“That’s good to hear,” Dad said behind me. I whirled around and felt warmth flood my cheeks.
“I so did not have anything to do with this.”
He stared at me a moment before a smile spread across his face. “It’s not what I would have picked, but you sure look beautiful in it.”
“Really?”
Mom nodded. “And you sounded wonderful, honey.”
“Yes, you blew us both away,” Dad replied.
“Thank you.”
It was then Cari, the stylist, strode up to me. “Come on, Abby. I have another dress for you to try.”
“Okay.” I turned back to the boys. “Good luck. See you in a bit.” I gave Mom and Dad a quick hug and kiss before trailing behind Cari to the wardrobe room.
After I saw my new outfit, I decided that Cari was more of a miracle worker than a devil. She had found a slightly longer dress—this time with sparkly, spaghetti straps and a beaded bodice. It was deep purple. “That’s beautiful.”
“Glad you like it,” Cari mumbled as she unzipped my torture-device ensemble.
Now that my first performance was over, most of my nervousness had dissipated. There was only one person in the world I wanted to talk to. “Um, do you know what happened to my phone?”
Pressing a button, Cari spoke into her headset. “I need Abby’s cellphone brought to wardrobe. Pronto.”
“Oh, it’s really not that big of a hurry.”
Cari rolled her eyes. “Trust me, honey. You have to talk one way to these roadies and technicians. If you’re not a bitch, shit doesn’t get done.”
As if to illustrate her point, a knock came at the door. “See?” she questioned with a grin.
I hurried into the dress while she went over to the door. Barely cracking it, she took it from the roadie and then brought it over to me. “Thanks!” I called.
Once she had fluffed the dress and adjusted the straps, she sent me on my way. I quickly dialed Jake. He answered on the third ring. “Hey Angel.”
“I had to call you and tell you I did it! I sang, and everything went great!”
He chuckled. “I told you that you would. And once again, I’m always right.”
“You’re always such a smartass,” I replied with a grin.
“Deep down, you like that about me.”
“Maybe.”
“So what are you doing now?”
“Stumbling along backstage before I go on with the boys.”
“You aren’t still nervous, are you?”
“No, I actually feel awesome—it’s like a total adrenaline high. I could so get used to this feeling!”
“That’s what performing in front of a crowd will do to you.”
“Speaking of crowds, they seriously loved me, and they loved mine and Garrett’s duet. Well, I did too except for the fact he got a little too into it.”
A growl came on the other end of the line. “Yeah, you tell my man Garrett that the next time he wants to partially feel up my girl and practically dry hump her on stage that the least I’ll do to him is break his guitar hand!”
“He wasn’t feeling me up. He—” I froze in the middle of the hallway. “Wait, how did you know he did that?”
“Because I saw him.”
My heart shuddered to a stop as I glanced wildly around. “Are you here?”
He laughed. “I wish I was, Angel. I would have especially liked to see you up close and personal in that naughty little red number you wore.”
“But how—?”
“I had one of the technicians send me a live feed.”
“You did that for me?”
“Hell yeah. I didn’t want to miss your first performance for anything in the world, especially after our rehearsal.”
“Oh Jake…that’s so sweet.”
“I’ve tried telling you before how sweet I can be for you,” he replied with amusement vibrating in his voice.
“I know.”
“You’ll think I’m even sweeter when you get back to the bus and find the flowers I sent you.”
“Really?” I squealed.
“Well, some of them are from all of us guys, but there’s a special dozen just from me.”
My heart swelled in my chest to where I feared it might burst right out. “Oh wow, that’s so sweet and thoughtful. Thank the guys for me.”
“I will.”
“You’re amazing too.”
“I know.”
I giggled. “Such an egomaniac.”
A roadie waved at me to get my attention. “Five minutes!” he called.
“Oh Jake, I have to go,” I lamented.
“Wait, I need to ask you something.”
“Sure. What is it?”
“I wanted to see if you would come with me to my sister’s Sweet Sixteen party in two weeks. Since the guys and I are playing, we’re making a big weekend out of it. Brayden’s wife, Lily, is flying in with the kids. Do you think you can make it?”
Oh wow. Jake was inviting me to something that involved meeting his family. This was huge…and fast. Breathe, Abby. “Um, yeah, sure.”
“If you need to soften the blow with your brothers about running off with me, you can tell them I plan to take you into the studio to record I’ll Take You with Me.”
“Holy shit!” I exclaimed.
Jake chuckled. “Does that mean you want to come?”
“Yes, I definitely want to come. I just can’t believe you still want to record with me.”
“Of course I do, and one of my favorite places to record is in Atlanta.”
“Wow, this is still so unbelievable.”
“Well, believe it. There will be a plane ticket waiting for you back at the hotel. My people have taken care of everything, including the hotel. It’s all on me.”
“That’s too much. I can’t let you do that, Jake.”
“Yes, you can, and you will. It’s my trip, so it’s my treat.”
“You’re so bossy.”
He laughed. “Yep and you better get used to it.”
“Okay, okay, I’ll accept.”
“Glad to hear it, Angel.”
When the roadie reappeared and beckoned me to the stage, I sighed with frustration. “I gotta go, Jake.”
“All right. I’ll talk to you later tonight, and then I’ll see you in two weeks.”
***
Chapter Thirteen
Standing in front of the lighted hotel mirrors, I adjusted my black, silk tie. Even though I’d barely had it on five minutes, it was already choking me to death. AJ groaned beside me. “Remind me again why we have to wear suits?”