Abby and the Cute One (Backstage Pass) (7 page)

Chapter Nine

Abby

W
ill had just found Abby a quiet nook to sit in to the side of the stage while the guys went to the meet and greet when her recently returned cell phone rang. It was her mother.

Abby couldn’t contain her excitement. “Mom!”

For a few seconds, there was no sound, just dead air.

“Mom?”

A choking sound came from the other end.

Abby’s eyes moistened. “Mo-om, are you crying?”

She could almost hear the rustle on the other end of her mother shaking her head like a big fat liar. After a few seconds, there was a large breath and then, “No.”

Abby smiled. “Yeah right.”

A half choke, half laugh sound had her giggling.

“Yes, I was lying. So?”

“Did you watch my audition? Reeta said she recorded it for you.”

“Why do you think I’m crying? I’ve never heard you sing that song before. You should have Reeta put that up on your YouTV channel thing. It was absolutely stunning, honey. I think it was the best you’ve ever sounded.”

Abby smiled at her mom’s technologically challenged brain. “Aw, Mom. Really?”

“It got you the job, didn’t it?” The excitement in her mom’s voice built. “So, tell me everything. Does Miles really have an accent? Are they just as cute in person? Spill!”

“It’s unbelievable. And yes, they’re all totally gorgeous.”

Just then, Ryder slipped by, his eyebrow raised. “Sorry, sweetie. I’m taken.”

Abby rolled her eyes. “I’m talking to my mom.”

Ryder shrugged and kept going. Abby’s initial impressions of the real Ryder were spot on to the Ryder she saw in interviews. Things just didn’t faze him. She wondered if he was even listening half the time.

“Who was that?”

“Ryder,” Abby whispered because he was still within earshot.

Mom gasped. “Is he all devil-may-care like he seems on TV?”

“You have no idea. He’s definitely a ‘what you see is what you get’ kind of person.”

Through the same way Ryder just exited, Reeta came in and motioned for Abby to wrap it up. “Hold on, Mom. Reeta needs me.”

Abby pulled the phone away and looked to her manager who’d pulled her hair back into a sleek, professional pony tail.

Reeta pointed toward the doorway. “The guys are getting ready. I think you should see how that works and then I got the perfect place for you to watch the show from.”

Abby brought the phone back to her ear. “Mom, I gotta go. The guys are getting ready backstage. It’s something I should see.”

“Oh…okay.”

A pang of guilt hit Abby hard in the chest. “I’m sorry. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“It’s okay. Don’t worry about it. Have fun. Learn lots. I love you, and I’m so, so proud of you.”

Abby willed the heat prickling her eyes away. “Love you, too.”

She hung up, stood, and gathered herself. After forcing thoughts of her mother out of her head, she followed Reeta down a few different hallways and then they walked into a larger room made up much like a small living room. The guys were all there goofing off. Nathan took a picture of Miles and Trevin in simultaneous headlocks, and Will hovered over Ryder as he picked at his guitar strings.

Ryder glanced up when they entered. His gaze moved over them and settled on Abby. He nodded toward Reeta. “Who’s your friend?”

“My manager, Reeta.”

Ryder looked her up and down. “I’m not trying to be an asshole or anything but we try and keep it low key back here.”

Reeta nodded. “I was just making sure Abby found your greenroom okay. I’ll leave you guys to it.”

With that, she walked away.

Abby’s mouth dropped. WTF?

Trevin laughed. “Yeah. Ryder gets away with that kind of stuff all the time.”

Ryder continued to strum away on the guitar as if he wasn’t the topic of conversation. Abby was just glad he hadn’t blabbed that she’d called them all gorgeous yet. Just thinking about it made her cheeks warm. Especially when she glanced at Nathan. Dressed for the show in a pair of jeans and a plain white tee, he was unbelievably hot.

He looked up to catch her staring and he smiled. He motioned Trevin toward her. “Pic for the fans?”

