Second Chance at the Riverview Inn (Riverview Inn)

Her parents were silent and she turned to find them staring at her. “What?”

“You really like him,” Mom said.

“I do, Mom. I really like him.” It felt good to say it out loud. They’d been talking every night on the phone for a month. This was past a rock star infatuation; she liked him. As a person. Admired him. Desired him.

She was recklessly falling in love with him.

Mom and Jonah shared a worried look.

“What’s that look for?” she asked. “I thought you’d be excited. Me moving on and everything. You’ve been trying to get me to date someone for months.”

“Has he talked to you about the new songs?”

“No,” she said, wondering why they cared. “What does that have to do with anything? I don’t like him just because of his music.”

“Have you listened to the new album?” Jonah asked. “Really listened to it?”

“Why?” The truth was, she still hadn’t devoted a whole lot of energy to listening to that album. She’d been busy and there was something about the tone of the new songs that made her feel…too much. It was like a raw nerve. And she understood that people were loving the album for exactly that reason, but it hit a little too close to home right now.

“Just…you should listen to it,” Jonah said.

“Well, I will tonight, won’t I?” she said. “Now stop being weird—we’re going to go have a great time.”

The tickets were there for them at Will Call. Front row VIP with backstage passes.

“Oh my god,” she said, holding up the lanyards. And whatever Jonah and Mom’s weird mood back at the house had been about, they were both caught up in the thrill of being in the city and out at the concert.

Mom had a hotdog and a soft pretzel from a vendor on the sidewalk.

“Look at you,” Jonah said, kissing ketchup off Mom’s lips. “Being so wild.”

They walked into the arena and showed their tickets to the first usher they saw. “Nice,” the guy said and directed them to the next usher who stood at the entrance to the floor. “He’ll tell you where to go.”

That usher directed them to the next usher who stood right at the edge of the stage.

“Where the hell are these seats?” Jonah asked.

There was a tiny section separated from the rest of the floor, right in front of the stage. “Front row VIP,” the usher said and moved the partition for them to slide in.

“Don’t do that,” the usher said as Mom reached out to touch the stage.

The stage was dark, the silhouettes of all the instruments and microphones dramatic against the backdrop. The PA system was playing a Chris Stapleton song and Jonah got three cans of beer from a guy walking around with a cooler strapped to his back.

“To getting back to life,” she said, holding up her can for a cheers. “And to you guys, for getting me through the last three years.”

Mom’s eyes predictably flooded with tears. “We love you, honey.”

“And remember,” Jonah said. “We’re always here when you need us.”

Now her eyes were full of tears.

The lights changed and Chris Stapleton was gone and the crowd started to roar. Helen turned to the stage just as all the guys came out. The drummer, Sean, sat at his kit and lifted his drumsticks in the air and the crowd went crazy. Miguel, the bass player, came out shirtless, and there was even more screaming. Then it was Alex, in blue jeans and a black tee-shirt, a guitar across his back like a rock and roll gunslinger.

And then it was Micah. Black jeans and a denim shirt with the sleeves rolled up like he was a man who was about to get some work done.

And she was screaming. Like the thousands of other people in the arena with her, she lost her damn mind and just started screaming.

That’s my boyfriend!

“Hey,” Micah said into the microphone. “We’re Band of Outlaws.”

And the music started.

They roared into their biggest hits and the crowd was on their feet dancing. Alex sang “Saturday Morning Pancakes” and she had new painful and real insight into the lyrics.

We got a trailer and a beat-up car. A stack of bills and Saturday morning pancakes. You’re my mama and I’m your boy.

She felt Miguel’s bass in her chest and Micah’s voice in her heartbeat. She looked around at thousands of people watching Micah with nothing less than hero worship in their eyes. He was singing to each and every one of them and they adored him for what he was making them feel.

And he’s mine.

It was shamefully empowering. Micah brought thousands of people to their knees.

And she brought him to his knees.

Watching him and wanting him and knowing he wanted her, too, it felt like trying to catch lightning in her hands.

The song finished and the band rolled right into another song. Micah stepped up to the microphone with his head tilted their way and she saw the moment he saw them. His whole face transformed.