Page 61 of Broken Play
Marlon slaps Heath's back. "That's good for me. Let's get a cocktail."
After a quick drink and plenty of laughs, I join the O'Ryan crew in the executive elevator. Moments later, J.D. is leading us backstage through layers of security—the concert's energy already buzzing in the air. Parker's old friends are there, calling his name, and J.D. introduces us around as the band waits in the wings.
As Greyson walks beside me, his arm brushes against me, making me want him to wrap those strapping arms around me.
Birdie comes out in a black miniskirt, fishnet stockings, and a leather crop top. Her arms are toned and fit, but she shivers, and immediately J.D.'s arms are wrapped around her. She leans her neck back and kisses him on the cheek.
"So, everyone introduce yourselves. I've met Sutton, but who are these handsome fellas, Parker?"
Parker starts naming his five guy friends, and as he introduces them, she gives them all a hug. Parker smiles. "This is Lupe, my...best friend."
Lupe is bouncing on her toes as Birdie gives her a warm embrace.
"Follow me," she says while holding J.D.'s hand. She takes us into a large area where the after-party will be. "Here's where the after-party will be, but I'll be going home with my man tonight. So, who wants to know how I got the stage name Birdie?"
Lupe holds her hand over her heart, her eyes shining. "Oh, Parker told me, and it's so romantic." The rest of the guys ask Birdie to tell the story.
"When I met J.D. at a bar where I was singing, we didn't exchange real names. But he kept calling me Birdie."
Cutting her off, J.D. pulls her into his side and places a gentle kiss on her cheek. "Because you sing like a songbird... beautiful."
Birdie's face glows as she continues sharing their love story. "Later, J.D. was at a meeting in a Vegas hotel when he heard someone singing. He asked the bouncer who was singing, and the guy said, 'She goes by Birdie.' That's when he knew it was me. I chose my stage name, Birdie, because I hoped that someday he'd hear the name and we would get a chance at love."
A melody of romantic sighs rolls through our entourage. Greyson leans over and whispers in my ear, "She left out the part about hooking up with a stranger."
I elbow him in the ribs. "Ouch."
"Don't mess with a good love story."
"I'm trying to create one of my own."
I can't help the way my smile grows at Greyson's confession as I playfully press my arm against his. Birdie signs the college kids' T-shirts, and one guy has her write her name on his shoulder blade. J.D. rolls his eyes. "Okay, that's enough. We should get to our seats."
J.D. leads the kids through the tunnel he knows all too well. Greyson and I bring up the rear, and when we get to our seats, Noelle, Parker, and his friends are already in the mosh pit.
The band opening for Birdie is a country crooner, and Greyson knows every word to every song this man sings.
I press onto the toes of my ankle boots and scream into his ear, "I figured you for classic rock."
He leans just a little closer, making my stomach flutter and everything else blur into the background. "I've had headphones on for a good portion of my life. It's one way I relax. I like it all, but I like my women classic and my music country."
"What's the other way you relax? Does it require a partner?" I ask, arching a brow and flirting way more than I should be in public.
He covers my ear with both hands and nibbles my earlobe. My core tightens, craving more, when he murmurs, "When I put my mouth on you, I promise relaxation is the last thing on my mind. All I'm thinking about is how many times I can make you come—just for me."
"It's hot in here, isn't it?" I say, fanning my face and wishing a cool breeze would take the heat away from my pulsing body.
Greyson laughs at my expense and claps as their lastsong ends. The country band yells, "Thank you, Austin! Now let's give it up for Austin's own, Biiiirdie!"
The crowd goes wild, and Birdie runs out onstage and hugs the country band before grabbing her guitar. She wastes no time rolling into her first song. This is a fast song, and the mosh pit is jumping to the beat. I glance over at J.D., and he's grinning from ear to ear.
I hear Greyson say, "I can't believe she married you. She's way too hot for your sorry ass."
"I'd say she did just fine. You're just jealous you don't have someone like her."
They bump shoulders, and I think about what life must have been like growing up less than two years apart. You can see the love, but you can also see the stress wearing on them at times. Their careers depend on each other.
Birdie's song melts into another, and the open stadium air is thick with applause. It's a song about secrets called "Living a Lie." Greyson's eyes move to mine. He gives me a wicked grin, and we're deadlocked on each other. His fingers curl into mine, but no one can see. The stage lights are so bright that darkness surrounds us.
