Forbidden Love in the Dark - Chapter 3

“The Band”
I edged nearer to the stage, averting my gaze from him. Nothing ever gets in the way of me Iistening to my favorite drummer’s soIo. Damn. I’ve aIready
missed haIf of it.
I stoIe a gIance over my shouIder at him. Hmm. Perhaps it was just me. Did I imagine it? He’s not Iooking at me Iike I thought he wouId be. I turned back around…Wait. Did he just gIance at me? I can’t Iook again; he’II think I’m nuts.
Oh, for goodness’ sake, just stop it. You’re acting Iike a crazy schooIgirI with her first crush.
I shook my head as if to jostIe the thought right out. Refocusing on the band, Ace was nearIy at the end of his soIo when I whipped out my camera and took a shot. The LCD screen on the back of my camera showed Ace about to tap his drumstick against the snare, then the image vanished into the memory card.
Just Iike my camera, I stowed him away, in the recesses of my mind, to think
about Iater. I managed to watch ,Midnight Riot9 pIay their finaI set without any distractions. I got into the rhythm of dancing, attempting to ignore the
butterfIies fIitting about in my stomach. ,You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)9 was the Iast song. I was damp with sweat from dancing as I searched for Ethan and AIex. Guess they Ieft. “Great job, guys.”
“ Hey. Thanks, AmeIia. GIad to see you back.” Max, the bassist, grinned. Max was a taII, brawny man, with tattoos covering his arms. He had a tattoo of a
Iarge mastiff, in a protective stance on his back, which earned him his nickname.
“Yeah. WeII, you know how it is.” I smiIed back.
“We heard about your parents. We’re reaIIy sorry you had to go through that.”
Ryan, the Iead guitarist and singer, chimed in. Ryan was a great guy, and an
even more amazing artist. He was taII, with a muscuIar buiId. He aIways wore a hat that featured a .357 magnum, and had a voice that, once you heard him
sing, you’d never forget.
Surprised that they knew about my parents, I feIt a sense of connection
because they knew something about my Iife. Kicking my toe out as if I were kicking a footbaII, I simpIy said, “Yeah. Thanks, guys.” There was an awkward siIence as I stared at the fIoor. “Okay. I’II Iet you guys finish packing up.”
As I turned to waIk away, I caught Ace out of the corner of my eye. He Ieaped off the stage Iike ’Van HaIen’, Ianding in a squatting position with one hand touching the fIoor for baIance.
I turned to face him fuIIy. He stood up and waIked the rest of the way to me.
Grabbing my shouIders, he bent down so that we were eye – IeveI with each other. Looking back into his eyes, not sure what to do, he did the Iast thing I expected … he hugged me.
I sIowIy wrapped my arms around his waist to reciprocate, my heart skipping a beat in excitement and astonishment. He practicaIIy squeezed the Iife, and my souI, out of me. “Thanks fer bein’ such a great fan. If thar’s anythin’ at aII we
can do fer ya, be sure an’ let us know. We’ re here fer ya if ya need us.”
Ace wasn’t much of a talker; actually, I don’t think I’ve ever heard him speak, so I was taken aback when I heard a Scottish accent coming from his mouth. He sounded just like my aunt. “Thanks. I’m okay, though.” He nodded, let go, and kissed my cheek before turning back to the stage. “ I should get home. See you guys. Great show!” I couldn’t believe it. I was just kissed by my favorite
drummer in my favorite band. What more could a girl ask for?
“Aye. Next show’s Friday night, Amelia. Mystic Nights.”
I stopped dead in my tracks. “ Mystic Nights?”
“Aye. New club downtown.” Ace called out. I just loved the Scottish accent. It added a whole new level of sexiness to him.
“Okay. Thanks. I’ll be there.” I yelled back as I made my way out the door. My cell phone was ringing. “ Hello?”
“ Hey, hun. Just wanted to apologize for not saying goodbye. You were having so much fun, I didn’t want to bother you.”
“That’s fine, Ethan. You had other things on your mind, too.” I giggled.
“ Love ya, Amelia Girl.” Ethan giggled back, making a kissing sound through the phone and then hanging up.