Trevin threw his arm around Abby. Nathan took the picture then showed it to them. It was cute—at least, Trevin was. He was always just as confident as he seemed on TV. She looked small next to him, out of place and stiff.

“It’s a shame how freaking good-looking I am,” Trevin said.

Abby giggled into her hand, and Nathan shook his head as his fingers flew over his phone’s screen.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“I like to post pics on Twitter for the fans.”

Abby smiled—she’d seen more than a few of their pics herself when their tour first started, dreaming about touring herself one day. Now she was here. She couldn’t believe it.

Nathan elbowed her arm. “Hey. You okay?”

Abby nodded, her throat thickening with emotion. “I’m one hundred percent okay. Thanks.”

The time backstage whizzed by, and soon the guys left to take their spots under the stage where they would pop out. Abby hurried to find Reeta so she wouldn’t miss it. She ended up just off the stage, tucked away on the side near some equipment that security had let Reeta and her sit on.

Lights all around the stadium shut off. Excitement teased her belly. The crowd noise spiked into a constant roar and Abby turned to find thousands and thousands of colored glow sticks waving in the darkness.

Her heart thudded in her chest. How were the guys feeling right now? Could they see the crowd? Were they used to it? She wasn’t sure she could ever get used to something like this.

Energy poured through everyone and radiated down toward the stage. One by one, five spotlights turned on, and with each one Abby swore the crowd got impossibly louder.

Reeta searched through her bag, pulled out a plastic sleeve of earplugs, and offered them to her. Abby shook her head. No way. She wanted to experience every last bit of this.

She took out her cell and snapped a picture of the empty stage—the moment before the storm. Anticipation gathered until the roar of the crowd hit a fevered pitch. The butterflies in her stomach were on high alert, and then finally, the guys popped up from the stage and all out mayhem ensued.

She thought it was loud before; now it was deafening.

Abby stood and clapped wildly like a true S2J fan. Nathan lifted his head and found her. They smiled at each other, and then the backup band started playing and S2J jumped into “Kiss This.”

Nathan danced over the stage, interacting with the fans, waving, smiling, and catching their teddy bears. He was a pro. For someone as young as he was, he seemed so grown up, like he’d done this a hundred million times.

She couldn’t help the wave of emotion flowing through her. She’d freaking kissed Nathan Strong. Holy crap. There were thousands of girls in this arena alone that would kill to have been her yesterday.

And look at him! He was amazing. She’d always loved that he was so young and living his dream, but seeing it with her own eyes took it to a whole other level. And to think she would have the same chances as Nathan? Gratitude thrummed inside her.

Between songs, the guys played to the crowd and spoke to one another. They made it an experience. They didn’t just sing, they talked about the songs and the crowd, they included them in their inside jokes. It was fantastic.

Too soon, the concert wound down. Water rained from the ceiling and the guys sang WET.

The crowd went nuts, and no wonder. Five seriously hot guys singing and dancing with wet shirts? What could be better?

And then Nathan tore his shirt off at the end of the song.

Abby went still. She couldn’t even scream her head off like the rest of the crowd. All she saw was abs. Wet, glistening abs.

Life made.

If only she were just a fan in the crowd and not touring with them, she might actually think she’d have a chance with Nathan Strong.

Chapter Ten

Nathan

D
ripping wet and high off the crowd, Nathan searched for Abby as Beau ushered S2J from the stage to the car that would take them to their hotel. They were in New Jersey for one more night, a nice—and rare—occurrence on this tour.

He began watching for her just as the show ended and hadn’t been able to spot her yet, even though he’d seen her while he was performing. Somehow, he’d lost her in the mad rush of the water falling and being herded like sheep through the bustling hallways of the stadium. He had to see her, he needed to ask what she thought of S2J’s performance.

Who was he kidding? He was dying to know what she thought of
his
performance.

Were they staying at the same bought-out hotel now that she’d become their new opening act? If they were, maybe he’d find her once they settled in for the night. But a reality check burrowed into his head.

