Chapter 24
Sitting in the stands on the side of the stage, Amber didn’t feel the anxiety she had when Cassidy initially showed her the tickets, tugging at the low cut top Cassidy bought her for the occasion, even if she protested it was a waste of money. Although the little platform across the aisle and four rows down was a bit of a concern, even if Cassidy said it must be from some other event. Something about it gave her stomach flutters that wouldn’t settle down. The opening act was now finished and they were listening to the musical interlude waiting for Bon Jovi to hit the stage.
One of the women sitting close explained that Jon came out at the back and stood on the sound boards to sing Last Man Standing opening the show and then raced up to the stage to join the rest of the band. Her eyes kept stealing towards that white mic and she wished he’d looked her up in the months since they’d seen one another. She wanted to forget that night and the following day, her memories of him sitting naked on her bed strumming his guitar as he had her senses wouldn’t let her forget. Looking around for Cassidy who’d said she needed something to drink was starting to make her nervous, her friend was never one to leave her seat after finding it. Stas and Rita hadn’t made it to the show yet and she wondered if that was where Cassidy had really gone.
“Amber!”
Turning around she saw her two friends just as she’d almost given up hope of them making it in time. A grin split her lips “it’s about time!”
“Traffic was terrible and we had to stop at the airport.”
Both eyebrows shot skyward “airport?”
“Yeah, last minute Lainey and Lynn decided to fly in for the show. Guess they couldn’t wait for summer when the guys tour over there.” Laughing then when Amber’s jaw dropped at the sight of the two foreign members of their group standing behind Rita and Stas.
“OMG! What are you doing here? This is nuts and we don’t even have great seats.”
Lainey stepped forward “oh, but we do, we get to sit with you.” Hugging Amber before she could ask what was meant by the comment.
Then Amber saw Cassidy approaching with a tray full of drinks. “What exactly have you been posting on our board?”
“Just that you’d met Jon.”
“And that was enough for them to fly in?” Pointing towards the snickering women she’d previously not met except online.
“That and the party we’re having afterwards. These might have something to do with it too.” Producing purple wristbands, Cassidy handed them out while Amber held the drinks, her jaw still slack and her suspicions on high alert that they knew something she didn’t.
“What is going on? I’m not going on stage! I refuse to get that close to him again.”
“Yeah, like he’s going to bite.” Cassidy’s comment sending them all into gales of laughter, each one fully apprised of the Amber situation and the plot Cassidy and Richie had in play. Everyone having their part to play in the plan. That he’d spared no expense to get all of her friends together to help support him in the plan wasn’t lost on any of them, that she was completely clueless made it that much more fun. “Or that you’d object.”
Groaning, she knew without doubt Cassidy had spilled everything. Her wrist grabbed and the offending purple band strapped in place. “I won’t do it. I’m not going up there. It isn’t what you think.”
Shaking their heads at her delusions, as AC/DC cranked up overhead, everyone started moving to find their seats. “Right then, you have a seat and we’ll be on stage with Jon and Richie without you.” Lynn teased as she took the seat below Amber with Lainey sitting next to her.
Amber wanted to choke Cassidy then, but her thoughts were interrupted by the lights dimming and the sight of the band on the stage starting the beginning strains of Last Man Standing, her eyes shifted along with the others to the back to see Jon take the little stage on the sound boards and begin the show. Standing along with all the rest she didn’t pay attention to those filing in behind her or Cassidy handing out even more wristbands.
Her eyes were glued to Jon in his military jacket and black pants and the memories of their night, the sweet words, the hot sex and the plea for her not to leave the party the next night. Finding herself wanting him more than she’d ever done before and now he was just a rock star on a stage half an arena away performing for his adoring audience and she was only a face in the crowd. Her heart hurt knowing she’d had him and let him go, fingering the purple wristband she tried to deny that she wanted to be up on that stage and see if he’d even notice her or if he’d single out one of the others.
Watching him as he strutted towards the stage when the song finished, high fiving and grinning at the fans lining the way to the front, suddenly wanting to be in his line of vision for just a moment, long enough to know once and for all if it was in her mind or if they really had chemistry. Remembering the phone number she’d been given, thrown out and then retrieved, calling every area code to no avail, resigned then that he never meant for her to reach him.
