Page 44 of Loved Out Loud
She snorts and rolls her eyes. “I’m not feeding your ego tonight.”
I smile at her. “Then why are you here?”
“To let you know I’ll be in the VIP tent with Hazel and Sierra. If you need anything, grab Darren.”
The tension I always hold when Hazel is out roaming through the crowd during our shows loosens. “Make the VIP tent as enticing to Hazel as possible. I hate when she’s just out there, and I can’t keep an eye on her.”
She gives me a knowing glance. “You really like her, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“Good. Because from what I can tell, the guy she’s involved with is an absolute piece of shit.”
“Are you giving me the green light?”
“As if you need that.”
She’s not wrong. Although her approval does mean more than I think she knows. Jade is like a sister to me. Her thoughts and opinions matter as much as anyone else’s do.
“Try to find out why she won’t watch the show from backstage.”
“You could just ask her yourself.”
“I have. She won’t tell me anything aside from not wanting to be in the way.”
“Maybe that’s the truth.”
“It’s not. I can feel it.”
She glances down at her phone when it pings with a notification. She slides it inside her pocket and reaches for the doorknob. “That’s her. I’m going to meet them. Have a good show.”
Just as she leaves, Darren enters. “You ready?”
“I am.”
I follow him out into the hall where a small crowd of stage staff, Xander, and Tobias stand waiting for me. I step up to the group, locking arms around shoulders as we manifest a great, safe show.
The moment I step onto the stage, knowing that Hazel is safe in the tent, I let myself loose. The crowd is next level, currents of electricity coursing through them and lighting the three of us up. There’s not one fuck up, we hit every note, the stage staff doesn’t miss a cue. Our third city, and we’ve fully hit our stride.
By the time I’m wishing Cleveland a good night and the stage lights go down, I know I’m going to have to go for a post show run. The adrenaline from performing has lit me up from within. Our next stop is Detroit, and the drive from Cleveland is short, so we won’t leave until tomorrow.
If Sierra wasn’t still here, I’d hunt down Hazel and expel some energy with her. Since that’s not an option, running is all that’s left. Adam meets my eyes and gives me a nod before I can even tell him as I hand off my guitar to a roadie.
Fans scream for us from either side of the barricades lining the walk from the venue to where our SUVs wait for us. The three of us stop to sign everything from posters and shirts to skin. A woman shoves her way to the front carrying a copy of Hazel’s book and calls out her name.
I meet the woman’s gaze with a smile. “It’s a great book, isn’t it?”
“You read it?” Her eyes widen.
“Hell yeah. Finished it in one sitting.” I look over my shoulder as Hazel and Sierra walk out. “I’ll grab her for you.”
I step away from the barricade and cross to Hazel. “We’re not the only ones with fans here.” When she gives me a puzzled look, I point to the woman waiting for her.
Warmth explodes in my chest when I see the two of them make eye contact. Sierra follows her over, pulling a sharpie fromher purse and handing it over. I walk back over to sign some more and meet fans but also to listen in to Hazel’s conversation with the woman.
I’m so pathetically obsessed that even witnessing Hazel have these moments makes pride bloom within me. I don’t know nearly enough about her yet, but I do know that she doesn’t give herself enough credit. The woman opens her arms a bit, and Hazel gives her a hug.
A group of drunk guys start trying to chat her up when the woman backs away from the barricade. I move closer, just as Dan appears at her back. One of the guys says something that makes both Hazel and Sierra’s eyes narrow. Dan steps up beside her, ready to toss the drunk away, but Hazel holds a hand up and says something. I wish I was closer because color drains from the guy’s face, and he walks away.
