Page 128 of A Duet of Darkness and Dreams

DAVE

She heard it. I know she did. I saw her clear as day in the wings. Saw her face as she recognized the song. But when it was all over, she was gone, and while the smallest part of me was thrilled to be called to play two encores, I wanted nothing more than to get the fuck off the stage so I could find her.

“Are you sure you didn’t see her?” I ask Key one last time as he wraps his arm around a pretty dark-haired girl with a wristband on her arm.

He offers me a sympathetic frown. “I’m sorry.”

“Fuck.”

I spin around the crowded room, wishing everyone would just shut up and get the fuck out. But I can’t do that. Our album just went gold and we played our biggest show yet. Everyone is celebrating. Even Al, who looks like he’s half in the bag already. I see James come through the door and head for him.

“Anything?” I ask him.

He twists his mouth and shakes his head. “Sorry, man, she’s not on the bus either.”

Everything feels tight, suffocating. I hate not being able tosolve a problem, and now here’s one I can’t fix. And she’s gone. I sink down into the closest chair.

“I blew it big time,” I mutter.

“I was sure she’d at least stay until the end. She promised me she would,” James says from his seat on the couch next to me. “Maybe she didn’t hear the song?”

“No, she heard it.” It just wasn’t enough.

“Well, maybe—”

“James,” I cut him off. “I appreciate it, but just . . . I can’t anymore.”

He presses his lips together and nods before standing. “I’m sorry, man. I was really rooting for you.” Holding out his hand to me, I grasp it and he gives me a brotherly hug. “Want me to stay with you?”

I wave him away. “And miss the party? Don’t be stupid. Go.”

He smiles sadly, then disappears into the crowd, avoiding the group of girls watching him like prey. Unfortunately, those same girls lock eyes with me and before I can even get up, they descend like sharks on an injured seal.

“Hey,” the first blonde says as she sits her tiny ass on the arm of my chair, making sure her legs are as close to mine as possible without them being in my lap.

I swallow. “Hey.”

“You were incredible out there,” the other blonde says, kneeling down on the floor in front of me.

“Thanks.” I wonder briefly if they even watched the show or if they just sat back here snorting coke.

The first girl fingers a lock of my hair and twirls it around. “Why so glum? It’s a big night for you.”

I know what they’re doing and I know why they’re here, but I hardly have the energy now to ignore them. “Yeah, it is.” But it means nothing if Izzy’s not here.

“Maybe we could make you feel better,” the other girl at myknees says seductively, her hands tracing up my thighs. “Help you celebrate.”

I’m trying to come up with a way to get rid of these girls when I see Sam step through the outside door. Perfect.

“Hey, Sam,” I say, calling him over.

He walks up and eyes the two annoyed-looking blondes. “Hey, man, what an incredible show.”

“Thanks. Hey, help me up.” I offer him my hand and he hoists me out of the seat and away from the girls who pout. I lean forward and whisper in his ear. “Listen, I have to get out of here, but play along with me, okay?”

His brow furrows but he offers me a slight nod.

“Ladies,” I say, turning back to the two girls with their wristbands. “Have you met Sam Winston? Epic guitarist?”

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