Page 202 of Always Love You More

I turn to look at him, expecting to see, I don’t know … jealousy? But he’s just watching them with a big smile on his face, yelling with the crowd as Rowan leans into the mic and says, “Thank you. We’re Lights Out.”

The lights raise as they all walk off stage, the crowd restlessly waiting for the main act.

“You wanna stay and watch or head back?” Billy asks.

“Up to you,” I tell him.

“I wanna see the guys,” he says. “That was fucking awesome!”

I grab Sam’s hand and follow him backstage, the room larger than I expected. The guys are buzzing around the space, their energy contagious.

Rowan notices us first, moving away from the group scattered around him. “Did you hear them?”

“Fuck yeah I did!” Billy beams. “They loved it.”

“What’d you guys think?” Rowan asks, turning to me and Sam.

“It was amazing.” Sam smiles. “Really.”

I nod. “Didn’t know you were that good.”

Someone calls his name, and he looks over his shoulder. “You guys staying?”

“Course,” Billy answers.

Rowan slaps his back, leading him over to where the others are standing, Sam and I trailing behind them.

Loud music sounds from the stage as the main act goes on, and by the time they’ve wrapped, the hangout backstage has turned into a party.

Sam is balanced on my lap, a cigarette perched between her fingers, happily buzzed. Billy is off talking to some girl, a redhead who said she loves drummers. And I’m sitting back, watching it all unfold around me.

“Jameson,” Dylan calls out, stopping in front of me.

I peer around Sam. “What’s up?”

“You mind meeting someone?”

I press my lips against Sam’s ear. “Let me go take care of this real quick, okay?”

She hums, sliding off of me, and I stand, trailing behind him.

“This is Graham,” Dylan says, motioning to some preppy-looking kid who’s waiting for us. “The one I told you about.”

I size him up, taking in his collared shirt and fucking loafers. “The producer’s kid?”

He nods. “Wanted an introduction.”

“All right,” I answer, and Dylan takes it as his cue to leave.

I nod toward the hallway, and Graham follows me into a quiet corner. “What’re you looking for?” I ask.

“Just some weed.”

“No pills or anything?”

He shakes his head.

“I don’t have anything on me right now, but we can set something up.”