"Are you up for standing?" She eyed my flip flops.
"Absolutely. I've never been front row at a concert. I might as well experience it."
"Okay, cool. The opening band is pretty cool too. It's a group of three sisters."
Opening band. No wonder the place was still nearly empty. Most people waited until closer to the main act to show up. "Oh, cool. I always think it's interesting when bands are made up of family members."
"The lead singer and drummer in Chance of a Lifetime are brothers. The other members are friends of theirs from college."
"It sounds like you know a lot about them." I twisted off the top of my water and took a long sip.
"Yeah, they're one of my favorites. My friend introduced me to them about a year ago, and I've seen them play a few times."
I followed Jade all the way up to the front of the room. We were literally standing right by the stage. "Cool." I glanced at my watch. It was show time, so hopefully the opening act would be on soon.
As if in answer, the lights dimmed. The screaming crowd got me excited even though I had no idea what kind of music this sister trio was going to perform.
The girls were dressed kind of punk rock, so the more alternative sound of the music surprised me. One sister each played guitar, keyboard, and drums, and they all sang.
It turned out they were pretty good. It was more chill than what I usually listened to, but the girls were pretty badass, which I could respect. Jade seemed somewhat into them, but I could tell she was just biding her time before the main act. I wondered if opening acts knew that, and if it bothered them. Maybe it was a rite of passage they didn't reflect on much.
Before long, the girls finished their set. The crowd thinned a little behind us, and I was positive the line to the restrooms was out the door. One of the benefits of not drinking alcohol was that I wasn't in that line.
After a set change and a quick sound check, the lights dimmed again and the crowd went wild. I looked back at the stage. Hopefully Chance of a Lifetime was even better.
I craned to see in the near darkness, then slowly the lights came up, and I needed to pass out. "Oh my god."
"What?" Jade grabbed my arm. "Are you okay?"
It was hard to hear her over the screaming crowd and the rushing in my ears. "What's the name of the guy holding the guitar?"
"That's Chase. He's the lead singer."
I groaned. Chase, as in blazer guy from the beach, stood at the mic. "Seriously? How is this even possible?"
"Hey, guys. Thanks for coming out!" Chase spoke and any doubts I could have pretended to have about his identity were officially gone. I'd never forget that sexy voice, or the body that went with it.
"It's possible because he can sing … " Jade yelled to be heard over the music that had suddenly started.
"I slept with him," I shouted. I'm not sure why I even admitted it.
"What? You slept with Chase Denton?" Her eyes nearly bugged out of her head.
Thankfully the music drowned it out for everyone near us.
"So, that's his last name … yeah, we hooked up on the beach over break."
"I don't even know what to say." She looked at me like I'd just admitted to having super powers or something.
"I was upset and drunk, and he was sweet."
"Have you heard from him since?" She finally released my arm. "How did you not realize who he was?"
"I wouldn't give him my number, and I don't know. It didn't come up." I turned back toward the stage. Despite my nightly dreams, I'd started to forget some of the details of his face. Seeing him again flooded me with memories of our steamy and nearly magical night in the sand.
Jade watched me. "Wow, we should talk to him after this."
"I bet he doesn't even remember me." He'd been drunk that night too.
The first song finished. "I thought you guys might want to hear some of the new stuff we've been working on. This one's called Sex on the Beach."
The crowd screamed, and a horrible thought hit me. Was it about me?
He grinned at the crowd's response. "And no, it isn't about the drink."
"Wait … you said you met him at the beach." Jade nudged me. I pretended not to hear.
Blonde haired vixen with that perfect smile
Dragging me backward all along
But I'd do anything to get you down in the sand
Won't you join me for some sex on the beach?
Chase looked out in the crowd, and his eyes suddenly landed on me. His face froze as he continued to play. A moment later he smiled.
Nothing off, nothing to hide
So young, so full of life
But I'd do anything to get you down in the sand
Won't you join me for some sex on the beach?
"This is one of those moments you're never going to forget," Jade said from next to me. I couldn't respond. I was too fixated on Chase.
She was right, but not for the reasons she thought. I was so embarrassed. A guy was on stage singing to a room full of people about having sex with me on the sand. Classy. Very classy.
Left so fast, barely got it right
Need some more. But no way to find you tonight
But I'd do anything to get you down in the sand
Won't you join me for some sex on the beach?
His eyes never left my face, and I swear he licked his lips as he took me in. I thought I'd get a reprieve from the intense stare after that song, but no. He sang the next one looking at me, and I felt like my whole body would melt.
After giving me a break from his stare for one song, it was one about a broken heart, he turned back, and watched me for the remainder of the set. I barely moved an inch as I waited for the second set. On one hand, I wanted to run away, but I also wanted to see and hear more. I was enthralled with the music-and watching this completely different side to Chase. Memories of our night together flowed through me on repeat as I watched the shorter second set. I was both disappointed and relieved when it was over.
The crowd cheered and chanted, and I grabbed Jade's hand, ready to bolt.
"Play Lake House!" The crowd screamed.
He shook his head. "Not tonight, guys." He glanced at me. Was he really in that much of a rush?
He was about to walk off the stage when he looked right at me again. "Don't run off on me again." He pointed at me.
Everyone nearby in the audience stared and my stomach dropped. This wasn't happening.
"So … I'm guessing he remembered you." Jade laughed.
"Oh yeah, because this is hilarious." I wasn't sure how I felt. A part of me was flattered, but the rest of me was embarrassed and freaked out. What was I going to say to him when we came face to face?
"It is." Jade straightened out her long brown hair with her fingers. "Only you would sleep with a guy like Chase and have no idea who he was."
"Only me?"
"Okay. Maybe that's a little bit of an extreme, but there are hundreds of girls in this room that would pay for that opportunity-and you didn't even realize you'd had it."
I arched an eyebrow. "Are you one of those girls?"
"No. I'd probably pick his brother." She gave only a tiny smile.
"Oh, you're into drummers." Push it off me and onto her. That was usually a good way to handle a situation like the one I was in. The problem was the situation was about to get worse. The crowd opened up to allow Chase to reach us. My stomach churned.
"Cara … wow. I never expected to see you here." Chase stopped inches from me before stepping closer and pulling me into an awkward hug.
"Don't you mean you never expected to see me?" I'm not sure where the iciness in my voice came from. I stepped out of his embrace even though there was some comfort there I didn't want to admit to.
"Hey, I'm not the one who refused to give you my number." He stayed closer than he needed to.
I shrugged. "I'm surprised to see you too."
"Did you know who I was?" A note of suspicion entered his voice. What nerve.
"No. She had no clue." Jade jumped in. "You should have seen her face when she saw you up there. I thought she was going to pass out."
Chase laughed. Why was his laugh so sexy? I was supposed to be angry at the insinuation that I was a groupie or something. "Oh yeah?" He held out a hand to Jade. "Chase Denton."
"Jade Cambridge. I'm a big fan."
"I'm guessing Cara isn't."
"I enjoyed the show." I wasn't going to just stand there and let them talk like I wasn't there.
Chase's eyes moved down to my chest and then back to my face. "I'm guessing you're not just a Greek aficionado?"
"Oh. Yeah." I remembered the tank top I was wearing. "My sorority."
"Sorority, huh?" He seemed to ponder my words for a second. "I didn't realize you were in college-let alone a sorority."
"Well, I didn't know you were in a band."
Jade laughed. "Funny how much you can learn about someone after you've had sex."
I glared at her, but Chase laughed. "Wait a second. Cara told you?"