Still, here at a show she could enjoy the music and let her memories enhance the experience. Lost in the moment as he launched into You Give Love a Bad Name, then feeling hands squeezing her shoulders she turned to discover her good friend, Sabina, grinning like a Cheshire cat behind her, shocked she nearly jumped up the stair to hug her. It was good to see Bean again “what are you doing here?”
“Had to be here for this show!”
Seeing the purple band on her wrist, Amber was positive there was more to this show, the purple bands and her friends suddenly flying in than some party and pit passes, refusing to verbalize her suspicions though. “He looks awesome! Love the military jacket.”
“Me too!” Rita chimed in and they all laughed, knowing her obsession with the jacket.
“Did you see Tara?” Bean asked before getting a warning glare from Cassidy.
“She’s here too?” She shouldn’t be surprised since they usually camped out together for fan club seats.
“Yeah,” Cassidy broke in almost screaming to be heard over the band “down front.”
“Then Paula is with her, right?” Amber was starting to total the number of GDs in the audience. Seeing Bean nodding, she smiled “so who’s going to be at this party you are all attending?”
“Just us, unless you invite Jon.” The whole group laughing at the obvious reference to her tryst with the man.
“As if he’d attend.” Then her attention returned to the stage and Jon strutting it like he owned the place, which, of course, they all knew he did that night. Settling in to laugh, dance and sing with her friends, Amber shelved everything that had gone before and let the music and her friends fill her with a joy she’d been missing since the abrupt departure of Rafael from her life and with him all other men including Jon.
Her heart skipping a beat when Jon introduced Richie to sing I’ll be There for You and he left the stage. Bean’s comment that Linda would be happy hit her that yet another GD was here for this show when it wasn’t even Giants or the end of this leg, it was just another show for the guys. “She’s here too? Is Susan with her?”
“Nope, couldn’t get time off work, but she’s with Tara and them.”
“Purple wristbands too?” This was all starting to smell like the plot to a bad movie, seeing the smiles and fingers pointing to purple bands, her attention started to return to Richie singing when she saw the white mic stand being placed on the little stage in front of her and gasped. “I have to use the restroom.” Suddenly panic struck and wanting to be far away from him and the flood of memories.
“Oh, no you don’t.” Cassidy took her arm “you’re not going anywhere.”
“I can’t, I don’t want...”
“We’re here, got my Jersey attitude going, so nothing’s going to happen.” Stas chimed in as the commotion and murmurs began rising around them, everyone able to see Jon walking through the crowd to take the stage directly in front of them.
Looking for an escape, Amber was suddenly aware she was surrounded by her friends, not just in the seats, but they were crowding around so she couldn’t get away. Uncertain whether or not she wanted to or if the purple wristbands were a ruse to keep her mind off that stage where Jon was now standing, his back to her, the spotlight singling him out. She felt herself being moved down the steps towards the little stage and was stopped by security two rows up behind a wall of other women wanting to get close to the man singing. “you ask me if I’ve known love...” Those words had no more than crossed his perfect lips and she caught his eye ever so briefly. Her heart sank when he continued on as if she wasn’t there, yet she continued to stay singing with him and the crowd, hoping against hope he’d recognize her and ... and what, she suddenly wondered, how could he possibly single her out when he was standing on a stage in front of 20,000 plus?
Moments later he swung the guitar off and handed it to security, stepped down and began singing again, this time it was what she now referred to as their song. He touched hands with the crowd, singing the lyrics he knew so well and she felt rooted to the spot as she saw him starting down the steps back towards the stage. Those around her returning to their seats, even her friends were making their way back, fighting back tears as he moved further away.
“Miss, you need to return to your seat.”
She looked up into the eyes of the security guy and nodded sadly, as she turned a hand touched hers from behind and she whirled around to the realization the band was playing the break in the middle of the song and Jon was standing one step down from her, question in his eyes. Stepping down into his arms, she was gathered close as they swayed together then on that narrow step in the aisle. “You did see me.”
“I didn’t want to look away, I was afraid it was a dream.”
“This is a dream.”
Jon knew the guys were drawing out the interlude for his benefit and would be thanking them later, for now he was holding the woman he’d been missing. “I have a song to finish.”
“I know.”
Kissing her then, deep and heartfelt. “Um, Amber, love the name, love the color, the color of...”
“I know Jon, the color of whiskey.”