Yes, he wanted to see her at the hotel—but not just to ask her about the show. He couldn’t do
that
, though. They had to just be friends. Nothing else.

Ryder flicked Nathan’s ear. “I thought it was my turn to tear my shirt off.”

Nathan slapped at Ryder’s hand and put on his best cocky smile. “You were too slow, old man.”

His friend’s eyes darkened. “Old man?”

Trevin laughed. “If Ryder’s old, what does that make me?”

Nathan shrugged. “Geriatric?”

Miles came up behind Nathan as they followed the security detail to the black van outside the arena and ruffled his hair. “They’re so cute when they’re young, aren’t they?”

Nathan shoved him off. Beau—in full-on security mode—shot them a look and ushered them on faster. He liked to joke around as much as they did but not when he was “on.” He’d calm some once they got to the hotel with all five of them in one piece and no fan run-ins.

Before Nathan was thrust into the van, he caught a glimpse of beautiful blond hair. He stopped short. “There’s Abby,” he said, as if everyone else were looking for her, too.

Trevin stopped just behind Nathan to avoid trampling him over. “Do you think she liked the show?”

Abby turned and Nathan met her gaze. The reassurance he needed was right there—she looked positively delighted as she waved. Trevin waved back and pushed Nathan forward, but Nathan broke away from the group and jogged toward her. Beau called his name and cursed, but he didn’t care. Yes, breaking away from the group was stupid, but everything about her called to him.

He stopped just in front of her and smiled. Abby’s manager stepped behind her, which spurred Nathan to finally speak. “What did you think of the show?”

Her eyes shone. “You were awesome.”

Pride surged within him. His whole body lit up from the inside out. “I’m glad you liked it.”

She peered behind him and frowned. “The big guy coming up behind you doesn’t look happy.”

Abby’s manager sniffed. “Probably because we’re supposed to be making a quick exit to the hotel.”

Nathan grinned. So they were all staying at the same place? Excellent.

He waved, turned around, and jogged right by Beau’s pissy face.

Once he was seated inside S2J’s van, Trevin asked, “What’d she think?”

“She loved it.” Despite his stomach twisting into knots, Nathan tried to downplay his building excitement. He pulled out his cell to distract himself and found the picture he’d taken of the eldest S2J member during the show. “Hey, Trev, I got a cool shot of your new move.” He held the screen out to his bandmate. “I’ll send it to you.”

Within seconds, Trevin had Nathan tagged on Twitter with the pic of his new speaker jump. Nathan checked his other mentions and saw a ton of pictures of tonight’s concert. He went through and favorited as many as he could during the short bus ride from the venue to the hotel.

He also had a text waiting for him from his sister he hadn’t seen earlier.

Jersey foods you should try: ripper (a hot dog), pizza, and submarines (subs). Good luck tonight.

Nathan smiled. His sister always sent him a list of foods he should try in each city they played in. The ripper sounded interesting. He’d have to give it a shot tomorrow and call her later tonight after he found Abby.

Nathan’s hotel room was a lot like the others he’d stayed in. Gifts from fans littered the dresser and TV stand. The food he couldn’t eat within a couple of days would be donated to a food pantry, and the other gifts, like teddy bears, would be donated to Toys for Tots or the Salvation Army.

He ripped open a candy package and picked out a box of Airheads—his favorite—while he searched the room for the phone.

Operation Visit Abby would go down like this: first he’d call the front desk, while pretending to be Beau, and ask which room Abby Curtis was staying in. Then it was just a matter of sneaking over there without anyone seeing him. Totally doable.

Just as he grabbed the clunky hotel phone and bit into his blue raspberry Airhead, a guitar chord sounded from the hall. Miles? Trevin, maybe? No, they’d be on the phone with their girlfriends. He stuck his head into the hall where a blonde with an adorable black hat sat huddled over a guitar.

Nathan threw his opened Airhead onto the TV stand and snagged his hotel key before walking over to Abby. When he was close enough to smell her fruity perfume, she glanced up.

