The whole bus erupted into laughter. Uneasiness slid away with each mile until the bus slowed, gravel crunching under the wheels.
Trees had lined our path on the way to the farm, but the dark cocoon burst open with sky-high bright lights. Carnival rides, tents, and a stage transformed the flat land.
Instead of pulling up to the front of the building people were flowing in and out of, the driver took us around the back.
The bus crawled to a stop and the doors opened.
It was almost show time. For a few minutes I’d forgotten why I was here, why I’d been invited. I wasn’t a friend along for the ride with everyone else. I was the main attraction in the three-ring circus, and it was Keyton’s job to make sure I performed.
There was nothing more to it than that.
But the easy way we talked and laughed on the bus. The way his gaze heated my skin. As much as I’d tried to deny it and pretend I was only doing this for altruistic reasons, I wanted him to still want me. Because I still wanted him.
15
Bay
Holden, Emily, Gwen, and Eric stood at the bottom of the steps. I cringed, hating how much this made me look and feel like a diva. I wanted to walk off the bus like everyone else and join in with the crowds of people laughing, singing and shouting on the other side of the farmhouse. The catering ramp and oversized AC units in the back meant it also doubled as an event space.
“Bay, you’ve already met Gwen.”
Another man rushed out of the back door. It was getting more crowded out here by the minute.
“And this is Everest and Hunter from the event planning company, SWANK.”
“Hey, Everest. Long time, no see.” My smile widened and I hugged Everest.
“Good to see you, Bay.” He released me. “I’m surprised you were able to slip this event in. I know how busy Maddy and Holden keep you.” Everest’s green eyes lit up at the mention of Maddy. Someday soon, I’d have to sit her down and get all the details on the specifics of what brought them back into one another’s lives.
“They definitely try.”
Holden cleared his throat. Right, we were on a timetable.
I shook hands with everyone else.
Gwen and Holden ushered us all inside, and within minutes, my new riding buddies were gone. I’d hoped we could hang out, but the circus never stopped around me, and I couldn’t blame them for wanting to enjoy their evening without all the extra hassles and commotion.
Through the heads of the people around me, I spotted Keyton, which made sense. It was his event. No need to get a big head over him playing a gracious host.
Inside the green room, I took off my coat. Sweat beaded on my skin, although the room had a chill. Sound guys came in to run me through the audio set up. It was a risk, performing without any time on the stage, but we hadn’t had the time before the guests would arrive.
I’d have to wing it.
I was all wired up and ready to go, and Emily double-checked my makeup.
Someone placed a mic into my hand. I held onto the cool metal, which warmed in seconds from my clammy hands.
It might’ve been mid-September outside, but I was burning up. Nerves were running roughshod through my body. My stomach clenched and tightened.
Right about now, I wished Keyton wasn’t here.
Holden’s arm shot out with a trashcan in hand.
I bent forward. The little bit of food I’d had in the car came straight back up, burning my nose and mouth. Pulling my head back from the trashcan, I took the napkin Emily held out.
Before I could grab the water, a hand gently touched the back of my shoulder. “Are you okay?” Keyton stared at me, his face creased with worry.
“It’ll be okay. I can still perform.” I took a slug from the water and spat it back into the trashcan.
“I don’t care about the show. Are you okay? Are you feeling alright?”
Emily handed me a breath freshener and helped me with my lipstick.
“Occupational hazard.” I popped it into my mouth, happy the coral glitter and makeup could cover at least some of the embarrassed-as-hell flush currently overtaking my body.
“How often does this happen?” He looked from me to Holden and Emily.
They looked away, suddenly fascinated by finding a place for the trashcan.
“Most of the time before I perform.” I chuckled, trying to play off the not-so-mild humiliation at puking in front of him.
“Most of the time?”
Ducking my head, I fidgeted with the scales on my dress. “Maybe every time…”
“You throw up before performing every single time.”
“It’s not a big deal, and it won’t affect my performance.” One quick check in the mirror. “See, good as new!” Clapping my hands to my sides, I slapped on a sunshine spotlight smile.
“We can wait a little longer, if you need it.”
That would only lead to a second puke session. Better to rip the band-aid off. “No, let’s go.”
The stage staff and audio tech walked me through the sound check through my earpiece, since I couldn’t do it on stage with everyone already outside.
Keyton hovered nearby.
My reassuring smiles didn’t seem to be convincing him at all.
I tried not to bask too hard in him caring, and chalked it up to him not wanting the performer for his big event and the meet-and-greet after to back out at the last second.
The chill increased the closer we got to the stage. Doors were propped open, and I bounced on the balls of my feet to warm up without the coat I’d worn on the way here. The sheen of sweat brought my temperature down even lower. I was simultaneously sweaty and freezing.
Keyton checked with me one more time.
I offered up a smile and nodded. A curtain was draped over the seven stairs leading to the newly erected stage. The backing band were guys I’d played with before.
Keyton stopped at the top of the stairs and looked back at me.
A thumbs-up was all I could muster. Gwen took off up the stairs behind him. The crowd cheered from the second the curtain was pulled back and he walked out on stage.
Even with the open space and non-packed event, their chants grew as Keyton read my introduction.
“Bay!” The stagehands pulled back the curtain and I jogged up on stage, swallowing the bile that always tickled the back of my throat during a solo performance.
There was nothing to be afraid of, but the panicking fear that was hard to shake until the second before the first song. Focus on the music. I rushed through my hellos and thank you’s before launching into the first song.
The entire event was centered around the stage. Rides, games, food and pop-up bars surrounded the whole space.
The performance was seamless. Despite having no rehearsals with the local backing band, they didn’t miss a beat.
Every person in the crowd was on their feet. People screamed and cheered from the Ferris wheel with their cameras out, filming the whole performance. This was my kind of party. Everyone was in makeup and masks, so it didn’t feel like tons of people staring. This was just some friendly, ghoulish, and furry friends who’d come to have a great time. It didn’t hurt that the booze was plentiful and the singing along got louder by the time I reached my final chorus.
I’d never been to an event like it before. In the distance, a helicopter took off and came back with partygoers. Carnival ride lights dotted the empty space. It was a summer carnival, rave, and Halloween all rolled into one.