“No, the color of my love.” Giving her another quick kiss, he started back into the song his hand caught in hers, trying to take her with him, she shook her head no and nodded towards Kevin standing nearby. He understood and dove back into the song, while hot tongues of desire licked at her core knowing that very soon she’d be back in his arms and his bed.
One of the women sitting close explained that Jon came out at the back and stood on the sound boards to sing Last Man Standing opening the show and then raced up to the stage to join the rest of the band. Her eyes kept stealing towards that white mic and she wished he’d looked her up in the months since they’d seen one another. She wanted to forget that night and the following day, her memories of him sitting naked on her bed strumming his guitar as he had her senses wouldn’t let her forget. Looking around for Cassidy who’d said she needed something to drink was starting to make her nervous, her friend was never one to leave her seat after finding it. Stas and Rita hadn’t made it to the show yet and she wondered if that was where Cassidy had really gone.
“Amber!”
Turning around she saw her two friends just as she’d almost given up hope of them making it in time. A grin split her lips “it’s about time!”
“Traffic was terrible and we had to stop at the airport.”
Both eyebrows shot skyward “airport?”
“Yeah, last minute Lainey and Lynn decided to fly in for the show. Guess they couldn’t wait for summer when the guys tour over there.” Laughing then when Amber’s jaw dropped at the sight of the two foreign members of their group standing behind Rita and Stas.
“OMG! What are you doing here? This is nuts and we don’t even have great seats.”
Lainey stepped forward “oh, but we do, we get to sit with you.” Hugging Amber before she could ask what was meant by the comment.
Then Amber saw Cassidy approaching with a tray full of drinks. “What exactly have you been posting on our board?”
“Just that you’d met Jon.”
“And that was enough for them to fly in?” Pointing towards the snickering women she’d previously not met except online.
“That and the party we’re having afterwards. These might have something to do with it too.” Producing purple wristbands, Cassidy handed them out while Amber held the drinks, her jaw still slack and her suspicions on high alert that they knew something she didn’t.
“What is going on? I’m not going on stage! I refuse to get that close to him again.”
“Yeah, like he’s going to bite.” Cassidy’s comment sending them all into gales of laughter, each one fully apprised of the Amber situation and the plot Cassidy and Richie had in play. Everyone having their part to play in the plan. That he’d spared no expense to get all of her friends together to help support him in the plan wasn’t lost on any of them, that she was completely clueless made it that much more fun. “Or that you’d object.”
Groaning, she knew without doubt Cassidy had spilled everything. Her wrist grabbed and the offending purple band strapped in place. “I won’t do it. I’m not going up there. It isn’t what you think.”
Shaking their heads at her delusions, as AC/DC cranked up overhead, everyone started moving to find their seats. “Right then, you have a seat and we’ll be on stage with Jon and Richie without you.” Lynn teased as she took the seat below Amber with Lainey sitting next to her.
Amber wanted to choke Cassidy then, but her thoughts were interrupted by the lights dimming and the sight of the band on the stage starting the beginning strains of Last Man Standing, her eyes shifted along with the others to the back to see Jon take the little stage on the sound boards and begin the show. Standing along with all the rest she didn’t pay attention to those filing in behind her or Cassidy handing out even more wristbands.
Her eyes were glued to Jon in his military jacket and black pants and the memories of their night, the sweet words, the hot sex and the plea for her not to leave the party the next night. Finding herself wanting him more than she’d ever done before and now he was just a rock star on a stage half an arena away performing for his adoring audience and she was only a face in the crowd. Her heart hurt knowing she’d had him and let him go, fingering the purple wristband she tried to deny that she wanted to be up on that stage and see if he’d even notice her or if he’d single out one of the others.
Watching him as he strutted towards the stage when the song finished, high fiving and grinning at the fans lining the way to the front, suddenly wanting to be in his line of vision for just a moment, long enough to know once and for all if it was in her mind or if they really had chemistry. Remembering the phone number she’d been given, thrown out and then retrieved, calling every area code to no avail, resigned then that he never meant for her to reach him.
Still, here at a show she could enjoy the music and let her memories enhance the experience. Lost in the moment as he launched into You Give Love a Bad Name, then feeling hands squeezing her shoulders she turned to discover her good friend, Sabina, grinning like a Cheshire cat behind her, shocked she nearly jumped up the stair to hug her. It was good to see Bean again “what are you doing here?”
