Page 74 of Muse (Fighting Fate)

I grinned sheepishly. “Yes, thank you.”

Jace grinned back at me before pulling me in for a hug and brushing a quick kiss across my lips. “You’re welcome.”

Chapter 34

Jace

I couldn’t stop stealing glances at Mia standing in the wing the entire show. I’d been fucking stunned when she’d walked into the lounge back at her house. I was literally speechless, standing there just fucking gawking at her like a virgin geek or something.

Every time I saw her I didn’t think she could get any hotter, but then she walked out looking like a fucking supermodel, showing me just how fucking wrong I could be.

All I wanted to do was drag her off to her room and devour her, but then I remembered we were about to go out in public, and the thought of all the hungry looks she was bound to get suddenly set me on edge. I really wanted to tell her to go put on a pair of jeans or something.

I was fucking ecstatic when Aiden practically said what I was thinking, but then she got that damned sad, worried look and I just wanted to let her do whatever it was that would put a smile back on her face.

I knew the other guys had been worried having her at the gig would affect our concentration. Hell, I’d been worried. Not only was it going to be the biggest fucking crowd we’d ever played to, but Rich and the guy from Leighton’s were going to be there. We needed to make sure we left it all over the motherfucking stage.

But it seemed we had no need to worry. Once we hit that stage and heard the crowd screaming our name, there was no fucking way we were playing bad. In fact, I think it was the most intense set we’d ever done.

It was obvious we had a lot of our YouTube supporters there too, because the crowd hit it fucking hard, getting in and singing along with us, cranking up the fucking atmosphere until it was ready to fucking explode.

The second our set was done though, I threw my pick into the crowd and walked straight to where Mia was standing, passing Ryan my guitar as I went.

The smile on her face made me feel like a fucking king, and when I reached her, she threw her arms up and jumped at me. I caught her and squeezed her hard against me as she wrapped her arms around my neck. “I’m all sweaty, babe,” I warned her.

She giggled. “I love you all sweaty. You stink good.”

I groaned. She wasn’t going to make this easy for me. My dick was already twitching and her fucking mom was standing right there! God fucking help me.

Aiden stepped up beside us, beaming like a man on top of the world. He looked at his mom. “So? What’d you think?”

She gazed at the both of us and shook her head. Her eyes were wide with wonder. “When did you turn into superstars? I mean, all those people knew all the words to your songs. That’s insane.”

We laughed. Yeah, it was pretty insane.

“So, what are you doing now?” Aiden asked her. “Are you staying for a bit?”

Her eyes darted out to the crowd beyond the stage. “I think this crowd’s a little bit too young for me. I might just head home.” She looked at Mia. “Did you want to come with me?”

Mia shifted in my arms. “I’d like to stay for a bit if I could,” she said softly.

I instantly tensed, as did Aiden and Lillian. The memory of her panic attack still had me tied up in knots.

Mia licked her bottom lip nervously. “I want to try.”

Aiden gave her a hard look, ready to say something, but Lillian jumped in first. “You’ve already had such a big day, baby. I don’t want you to push yourself too hard.”

“I’ll be fine. All my safe havens are here.” She looked between me, Aiden and Kaeli. “I won’t stay long. Baby steps, right?”

Lillian sighed. I knew she wanted to say no, but I guess it was Mia’s choice at the end of the day. No matter how much the rest of us wanted to keep her far away from that crowd.

“You don’t have to do this, Mia,” Aiden said. “It’s fucking huge that you got this far. It’s okay if this is as far as you get.”

“Language, Aiden,” Lillian warned.

Mia ignored her. “I know, but I want to try. Please?”

His jaw clenched as he gave her a hard stare, but then he sighed and I knew she’d won. “Fine. Wait here. I’ll just wa

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