Page 22 of Heartbeat Highway

I let my hands run over her, this friend who is now more. Who’s always been everything to me. “She’s always liked you, too. I can’t count the number of times she told me to go for it, no matter how often I reminded her you were taken.”

“I’m not now.” She looks up at me, those cornflower blue eyes staring through me.

“Yes, you are.” I bend over and kiss her gently. If we had more time, I’d take her in the back and worship her. I’d prove it to her over and over again how much I love her. “Let’s just rest here for a little while. Okay?”

She nods sleepily. “Don’t forget to wake me up for the show.”

“Of course not.”

CHAPTER 15

Lily

Bo doesn’t letme sleep long, but it’s enough that I feel refreshed.

Maxim and Dan are waiting in front of the tour bus when we stumble out. “Man, I lost twenty bucks,” Maxim says. “We had a bet on whether or not you’d come out clothed.”

“Ha ha,” Bo says, squeezing me to his side.

“Also, I realize we never called dibs on K’s bed, so…dibs.” Maxim elbows Bo in the ribs.

Dan shakes his head. “We all need to get ready. We’re on in thirty.”

Cold fear snakes down my back. “I don’t have anything to wear. I brought this and jeans. Nothing I can perform in.” I saw those other women backstage. They are leather and lace and effortlessly cool. I’m essentially a Midwestern dairy maid in my little floral sundress.

Maxim and Dan exchange a look. “Don’t worry. We’ve got that covered.”

They handme off to a woman named Janelle with a spike through her nose who does backup vocals for a big band-type group that plays rock songs. Janelle hustles me onto their tour bus—which is way messier than Howl’s—and proceeds to tug and spritz and paint me until I’m mostly numb.

When I look in the mirror, though, I see me. Lily. The woman I used to be. Confident and daring, pretty and free. Janelle’s put me in a white bustier, and you can see my push up bra through it. My yellow hair is messily tossed around my head, and my lips and cheeks are blush pink. I look like I’ve just been fucked, well and good.

“Wow,” I whisper. I turn in the mirror, admiring my full ass and the dip of my waist, set off by the snug-fitting jeans.

“You look amazing,” Janelle says in a deadpan. “Don’t forget to hydrate. The stage will dry you out faster than a desert.”

A gray-haired man wearing one headset over his ears and another around his neck races past us. “Howl’s on in five. Places.”

“You had better go.” Janelle pats my arm and lights a sweet-smelling vape. “These concerts move like molasses some nights, but today they’re booking it.”

“I don’t know how to thank you.” I turn to Janelle, wanting to hug her, but she discreetly shakes her head no.

“Just tell Dan to call me.” After pointing in the direction of the stage, Janelle turns and leaves.

My heart pounds, so loud I swear I can hear it in the next county over. I join the guys backstage. Bo’s eyes widen when he sees me, and Maxim gives a low whistle. Dan, being Dan, just nods approval and stares anxiously at the stage.

“You look amazing,” Bo whispers in my ear, then nips at the lobe. A little thrill of pleasure chases away some of the fear.

But not a lot.

“I’m going to throw up,” I say, to no one and everyone.

“If you do, do it now, and don’t do it on my instrument,” Maxim says.

The tour’s emcee runs onstage in a spangly pink jumpsuit. I don’t know how she walks in those six-inch heeled boots. “And now, with a last minute substitute that they promise you will love, here’s Howl with Lily Davila!”

There’s a chorus of wolf howls at that, and we all run onstage. First Dan and Maxim, then Bo holds my hand and practically drags me up there with him.

I’m frozen in the glare of the spotlight. This is so many more people than I’ve ever sung in front of before. People are standing and cheering, clapping wildly. Bo tries to hand me a mic three times before I take it from him.

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