“Had to be here for this show!”
Seeing the purple band on her wrist, Amber was positive there was more to this show, the purple bands and her friends suddenly flying in than some party and pit passes, refusing to verbalize her suspicions though. “He looks awesome! Love the military jacket.”
“Me too!” Rita chimed in and they all laughed, knowing her obsession with the jacket.
“Did you see Tara?” Bean asked before getting a warning glare from Cassidy.
“She’s here too?” She shouldn’t be surprised since they usually camped out together for fan club seats.
“Yeah,” Cassidy broke in almost screaming to be heard over the band “down front.”
“Then Paula is with her, right?” Amber was starting to total the number of GDs in the audience. Seeing Bean nodding, she smiled “so who’s going to be at this party you are all attending?”
“Just us, unless you invite Jon.” The whole group laughing at the obvious reference to her tryst with the man.
“As if he’d attend.” Then her attention returned to the stage and Jon strutting it like he owned the place, which, of course, they all knew he did that night. Settling in to laugh, dance and sing with her friends, Amber shelved everything that had gone before and let the music and her friends fill her with a joy she’d been missing since the abrupt departure of Rafael from her life and with him all other men including Jon.
Her heart skipping a beat when Jon introduced Richie to sing I’ll be There for You and he left the stage. Bean’s comment that Linda would be happy hit her that yet another GD was here for this show when it wasn’t even Giants or the end of this leg, it was just another show for the guys. “She’s here too? Is Susan with her?”
“Nope, couldn’t get time off work, but she’s with Tara and them.”
“Purple wristbands too?” This was all starting to smell like the plot to a bad movie, seeing the smiles and fingers pointing to purple bands, her attention started to return to Richie singing when she saw the white mic stand being placed on the little stage in front of her and gasped. “I have to use the restroom.” Suddenly panic struck and wanting to be far away from him and the flood of memories.
“Oh, no you don’t.” Cassidy took her arm “you’re not going anywhere.”
“I can’t, I don’t want...”
“We’re here, got my Jersey attitude going, so nothing’s going to happen.” Stas chimed in as the commotion and murmurs began rising around them, everyone able to see Jon walking through the crowd to take the stage directly in front of them.
Looking for an escape, Amber was suddenly aware she was surrounded by her friends, not just in the seats, but they were crowding around so she couldn’t get away. Uncertain whether or not she wanted to or if the purple wristbands were a ruse to keep her mind off that stage where Jon was now standing, his back to her, the spotlight singling him out. She felt herself being moved down the steps towards the little stage and was stopped by security two rows up behind a wall of other women wanting to get close to the man singing. “you ask me if I’ve known love...” Those words had no more than crossed his perfect lips and she caught his eye ever so briefly. Her heart sank when he continued on as if she wasn’t there, yet she continued to stay singing with him and the crowd, hoping against hope he’d recognize her and ... and what, she suddenly wondered, how could he possibly single her out when he was standing on a stage in front of 20,000 plus?
Moments later he swung the guitar off and handed it to security, stepped down and began singing again, this time it was what she now referred to as their song. He touched hands with the crowd, singing the lyrics he knew so well and she felt rooted to the spot as she saw him starting down the steps back towards the stage. Those around her returning to their seats, even her friends were making their way back, fighting back tears as he moved further away.
“Miss, you need to return to your seat.”
She looked up into the eyes of the security guy and nodded sadly, as she turned a hand touched hers from behind and she whirled around to the realization the band was playing the break in the middle of the song and Jon was standing one step down from her, question in his eyes. Stepping down into his arms, she was gathered close as they swayed together then on that narrow step in the aisle. “You did see me.”
“I didn’t want to look away, I was afraid it was a dream.”
“This is a dream.”
Jon knew the guys were drawing out the interlude for his benefit and would be thanking them later, for now he was holding the woman he’d been missing. “I have a song to finish.”
“I know.”
Kissing her then, deep and heartfelt. “Um, Amber, love the name, love the color, the color of...”
“I know Jon, the color of whiskey.”
“No, the color of my love.” Giving her another quick kiss, he started back into the song his hand caught in hers, trying to take her with him, she shook her head no and nodded towards Kevin standing nearby. He understood and dove back into the song, while hot tongues of desire licked at her core knowing that very soon she’d be back in his arms and his bed.
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