There were a few shout outs to the other guys as well, but each time a girl called my name it felt like a direct hit. Because none of them were Jordan.
“Asher, who’s your girlfriend? I bet I can take her!”
My eyes widened at that one. There were so many girls, I’d never get passed them. Searching over their heads, I looked for Jordan by the blue tent. And I found her. Waiting. Watching. Crying. I lifted my hand, signaling for her to stay. She shook her head and panic filled my chest.
“Jordan!” She couldn’t hear me, but that didn’t keep me from calling out again. I fought my way through the girls who clawed at my clothes. My bandmates followed close behind, laughing and signing autographs like we were celebrities or something. This was a concert in the park, for goodness sake!
By the time I got away from the crowd and made it to the tent, Jordan was gone.
Feeling more desperate than ever, I sprinted toward my car, searching every face I passed for the one I wanted.
“Asher!”
Crap. My dad. I forgot he and Shari were going to be there. I stopped and turned around. They were walking my way, Caleb in an infant carrier strapped to my dad’s chest. His arms and legs flapped when he saw me. As much as I wanted to keep running, I had to talk to them. I almost couldn’t believe Shari talked my dad into coming.
“Asher, you guys were amazing.” Shari wrapped me in a hug. “Weren’t they, Derek? Really, you were so good.” She shook her head like she couldn’t believe it, but her eyes shone with pride.
“Thanks. That means a lot.”
Dad still hadn’t said anything and when I turned to him, I focused my attention on my little brother.
“Hey, buddy. Did you like my music? Yeah?” He grabbed onto my finger. “You’re my biggest fan, huh?”
Caleb gurgled. “Uh!” he shouted. I smiled because that was as close as he could get to saying my name.
Dad cleared his throat, affectively killing my smile. I stood up straight and met his gaze.
“You guys sounded really good, Ash.”
Wow.
And he didn’t even appear to be choking on the words.
“Thanks, Dad.”
The moment turned awkward. Of course, Shari stepped in to save the day.
“Where’s Jordan? I thought she was here with you?”
“Oh, um,” I reached my hand up to the back of my neck. “We got separated. I was looking for her when I ran into you guys.” They didn’t need the gory details.
Shari frowned, her eyes darting around, looking for Jordan herself. “Well, you should go find her. Who knows who’s at this thing. You shouldn’t leave her alone.”
I didn’t want to. Leaving her alone was the last thing I wanted. “I’m sorry to rush off. But you’re right. I should go find her.” I started to move away. “I’ll see you guys later. Thanks for coming!” I called over my shoulder and took off at a run, my mind once again going to what had happened.
We were good. Everything was fine when I left her. Less than an hour ago my life was about as perfect as it could get.
The whole way to my car, I kept hoping she’d be there waiting for me, but that would have been too easy. Something had happened. Somehow, I’d hurt her and I didn’t have any idea how. But it happened in the fifteen minutes between leaving her to find the band and her arriving to hear me sing. What could I have done in that amount of time? We weren’t even together!
My mind raced through all the possibilities. She’d been with her friends. What did they have to do with me? Had I offended one of them? Had they told her something? But what?
I had to find her. But where?
By the time I reached my car, I figured there was only one place.
When I got home, Dad and Shari were still gone.
I bypassed the house and headed straight into the backyard.
“Jordan!” I wanted to collapse with relief. Instead, I ran to her. “Jordan,” I breathed her name again when she didn’t push me away, because I had to hold her. “What happened? Why are you crying? I’ve been so scared.”
Her arms came around my waist and she held on. Her body shook with emotion.
I held her as long as I could until I had to see her face, her eyes. “Please, tell me.”