There was no way in hell I was going to risk losing her again.
Two hours later, even after making her scream my name while I tasted her, Corina insisted on sleeping at her place afterward. Of course I wanted her to stay with me, but this was not a time for me to seem clingy.
After bundling her into a cab, I sent her a text.
Me: No matter what happens with tomorrow’s show, I’m so glad that it got us together again.
Me: I’m incredibly grateful that you’re in my life again, angel.
Corina: I’m glad we ended up meeting again too. Get plenty of sleep before your big day. Sweet dreams. xox
Me: Goodnight, my love. xox
Flopping across my bed, I resisted the urge to call her to tuck her in. If she needed some space tonight, that was fine.
Grabbing my notebook, I realized that there was one song that needed new lyrics for the chorus, and the show was only twenty hours away.
13
_____
Corina
Even though I really wanted to spend the night in Ethan’s arms, I forced myself to take a cab home to sleep in my own bed.
I was terrified to throw off his pre-show rituals, if he had any. I’d read so much about temperamental artists that I was a bit skittish about getting in his way.
Luckily, I had organized everything so well that my day mainly consisted of double checking things that had already been double checked by someone else.
By the time I got to Bromney Hall, I was surprisingly calm.
After going through a few last-minute details with the manager and staff, I stuck my head out to see a line down the block. Making sure that Security had the name of our VIPs so that they would be escorted inside immediately, I went to the side door next to the stage.
Right on time, I heard Jenna’s distinctive knock. Letting my friends inside, I saw the venue manager give me a wink.
“My assistants for the evening,” I explained.
He held up his hands. “Two more nice young ladies? I didn’t see a thing.”
Showing my friends backstage, there was a green room for the bands as well as another room that was more of a lounge for their close friends, tour manager, and Skippy’s mom. While she was busy regaling the crowd with tales of when she was a backup singer for bands at this venue back in the eighties, I found space in the corner for the three of us.
“Is there anything we can help with?” Brynn asked.
“We’re up for anything short of cleaning toilets,” Jenna giggled.
I laughed. “Thanks, but everything is running perfectly smoothly. The room is filling up, the opening band starts in a few minutes. Other than checking my phone for emergencies, I’m done.”
Jenna shook her head. “Organization always makes everything run more smoothly, but you take the cake, girl.”
“Thank you,” I said, rolling my shoulders back to relax them. “After the quiet literary events I was working on earlier in the year, then that giant video game party, it’s nice to do something more in the middle.”
“Have you checked on Ethan?” Brynn asked. “How’s he doing?”
“I don’t know. I don’t want to get in his way right before a show.”
“You need to at least drop in and say hello,” Jenna said. “Those sensitive artist types, and all that. You wouldn’t want him to feel abandoned.”
“We’ve been texting off and on. He’s fine.”