Page 1 of California Love Songs (The Davenports, #4)
Monterey High School, fifteen years ago…
T he ticking of the auditorium clock echoed like a metronome counting down to disaster. It was finally the night of Battle of the Bands—the event the whole school had been waiting for—especially Crystal Lopez, who was looking forward to watching one band above all the others.
Except there was a problem. A big one. The lead singer hadn’t shown up yet.
Principal Hargrove’s polished loafers squeaked on the linoleum as he paced, his gaze darting between his watch and the empty stage. The crowd’s murmurs swelled, punctuated by worried whispers. “Where’s Damien?”
Crystal’s clipboard trembled slightly in her hands as she scanned the set list for the hundredth time.
She took a deep breath, inhaling the auditorium’s pervasive scent of floor polish and gym socks, and tried to rise above the infectious nervous energy onstage.
Her voice remained steady as she addressed the fidgeting members of Steel and Shadow.
They were the headliners and the crowd was getting restless.
The drummer tapped his sticks nervously. “What if he doesn’t show? We can’t go on without him.”
Crystal flashed her most reassuring smile, though her stomach churned. “He’ll be here. Damien always shows.”
The cold soda can grew warm in her sweating hand as she waited. She pictured Damien’s intense gray-green eyes, imagining the apology that would surely dance in them when he arrived. If he arrived.
Principal Hargrove’s clipped tone interrupted her reverie. Addressing the band, he said, “If Mr. Davenport doesn’t grace us with his presence in one minute, you will forfeit your spot. Punctuality is important. The rock ’n’ roll mentality has no place at school.”
Crystal’s diplomatic instincts kicked in. “I’m sure there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation. Damien’s really excited about performing. I know he’ll be here.”
The members of Steel and Shadow huddled near the edge of the stage, their instruments clutched like lifelines. The bassist, Alex, cleared his throat. “Maybe we should work out a backup plan? I mean, I could try to sing. I know the words?—”
“No way,” Jake cut in, shaking his head vehemently. “Damien’s our front man. Without him, we’re just… Shadow.”
Steel and Shadow, reduced to mere echoes without their charismatic and talented lead. The importance of their impending performance seemed to press down on them, a weight almost as tangible as their instruments.
And then the auditorium doors burst open with a thunderous bang. A hush fell over the crowd as a figure strode in, backlit by the hallway lights like some rock and roll messiah.
Damien Davenport had arrived.
He moved with a fluid grace, each step purposeful and charged with energy.
His long, dark, curly hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail, a few rebellious strands framing his face.
The lights caught the silver glint of his earring and the subtle sheen of his black leather jacket.
He gripped his guitar in one hand, holding it against the side of his body like armor.
As he strode down the aisle, all eyes were on him. Whispers erupted in his wake, a wave of excitement rippling through the crowd. Damien’s presence seemed to fill the entire auditorium, his charisma palpable. The mood shifted into one of exquisite anticipation.
Damien’s eyes locked on Crystal as he approached the stage, his stride lengthening. As he reached her, a sheepish grin spread across his face, transforming his rock-star persona into something more boyish and endearing.
Without a word, she handed him the can of soda, pressing the metal into his hand. Their fingers brushed for a moment, and Crystal felt a familiar spark of electricity. “Thought you might need this,” she said softly. “Can’t have our lead singer getting dehydrated before the big show.”
Damien’s eyes softened, gratitude evident in his gaze. “What would I do without you?” he asked, his voice low and sincere.
Crystal felt her heart skip a beat, even as she maintained her outward composure.
She had known Damien for so long, had been there through his every up and down, and knew he saw her as someone he could rely on.
She was his kid sister Erin’s best friend, after all.
But oh, how she wanted to be more, so much more.
She watched his lips as he took a long swig of the soda.
“That’s what friends are for,” she replied, her tone light despite the weight of unspoken feelings behind her words.
As the principal’s voice boomed through the auditorium announcing Steel and Shadow’s performance, Damien straightened his shoulders and a fire ignited in his eyes. With a small nod to the band, he strode to center stage, each step exuding confidence and purpose.
The moment Damien stopped in front of the mic stand, the energy in the room pulsed. He grabbed the microphone, his presence magnetic. “Are you ready to rock?” he called, his voice a perfect blend of gravel and silk.
The high school auditorium roared in response and Damien grinned, turning to look at his bandmates. His expression said: Let’s do this. Time to give the audience what they’ve been waiting for.
As the first chords rang out, Crystal felt her breath catch. She’d seen him perform countless times, but this… this was different.
Damien’s voice soared, raw and passionate, as he launched into their opening song. His body moved with the rhythm, every gesture an extension of the music. Crystal was mesmerized, watching his fingers dance across the fretboard of his guitar.
From the wings, she lost herself in his music.
On stage, Damien was one with his guitar, one with his band.
One with his audience. Steel and Shadow played both popular and unexpected covers and then they played a song Damien had written.
As the melody kicked in, something shifted in the crowd. They fell quiet, spellbound.
