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“Sold out. Every single seat,” I reiterated.
Reggie clapped her on the back. “Holy fuck! How about that, Moretti!”
“So, uh, how many people are gonna be here?”
“Two thousand six hundred.”
The others erupted in cheers, but Stef’s reaction was more subdued. Just a nod, as her eyes scanning the empty venue. Her silence was loud, and I found myself caught between wanting to reach out and knowing I had no right to. The gap between us felt wider than ever, filled with unspoken words and tension.
Marcus shot me a look, his brow raised in question. Okay, so he’d noticed Stef’s reaction, too.
I shrugged, not really sure what I could say, since I’d expected that Stef would love the idea of performing to such a huge crowd.
Turning back to the group, Marcus gave everyone a wide smile. “How about we set you guys up for a sound check, then after that, we can have a bite to eat. Does that sound okay?” He sounded reassuring, in that fatherly way of his, and I was relieved to see Stef return his smile.
“Sure thing.”
My relief was short-lived. Five minutes into the rehearsal, it was clear that something was seriously off with her. Through the whole rehearsal, there was just no energy behind her. It was so bad, in fact, that Marcus cut the practice session short. “Okay, catering has arrived. Let’s get you guys fueled up and ready to go.”
In the green room, everyone was buzzing with that electric pre-show energy. Except for Stef. Catering had laid out a spread that was enough to make anyone’s stomach growl, but as everyonepiled up their plates, all Stef took was a small bread roll and some salad.
There was no way that was going to be enough to get her through a high energy, two-hour performance, but no one else seemed to notice. Jen and Marcus were deep in conversation and Miriam was sitting with Evan and Reggie. Just as I started thinking about taking matters into my own hands and ordering her to eat something, Miriam got up and moved to the buffet table. Piling a plate high with sandwiches and pastries, she dropped the whole thing in front of Stef. “Eat.”
“I’m fine.”
“Eat!”
With a long-suffering sigh, Stef grabbed a sandwich and took a bite.
“Thank you.” Miriam dropped into the chair next to Stef and leaned close, speaking softly.
Stef gave a half-hearted nod, forcing herself to take another bite of the sandwich. It was obvious she was just going through the motions and soon enough, Miriam gave up, returning to her seat with Reggie and Evan.
I watched Stef from my corner, the urge to reach out tugging at me. But the memory of her pulling away earlier on the jet held me back. I knew better than to try to bridge the gap I’d put between us. Marcus made a show of checking his watch. “Alright, gang! It’s show time!”
The rest of the band was getting into show mode, but Stef’s spark was missing. It was like watching a light dim, and all I could do was stand there, feeling useless.
One by one, the band members left the green room, a mix of excitement and nerves in their steps. I followed, trailing behind the group as we made our way toward the stage.
The buzz from the crowd was like electricity in the air, a living, breathing thing you could almost touch. It filled the corridors, pulsing through the walls, a powerful reminder of the sea of people waiting just beyond the curtains.
As we reached the side of the stage, the reality of the moment seemed to hit them all pretty hard.
Evan bounced on his toes, shaking off the nerves. Reggie had his eyes closed and was murmuring to himself. Miriam was tapping her drumsticks against her thigh as she stared up at the shadowy ceiling. But it was Stef who seemed to bear the weight of the moment the most.
She stood there, guitar in hand, her eyes focused on the stage. I noticed her trying to draw in air, but it seemed like she couldn’t manage it.
The loudspeaker crackled to life, jolting her. “Alright, everyone! Let’s give a big Georgia welcome to Booooudica!”
The crowd’s response was immediate and deafening. Cheers, shouts, and the clapping of thousands of hands filled the venue, vibrating in the air around us.
That’s when I saw it happen. Stef’s resolve faltered. The overwhelming roar of the crowd seemed to hit her like a physical blow. She stepped back, her eyes wide, the color draining from her face. It was more than just nerves; it was outright fucking panic.
Reggie reached out to steady her, but she shook her head, backing away further, turning away on shaky legs. The excitement of the moment turned into a tense uncertainty. The band looked at each other, unsure of what to do.
“Hey, Stef…”
“Stef! Wait!”