“Would you relax?” Nicki tells me, pushing her elbow into my ribcage. “You’re losing that after-sex glow you were showing off an hour ago. It’s not like his ex is going to attack you in the middle of a sold-out concert.”
“I’ll make damn sure of that,” Luke chimes in from my other side.
Still scanning the seats of the open-air stadium surrounding us, I chew on my bottom lip. Roman felt it was necessary to fill everyone in on the situation with Brooke, and I’m admittedly grateful. Still, I can’t help worrying the manipulative bitch will try something. Why else would she drive this far? When she saw me walk in on her conversation with Roman, it was obvious she thought she had the upper hand.
The lights suddenly flicker over our heads and Dillon begins to tap the cymbals from somewhere on the darkened stage. The crowd cheers until my eardrums ring and my heart thunders along to the beat of the high Tom-Toms. I’ve never experienced a panic attack in my life, but there’s something about the tightness in my chest that has me feeling incredibly uneasy. I grab Nicki’s arm to stay upright when Roman’s silhouette appears.
Then I hear the sweet rumble of his voice as the spotlight finds him, and my fears melt away beneath the warmth of his starry-eyed gaze. We share a smile that I feel in the pit of my stomach and he winks before springing to the other side of the stage.
“See,” Nicki says, elbowing me again. “Nothing to worry about.”
Though I’m still a bit weary that Brooke will somehow ruin what’s becoming a perfect night, by the final song I’ve found a way to completely relax and enjoy myself as well as the sight of my beautiful man charming a full stadium with his alluring voice.
Before they’ve returned for an encore, Luke’s nudging me in the back. “Time to go.”
“But they aren’t done,” I say, glancing Nicki’s way for backup.
She nods in agreement, but Luke shrugs.
“Just following boss-man’s orders,” he responds, tilting his head toward the underworld. “Nick, he said you’re welcome to come along if you don’t want to hang here alone.”
“Then let’s go,” Nicki decides, hooking her arm through mine.
Among the fans’ cries for one more song, we wind our way through the structure beneath the stage to where Roman and his band mates stand waiting.
“You guys rocked the shit out of this place!” I tell them, standing on my tip-toes to wrap my arms around Roman’s sweaty neck. I brush my lips over his before I lean back, throwing a frown Reggie’s way. “Why the hell am I back here?”
Reggie tosses me a wink. “Your man wants to introduce you to his fans.”
Fear whooshes through my stomach when I meet Roman’s twinkling gaze. “I told you I’m not ready. You have to give me time to psych myself up.”
“I’m not asking you to sing this time, babe.” With a deep chuckle, he kisses the tip of my nose. “I just want them to meet the inspiration behind the lyrics.”
“I don’t know. There are a shit-ton of people out there and they just want to hear you play more music.” Running my teeth over my lip, I glance back to where Nicki stands beside Luke in the shadows and silently plead my new friend to give any bit of advice she has to offer.
“Does she have to say anything?” Nicki asks Roman, quirking one eyebrow.
“It’ll be a quick intro,” Roman promises. “The crowd will love it.”
Nicki dips her chin in my direction, grinning. “You can handle it, girl. I’ll be waiting for you on the dark part of the stage.”
“What’s the hold-up?” Normie asks, nudging his way into our little circle. His lips curl with a scowl when he notices me. “The boys have a job to finish.”
Roman takes my hand, giving it a squeeze. “She’s going out there with us.”
“Fucking hell,” Normie mutters, rubbing at his balding forehead. “For what reason?”
“To get her acclimated to the stage. She’s going to start performing a song with us at every stop.”
If I’m being honest, the look of shock on Normie’s face as Roman leads me past his manager adds to my building confidence. I don’t know what that prick has against me, but I’m done letting others dictate my relationship with Roman. It’s a mistake I won’t make again now that I’m a grown woman.
It’s a little tricky maneuvering through the metal maze of the underworld, but I keep up with Roman and the band until we’re standing at the hole leading up to the stage.
“Ready, babe?” Roman hollers in my ear over the wild plea by the crowd for more.