The Ending I Want(51)

I reach back and wrap my arms around him. I glance up. His eyes are smiling down at me.

Yay, Happy Liam is back.

I smile at him. He sweetly kisses my forehead.

My heart squeezes with affection and happiness.

I move my face and eyes back to the stage at the exact moment Jake curls his hand around the microphone and leans in close to it.

Then, he starts singing the intro to their latest hit song in a cappella.

A few beats later, the rest of the band joins in.

And here, in Liam’s safe hold, I float off to TMS heaven.





My hand is firmly in Liam’s as he leads me backstage to meet The Mighty Storm.

Still on a high from the phenomenal concert, I’m close to peeing at the thought of actually meeting the band.

I really hope I don’t act like a total freak.

The concert was amazing and everything I’d hoped a rock concert would be. I get to tick that off my list now. And I can add meet The Mighty Storm and tick that off, too.

And all because of Liam. He truly is the best.

Liam shows our backstage passes to a burly security guy who is guarding the entrance. He lets us through, and then we’re backstage.

It’s total mayhem back here. I’m guessing the people bustling about are the roadies working to pack up all the stuff.

“The band should be in the green room, so we’ll head there,” Liam tells me.

Leaving the backstage area, we walk down a long hallway until we find the green room.

I can hear music and the chatter of voices behind the door.

“Ready?” Liam stares down at me.

“No. Yes.”

“Which is it?” He chuckles.

“Just don’t let me act like an idiot. I have a tendency to ramble and go a little crazy when I’m nervous.”

A grin slides onto his lips. “Like kissing strangers who sit next to you on airplanes?”

“Exactly like that.”

His eyes darken a little, but the smile remains. “Yeah, well, no kissing anybody in there but me. Got it?”

“Got it.” I smile, giving him a thumbs-up, appeasing him.

I don’t want Moody, Jealous Liam to make a comeback. Not that I’m going to be kissing anyone in there.

But…if Jake Wethers did ask for a kiss, who would I be to say no?

Just kidding.

Sort of.

Liam pushes open the door, leading me into the green room, and— Holy f*ck.

They’re here. The Mighty Storm is here. In this room. With me.

Oh my God!

There are other people here, but I can’t see anyone else because all I can see is Jake and Tom and Denny and Smith.

I think I actually just peed a little.

Jake looks over at us and smiles.

Holy shit. Jake is smiling at me!

Okay, so it’s not exactly me he’s smiling at. It’s Liam. But whatever. He is smiling in my vicinity, and that’s good enough for me.

Jake starts to walk toward us.

Shit. He’s coming over here. Holy f*ck!

Okay, calm. Be calm. And cool.

Don’t act like a tool, Taylor. Act…normal.

“Hey,” Jake says to Liam. “Liam Hunter, right?”

“And you’re Jake Wethers.”

“The one and only.” Jake chuckles, putting his hand out to shake Liam’s. “It’s good to finally meet you, man.”

Liam takes his hand and shakes it.

Hang on…Jake is saying it’s good to finally meet Liam? Um, not that Liam’s not awesome because he is, but—and this is a big but—this is Jake Wethers we’re talking about here.

“Jake, this is Taylor Shaw. Big fan of yours.”

I hear the tone in his voice on that last part, but I refrain from looking at him.

Jake smiles at me. “Hey,” he says.

Oh my God. He’s talking to me. What am I supposed to do?

Speak, you freaking dummy.

Liam gives my arm a nudge, and I come to, realizing that I’m just staring at Jake with my mouth open, like a total basket case. I wouldn’t be surprised if drool was on the corner of my mouth at well.

“Hi.” I smile at Jake. Then, I lift my hand and wave at him.

I waved at Jake Wethers.

Why, God? Why?

Jake chuckles. “Big fan, huh?”

“Uh-huh.”

“What did you think about the show?” Jakes asks me.

“It was really great.” I start enthusiastically nodding my head. “Like, amazing. Best concert I’ve ever been to. Actually, it is the first concert I have ever been to. But I have no doubt that, if I had been to other concerts, this one would have been the best—ever. Like, really. I’m positive. It was just amazing. Really.”

Oh God. Stop talking. Please stop talking.

I bite my lip to stop the verbal diarrhea. And I know my face is bright red because it feels like I just stuck it in a furnace.

Jake chuckles again. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“Jake,” Liam says, “I just wanted to thank you again for meeting with the kids. They were seriously excited about it.”

Kids?

I glance around and see that some of the people are actually little people—well, not little people, but kids. Maybe twelve or thirteen years old. They’re all sitting with the rest of the band, talking with them.