Crystal couldn’t believe how good his song was. How good he was. Goosebumps rose on her arms and Crystal knew she was in the presence of something seismic. When the last note sounded, the audience burst into crazy applause.
This is what he was born to do, she thought, a mixture of pride and longing twisting in her chest.
Damien opened his eyes, scanning the audience before turning to where she was standing.
For a brief moment, his gaze met hers, and he flashed her a brilliant smile.
Then he was gone again, swept up in the music as he led the band into their finale, leaving Crystal to wonder if she’d imagined that fleeting connection.
The final notes of Steel and Shadow’s set faded away, replaced by more applause and cheers.
Crystal’s heart swelled with pride as she watched Damien take a sweeping bow, those long, stray curls falling over his face.
Her eyes never left him, drinking in every detail—the way his chest heaved with exertion, the triumphant grin spreading across his features, the glint of his black Fender catching the stage lights.
After the band set down their instruments backstage, all jacked up on adrenaline and the wild reaction of the audience, they joined the crowd in the auditorium.
Damien was immediately swarmed by fans and well-wishers, their excited chatter filling the air.
Crystal hung back, clipboard still clutched to her chest like a shield even though the show was over.
She watched as he laughed and joked. He suddenly felt light years away from her, all their earlier easy intimacy gone.
Just as she was considering slipping away to check on the crew, Damien’s eyes found hers over the crowd. He said something to the group around him and made his way toward her, his magnetic grin still in place.
“Crystal!” he called, pulling her into a quick, one-armed hug. “I couldn’t have done it without you. You know that, right?”
She laughed, hoping he couldn’t feel how fast her heart was pounding beneath her Crew T-shirt. “Pretty sure you did all the hard work up there.”
Damien shook his head, his expression softening. “Nah, you’re the real MVP. Keeping everything running smoothly, handling all the details…” He made a flourishing air guitar gesture. “You’re like… the perfect bass line. Holding everything together, even if people don’t always notice.”
Crystal felt her cheeks warm at the praise. “That’s what friends are for, right?” she echoed.
A stunning blonde in ripped jeans and a crop top sauntered up to Damien, wrapping her arms possessively around his waist. Crystal tried not to let her smile drop. Melody. His girlfriend.
“You were incredible, babe,” Melody said into his ear, loud enough for Crystal to hear.
Damien squeezed her shoulder. “Thanks, Mel. It felt great.”
Crystal’s stomach twisted as Melody pulled Damien into a passionate kiss. His hands tangled in her hair, their bodies pressed close. The intensity of their embrace made Crystal’s cheeks turn an even deeper pink, a mixture of embarrassment and longing coursing through her.
When they finally broke apart, both slightly breathless, Crystal forced herself to admire Melody’s confidence. The way she claimed what she wanted without hesitation. Something Crystal could never do, at least not when it came to Damien.
To no one’s surprise, Steel and Shadow won Battle of the Bands and once more the band took center stage to play a final song. Crystal found herself stepping out of her role as event organizer and clapping and whistling along with the rest of the audience. Even the other bands seemed happy.
When the applause finally died down and the band trooped offstage, Damien’s voice snapped her out of her dreamlike state. “Hey, Crys? Could you do me a huge favor?”
Crystal’s heart leapt. “Of course! What do you need?”
He held out a soda can—the one she’d given him, now empty, and flashed that disarming smile. “Mind tossing this in recycling for me? I promised the guys we’d grab a quick bite to celebrate.”
“Oh.” Crystal’s hopes deflated, but she plastered on a bright smile. “No problem at all.”
“You’re the best,” Damien said, already turning back to the crowd. He scanned the sweaty throng of people and then grinned. He’d spotted Melody.
As Crystal watched them leave, arm in arm, she clutched the soda can to her chest. It was still warm from Damien’s hand.
Crystal’s fingers trembled slightly as she tossed the can into the recycling bin. She took a deep breath, steeling herself. Now or never .
“Damien, wait!” she called, her voice carrying across the emptying auditorium.
He turned, eyebrows raised in question. “What’s up?”
Crystal hurried over, her heart pounding. “I, um, I was wondering…” She tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear, willing her voice to stay steady. “Would your band consider playing at my sixteenth birthday party? My mom said she’d pay you.”
Damien’s face lit up. “Seriously? That’d be awesome!” He glanced at the rest of the band, who looked pretty happy. “Our first paid gig,” the drummer said, raising his fist in triumph.
“When is it?” Damien asked her.
Of course he wouldn’t know when her birthday was. Why would he?
“Two weeks from Saturday,” Crystal replied, her excitement building. “I know it’s short notice, but?—”
“No worries.” Damien grinned. “We’ll make it work. It’s not every day my favorite roadie turns sixteen.”
As she watched them leave, Crystal couldn’t help but imagine Damien singing “Happy Birthday” just for her.
It’ll be worth every penny of the babysitting money I’ve been saving up . A secret smile played on her lips. Even if he never knows I paid for it myself .