Page 29 of Where the Dark Knelt
He informed us there was going to be a stage and that some artists were going to be welcomed to showcase before the main artist’s performance. The band that was scheduled to perform was quite well-known in the state.
Will, Mandy, and Neil really wanted to go so we arranged that we’d be there. I noticed that Alfie still didn’t acknowledge me personally during this.
No one seemed to notice that he didn’t speak tome or comment about me. Will turned and looked tentatively at me. “Do you want to come and do that again tonight?”
I was about to refuse when he added, “It’s not every day I get an opportunity to perform in public with my saxophone. People either want a guy with aguitar, or if I do get to play, it’s usually a one minute instrumental for someone else’s showcase.”When he put it like that, how could I say no to him?
“Sure,” I agreed. “We’ll need another rehearsal before we play to an audience tonight though.” I frowned.
“Why? You were perfect! You play beautifully, there’s so much passion in your performance. Don’t underestimateyour talent, it’s amazing. I can’t believe my luck, playing with you.”
Mandy nodded as well.“Do you really have no idea how great you are, Lily? We have got to do something together. I so want to perform with you, it’ll be a blast.” She looked at me genuinely, but I thought that she was just being kind.
By the time I’d arrived home a little afterfive, I’d felt exhausted. I’d found it difficult to concentrate after lunch as my mind kept wandering to thoughts of Alfie, and how he’d stood watching us play. I wondered if I’d misread his jealous reaction when Will hugged me. I couldn’t understand it, when he’d already told me that he had no issues with me forming emotional attachments elsewhere.
Holly was just arriving back from the beach when I arrived at the entrance of the apartment block. “Thank goodness I finally have a few days off,” she informed me. “Where are we headed tonight, Ineed a night out.” I told her about my day and the beach party. “Well hell,Saffyand I need to come and support our little British contingency.” She smiled.
“Oh great,so now I’m even more nervous,” I mock groaned, but secretly was pleased that I was going to have familiar faces there who loved me. Saffy came breezing in, with a new pencil skirt and blue satin blouse on. She was glowing.
The outfit was great, and she’d appeared more than happy with her date last night. “Well, howdy, girlfriends,” she gushed humorously. Holly groaned, “Oh great, she’s got the fucked-senseless-and-now-gloating face on. We’re in trouble, Lily.”Saffypretended to look hurt, but her face slowly stretched into a big grin.
Slappingher hand over her heart, she squealed, “Oh. My. God! He. Is.A. Fucking. Stud. Girls! That man had me coming every which way, until I didn’t know what day it was. He must be related to JamesDean. Talk about keeping me up allnight. He actually growled and ripped my panties off.”
“Who’s JamesDean?” I asked innocently. Holly andSaffy’s heads snapped round tostare at me.
Holly cocked her brow and scoffed.“Seriously, Lily?”Dismissing my question completely and turning her attention back toSaffy, Holly threw her hands up covering her ears and shaking her head vigorously. “I don’t want to hear any more, you’re taking liberties now. Everyone’s having orgasms but me.”
Saffychuckled wickedly and then tried to comfort her. “Okay, honey, we’ll make it our mission to get you laid tonight, won’t we, Lily?”
I raised an eyebrow, giggling now too. Picking up some laundry I’d folded earlier, I began to make my way to my bedroom, still laughing.Saffycalled out to me, “Lily… if you don’t know who JamesDeanis… you seriously need to google him.”
Pampering ourselves meant the apartment smelled of perfume, various bath foams, body sprays, and hair products. I was nervous as hell about performing. When I felt nervous I always power dressed using my sexuality to help me feel less self-conscious and more confident.
Both girls gave a gasp ofapproval when they saw me. “Wow. Wow. Wow,” gushed Holly. They both looked great, but they had dressed in shorts and blouses, with some lovely accessories. They were so effortlessly pretty they could have worn old overalls and still looked sexy. I had purposely dressed to impress though. If I was going to make an ass of myself up on some stage, I would at least look hot doing so.
My attire for the evening was a tight bronze and black sequined vest top with shorts that made my ass look a little bigger than itwas.
Iknew my legs looked good, but they looked much longer in my little shorts and my black ChristianLouboutinheels, with their signature red soles.Saffylooked puzzled and stared at my feet. “Fuck-me shoes to the beach?”
Giggling at her description, I nodded. “We’re eating first, right? I have some strappy roman sandals for the beach, but I wanted to wear these to perform in, then if I bomb, they won’t remember the guitar playing.”
They both giggled at me. “You are not going to bomb, honey. You are shit hot on that thing.” Saffy motioned her head toward my guitar, which was leaning on the wall near the window. “Stop worrying.”
Holly continued, “Besides, men will be stunned into silence just by the sight of you, Lily. Most won’t hear you play a note, they’ll be too busy fantasizing.” I blushed and she threw her head back chuckling. “You are way too innocentfor your own good,” she teased.
I hadn’t really noticed men looking at me at home. Sure, guys hit on me, and Jack told me I was hot, but I seemed to be getting more attention here already than I ever had in London.
This was especially true when I went out with my girlfriends.Saffyand Holly had teased me about being a man-magnet the few times we’d been out together. I couldn’t see it myself, thinking that they were the ones that were attracting the attention.
We walked into the Italian restaurant, and the smell of garlic and parmesan hit me immediately, making my stomach growl. I inhaled deeply, and my stomach suddenly ached for food. Holly groaned, “I’m starving.” She lifted a menu from the holder at the front desk and flicked through it.
There were a few guys sitting at the bar near the reservation desk and a fabulously hotlooking guy with blond hairand tanned and toned muscles swiveled around on his bar stool to look at us.
Appreciative eyes scanned over all of us before settling on Holly. His mouth spread into a wide smile. “At last! There you are, honey. I’ve been waiting for you forever. ” Holly turned and looked behind her expecting someone to be there.
Saffyand I noticed her and giggled loudly. Holly realized he was talking to her and smiled broadly at his forwardness.Saffydug me in the ribs and nodded for me to look at Holly’s wide mouth. The guy gave her a broad smile and winked at her.
Holly was, naturally, avery forward girl, and walked over to him, gently squeezing his knee. “Don’t get me wrong, I like what I see, but I’m starving for food right now. My energy levels need recharging an’ all, but if the entrée doesn’t satisfy me, I may need dessert.”
