AllFreeNovel
Share Us
What made her stop? I asked myself.
Despite these distractions, I made it through my set. I felt a flush of pride as the crowd gave a standing ovation and even asked for an encore. Maybe this new music had been alright. After the show, I stood in the lobby to thank the audience. I hadn’t done that since some of the earliest concerts the Horizon gave. But I wanted to thank the people of my hometown for coming to see me, and I knew there would be plenty of friends who wanted to say hello.
“Oh my God, Callum, it was amazing!” Liz cried out, wrapping her arms around me. I had been talking to a fan, someone who insisted we knew each other in high school, though I had no memory of the guy. So I was grateful when Liz launched herself at me to hang her arms around my neck. It was just the hint the talkative fan needed to excuse himself.
“That new music!” Liz cried. “I think it’s your best yet!” She released her arms from my neck and nearly stumbled as she stepped away from me. I had to laugh at her.
“Someone’s having fun,” I said. I didn’t miss the strong smell of alcohol on my sister’s breath.
“Oh, hush,” Liz said, swatting my shoulder. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been out without the kids. I’m allowed to relax a bit.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed yourself,” I smiled. I felt a sudden burst of warmth toward Liz. We had been distant for several years while I pursued music and toured the world. But after only a few days with Liz, I was realizing just how much I had missed her.
Another person came up to shake my hand, and I spent a moment with her. As I posed for a selfie with the girl, I couldn’t help scanning the room, searching for someone.
“She’s here,” Liz said, giving a smirk that told me she knew exactly who I was looking for. “She got trapped by this client we have who has insane requirements for her house. I swear she has no intention of actually buying a home. She just likes talking to us.”
“Who do you mean?” I asked, playing dumb, but Liz wouldn’t even entertain my question.
“I can’t believe you kissed her!” Liz whispered. But in her slightly intoxicated state, this whisper was closer to a full-blown conversation.
“Liz!” I scolded. Luckily the people around us seemed occupied with their own conversations. But there were too many people milling about the lobby for Liz to be spreading something like that around. I knew firsthand how rumors could explode into problems very quickly.
“It’s nothing to be embarrassed about!” Liz said.
“I’m not embarrassed,” I said. “But I’m not sure Darcy wants it talked about all over town.”
“That’s just Darcy,” Liz laughed. “Always second-guessing her decisions. I love her, but the girl doesn’t know what’s good for her!”
Just then, I caught sight of Darcy pressing her way through the crowd. I felt a jolt in my stomach at the sight of her. She wore tight black jeans and a sequined tank top that gave her a rock-concert edge I wasn’t expecting. With her dark eyeliner and heeled boots, she would have fit in at any Horizon concert. My eyes dropped down to those soft lips, and I was once again in the supply closet, hearing Darcy sigh as I kissed her.
“Doesn’t she look amazing?” Liz squealed as Darcy joined us. “We went shopping!”
“It’s a good look,” I agreed, enjoying the invitation to stare. I caught Darcy’s eyes and smiled at her, but she looked away and focused on Liz.
“She was so excited about putting together ‘a look’,” Darcy said.
“You have to have the look!” Liz protested. “Ask any of those groupies who follow him across the world. You have to dress right for a Callum Jones concert.”
“I don’t have groupies,” I said, shaking my head. The last thing I wanted was Darcy to think I went around sleeping with women and taking advantage of my fame.
“Oh! Who wants drinks?” Liz asked. She had caught sight of the bar in the lobby and clearly wasn’t ready for the evening to end.
“Liz, they’re trying to clean up,” I said, taking hold of my sister’s arm before she could float away. “Come back to my dressing room and we’ll have a drink.”
This solution seemed acceptable for Liz because she took off back into the theater, expecting us to follow her.
“I think your sister needs to get out more,” Darcy laughed, raising her eyebrows as Liz practically skipped down the aisle.
“I think you’re right,” I agreed. I was glad to share a smile with Darcy and glad to walk so close to her. Our shoulders nearly touched as we walked down the aisle and ducked into an alcove at the side of the stage.
“This way.” I held a curtain aside for Darcy and let her cross in front of me. I called Liz over from where she was dancing on the stage and nodded toward the staircase. Soon, we were all heading down the steps toward the dressing rooms.
“Watch your head,” I warned as we descended the old theater staircase. The architecture of this place meant that I had to duck to avoid a pipe that cut across the ceiling.
The theater was a historic space, built sometime in the 1800s and, despite numerous renovations, it didn’t have many of the amenities I had become accustomed to on tour. Not that I minded. I didn’t need much. They had given me the largest dressing room available, but the place was tiny compared to the large and sometimes multi-room spaces I was often given. But this place had charm, and I found it more comfortable than some of the famous arenas I had performed in.
“Go ahead,” I said, letting Darcy into the space. It had a counter along one wall with mirrors running across it. The other side had a couch that someone had decorated with colorful throw pillows to try to brighten the room. The only other thing in the room was a small sink tucked into a corner and a doorless closet space for costumes and clothing.