Her eyes widened and her fingers froze over the strings. “I’m sorry.” She peered behind him down the hall. “I didn’t realize your rooms were so close. Am I bothering you guys?”

Nathan slid down the wall next to her. “Not likely. It’s hard to sleep after a show. You, too?”

Abby shrugged. “I was inspired. Besides, Reeta’s passed out in there.”

She started to put the guitar away, but Nathan stopped her. “Don’t. It’s fine. What are you working on?”

Her cheeks flushed. “Just a little something.”

“That same something that wasn’t ready for ears yet the other night?”

She bit her lip and nodded. “Yes, and it’s not nearly done.”

He knew the feeling. Everything he wrote never seemed good enough. He always shied away from sharing his ideas with the guys during their writing sessions. “Do you write your own stuff a lot?”

“I don’t know about ‘a lot,’ but I’m going to need to if that’s my plan for the first album. I have a few label-approved songs ready that I wrote but not enough for a whole album.”

Songs Abby wrote? He’d love to get inside her head, see what she cared about, what made her
her
. “I’d like to hear them.”

“You will.” She eyed him teasingly. “I’m opening for you guys, remember?”

How could Nathan forget? It was a blessing and a curse.

Abby unhooked her guitar strap and laid the guitar across her outstretched legs. “I mean, if you’re around to watch my show you will.”

“Of course I’ll watch your show.”

Once he’d said the words, he didn’t even know if it were possible to keep that promise. He never watched Cherry’s shows—S2J was getting ready in the back when they were on. He probably didn’t even have time to watch her show now that he thought about it.

He rubbed the back of his neck and she fidgeted beside him. Nathan gestured at the guitar. “Do you play other instruments?”

“My mom had me in piano for a long time, so yes, but I prefer not to. I fell in love with the guitar ever since I picked one up for the first time.” Her fingers played over the strings. “You?”

“I’ve always concentrated on singing. Trevin and Ryder play the guitar. Miles does, too, but he’s started to play around on the piano. I’m pretty sure Aimee had something to do with that. You probably noticed I play the drums during ‘Rock You.’ I’ve got a drum tutor so I’m trying to pick that up, but vocals will always be my main thing. I’ve been singing since I was”—his eyebrows rose—“I don’t know. Really young.”

Abby leaned her head back against the wall and stared at the ceiling. “I didn’t get a chance to thank you for saving me back at the interviews there. I never thought they would ask me to sing in front of everyone.”

Nathan chuckled. “I think everyone got into it. It was fun.”

Her face turned toward his. “Well, it
is
a good song.”

His stare roamed over her face. After a while, he rested his head against the wall, his gaze falling to her lips. “It’s a great song.”

She swallowed. “Fantastic song.”

It didn’t take long for him to get lost in her. He heard nothing, saw nothing but her. He could get so lost in her he wouldn’t even notice if someone walked up next to them.

He couldn’t have that.

Nathan jumped up and held his hand out. “Come with me for a sec?”

They clasped hands and he helped her up. He glanced both ways down the hall as they walked toward his room. After unlocking the door, he pulled her in behind him.

They stared at each other. Then Nathan slowly backed her up until she pressed against the other side of the door.

Abby searched his face. “Please tell me you’re going to kiss me this time.”

Nathan’s breath caught. Her eyes swam with a kaleidoscope of emotions. Ones that made his stomach tighten in anticipation. Behind her, he twisted the lock and slid the locking chain into place to keep them hidden away from everyone.

“You want me to kiss you?” he asked.

Please say yes
.
Just this once, please say yes.

She nodded and Nathan didn’t waste any of their precious time together. His lips pressed into hers as he ran his hands through her hair, down her arms, and paused on her hips. She melted into him.

He couldn’t believe he’d waited this long to kiss her again. Her warmth spread over his skin to the tips of each of his fingers and toes, and even though they were in an unfamiliar hotel room surrounded by objects he didn’t care about, he felt full. Whole, almost. As if he were just arriving home after a six month long tour, his body dead with exhaustion, and yet, that first glimpse of his house filled him to the core with
home
.

