Page 144 of Vespertine

“They won’t, and even if they do, I love it.”

Nicky snorted and kissed his temple, nuzzling at the scent ofhotel shampoo. He dragged Jasper around front and center, gazing into his eyes.

“You are ready for this,” Jasper said, cupping his cheeks. “‘ForI know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you andnot to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’Remember?”

“I remember. Jeremiah, right?”

“Go on out there and wow them.”

Confidence warmed Nicky’s chest. “It’s all for you, youknow. The old stuff and the new stuff too.”

“I know.”

They kissed, and Ramona punched Nicky on the arm. “Showtime,asshole.”

Nicky high-fived Sez, who still looked like he might puke,and then the three of them walked on stage, with their new bassist Perryfollowing behind them.

The roar of the crowd rattled deep in his bones, and helifted his eyes, blinded by the show lights. He smiled and waited for Sez towork the crowd.

Sez messed with the mic and then looked over at Nicky withcrazed eyes.

Nicky pulled his own mic closer and spoke into it. “Hey, we’reVespertine.”

The crowd went wild and he could barely hear himself go on. “It’sbeen a while since our last show. We lost someone important to us and we knowyou miss him too.”

The crowd screamed. Nicky slung his guitar over his shoulderand placed his fingers on the fretboard to start the first song. “We’vecontinued on, though, and we hope we honor his memory with our new music. Andyeah, we’ve got some of our new stuff for you tonight. Hope you like it.” Thecrowd made his body shake with their yells. He nodded at Ramona, who clicked acount off. “This one’s for Jazz,” Nicky said, and started to play.

Sez looked like he might choke entirely, but just in timehis voice burst in, rough and sincere, taking them through the verses andhitting the chorus at full tilt.

Kiss me,

Kiss me like cloudburst.

Hold me,

Hold me like dreams.

We’re soaked to the bone,

And never alone,

In love and safe in our skin.

Nicky sneaked a look toward the side of the stage and grinnedto see Jasper there, bouncing on his toes to the rhythm, his eyes glowing likestars.

A year ago, he’d gone home to Little Bay to get a freshstart, and now he was right back on stage again. But everything about it was sodifferent. He’d gotten his fresh start. His world had ended and begun again.The crowd might be screaming for Nico Blue, but in Jasper’s arms, he wasNicholas Blumfeld, in love and safe in his skin.

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