Page 164 of I Dreamt That You Loved Me

He pointed at Sean. “First thing Monday, we’re calling my lawyer and the suits at the label and demanding?—”

“All right, all right,” Sean said, holding up his hands. “We’ll get this all sorted out next week. You have my word on that. But right now, I need you to focus on tonight’s performance and put all the other stuff out of your head. So just let it go for now, okay?”

Gabriel exhaled loudly and looked up at the sky then nodded. “Okay, fine.”

But I could tell from the set of his jaw that he hadn’t let it go and that he wouldn’t until the matter was settled. I already knew from previous experience that whenever his artistic vision or integrity was threatened, he would fight to the bitter end until he got exactly what he wanted. His music was the one thing in his life that he refused to compromise on.

Sean nodded. “Okay.” He clapped his hands and stood up, rallying the troops. “Van’s all loaded?” He looked at Eddie and Devin who nodded. “Let’s get moving so we can do a soundcheck.”

My mom gave him a peck on the cheek. “Relax.” Sean nodded and rolled out his shoulders. “We’ll see you later.”

“It might be a Cuervo kind of night,” Eddie said with a smirk.

Oh God. I really hoped not. One night on the summer festival tour, the show was delayed due to thunderstorms. By the time they took the stage, Gabriel had drunk so much tequila that he sang all the wrong lyrics for half the songs. Not his best performance.

I grabbed Gabriel’s arm before he climbed into the van. “Hey. Are you okay?”

“All good.”

I wasn’t entirely convinced so I did up a few of his buttons just for an excuse to delay his departure. I knew that by the end of the night his shirt would either be completely unbuttoned or on the floor, but old habits die hard, so I did it anyway. I patted his chest. “Keep your shirt on.”

He leaned in and I thought he might kiss me but instead he whispered in my ear, “You’re still my music.”

You still give me butterflies.

“And I’m still your biggest fan.”

He squeezed my hand and climbed into the van.

As it was pulling away, I yelled, “Stay off the Cuervo!”

I heard the guys laughing as they drove away.

CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR

Cleo

We arrived early,but there were already lines outside the front door of the weathered gray shingled bar.

Maya made a move to join the line, but my mom stopped her and steered us to the back entrance.

Maya grabbed my hand and let out a little squeal. “I’m so excited! I’ve never been a VIP before. We get to hang out in the green room.”

I laughed. “Don’t expect too much. It’s usually just an old sofa in a grotty room that smells like sweat, smoke, and stale beer.”

We hung back while my mom talked to the security guy manning the door.

“Your mom is so cool,” Maya said wistfully.

I nodded in agreement. My mom had always been cool. Her long dark hair hung down her back and tonight she wore a plain white T-shirt, vintage denim, and turquoise rings on her fingers. Poised and confident, she’d done this hundreds of times, so she knew the drill.

A few minutes later we were ushered down a wood-clad hallway past a few journalists and a photographer to a room that lived up to my description.

Truthfully, I would have preferred a seat at the bar, but if my mom’s cryptic conversation with Sean on the drive over was any indication, Gabriel wasn’t as chilled as he’d let on.

My mom gave me a little nudge toward Gabriel, who was slumped in the corner of a battered leather sofa running his hands through his hair. She joined Sean and the Rogues while Maya made a beeline for Eddie.

I took the seat Devin vacated next to Gabriel and bumped my shoulder against his. “Hey. What’s going on in that big, beautiful brain of yours?”