When Abby pulled away, her shoulders heaving, a thrill shot through him. He slipped a stray strand of hair around her ear. “I could get used to this.”

“God yes.”

He squeezed her fingers. Noticing an area of tough, hard skin on her fingertips, he flipped her hand palm up and traced the outline.

She tried to pull her hand away, but he held on more firmly. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

“They’re calluses.” She shook her head, her cheeks blushing. “I’ve started to use a pick. When I remember, anyway.”

He smiled, unsure why she was embarrassed by them. They were nothing but proof of her hard work.

She slipped her hand from his grasp and looked around the room. Her gaze landed on the baskets littering his dresser and her eyebrows raised. “Is it always like this?” she asked, gesturing toward his candy and teddy bear stash.

He rubbed the back of his neck. Abby was clearly impressed by his gift haul, which somehow made him feel like a self-important snob. “Whatever we don’t take or use is given away.”

Abby leaned over the candy bag he’d opened earlier and peered inside. A smile lit her face as her fingers picked through SweeTARTS, Skittles, Smarties and even more Airheads.

“Have as much as you want,” he offered.

“I shouldn’t. I’ll be up for days.” Her gaze skipped around on the dresser until it landed on a brown teddy bear wearing red boxers with tiny pink hearts all over them. She picked it up, and when she ran her hand over its head, it started to sing “Kiss This.”

She whirled, her eyebrows high and eyes twinkling.

“That’s pretty dang cute,” he admitted.

“I. Love. It.”

“Our fans are very creative,” he said sheepishly.

The bear stopped singing, so she set it back on the dresser. “So, is this what you do after a show? I figured you guys all hung out afterward.”

“We used to,” Nathan said. “By the middle of a tour, I think we’re all ready to have our own time, though.”

“Oh, well, I can…” She motioned toward the door.

Nathan moved between her and the exit. “No. I want you to stay.”

With a slow, graceful step, she walked toward him. “I’m fine with that.”

He was even better than fine with that. Especially when Abby looked at him with those piercing, expectant eyes. She reached her fingers out to trace the skin from his hand to his elbows, and he closed his eyes, relishing in her touch.

Soft lips pressing a kiss to his chin stunned him. His eyes flew open, and as soon as his gaze locked on Abby’s, he bent for another kiss. This one was shorter and sweeter than the last, but no less perfect. Nathan wanted to try every kind of kiss with Abby. The long, passion-filled ones he saw on TV and that pulled in his gut to try now, and the sweet ones he remembered his grandparents sharing when he was younger.

Nathan and Abby stared at each other, faces eaten up with shared smiles. He couldn’t help but think they must’ve looked like crazed kids drunk on a potent love potion, or cartoon characters with hearts springing from their eyes.

“We shouldn’t be doing this,” she whispered.

“I know.”

He pulled her toward the bed and scooched to the middle, his back against the headboard. He patted the bed next to him, urging her over. She nestled into his arms and placed her head on his shoulder.

After a few moments pause, she asked, “I’ve been dying to ask, are you writing songs for the third album yet?”

Nathan laughed and stroked her hair. “Yeah. It feels different than last time, though. This time we’re writing the album while we’re on the road. For the other two, we always wrote and recorded in a studio.”

“Do you like it this way?”

He actually did. People might think it would be a jumbled mess touring and writing, but it was working for them. “There’s less pressure. We didn’t book studio time, so we don’t have to worry about wasting everyone’s time and money if we don’t write and record when we’re supposed to. I think it’s more…organic in a way, too. Tiring but less stressful. Creativity can’t come on demand, you know?”

Abby nodded. “I can’t wait to record my first album. I want people to hear my stories.”

His face softened. “That’s why I like it better we’re doing so much more writing together for this album. Sometimes it’s hard to connect to songs given to you to record. They’re never completely yours unless you had a hand in writing them. It’d be like Stephen King transcribing someone else’s book.”