t answer, so I rolled onto my stomach and hugged the pillow, smiling into it. Yeah, it had been scary, but it was so worth it. I was so in love I couldn’t even believe it.

I couldn’t stay still, too caught up in my excitement. I turned on my back, staring at the ceiling. Then I remembered the sleeping naked rule and threw my pajamas on the floor.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Brayden

Usually the day after a concert was my time to recharge, and I did that by being alone. I liked to stay in the suite of whatever hotel I was at, mentally go through the routine for the next concert and doing the workout my fitness trainer had designed especially