Say You Won't Let Go Google(21)
Chapter Ten
Emily
“The rules are that I go where you go at all times. You don’t move unless I’m with you, understand?” Wade repeats himself for the third time as we stand at the door of the bus.
“I’m not slow,” I remind him. “I get it. You’re my shadow, and I need to always be sure I see your silhouette.”
Lame.
This is all so lame. A bodyguard…and not just any bodyguard. No, he had to get me one that’s a mix of the Hulk and Thor. Wade is six-foot-two and I’m a dwarf when I’m next to him. His brown eyes narrow as I repeat after him.
“Nowhere.”
I raise my hand in the Girl Scout salute. “I promise.”
He grumbles and crosses his arms over his chest.
Wade is unlike the other security guys around the tour. He’s dark, broody, and he exudes masculinity. Basically, he’s scary as fuck. We have bodyguards on staff. I don’t know why I have to have a designated one. Luke was more than capable of giving me one of his guys. After telling him about the incident, he promised his team would be on it, but Cooper wasn’t having it.
Hence why Wade is here now.
“So,” I say, rocking back on my heels.
“So?”
“Cooper says you guys have known each other a long time?”
“Yup,” he replies while scanning the area.
“You both did rodeo?”
“Yup.”
Okay. Wade only gives one-word answers, got it. Cooper is on the flight now, and I long to talk to him. My show is in twenty minutes, and I should be backstage, smiling and drinking a beer with the crew. Instead, I’m worrying about the crazy person sending me letters and trashing my bus.
“Am I bothering you?” I ask.
“Nope.” Wade drops his sunglasses over his eyes, and I bite my lip. Looks like he’s done with our conversation.
Cooper couldn’t have found a friend who looks like he actually wants to be here?
I send him a text.
Me: I wish you were here.
“Emily!” Vince comes over with his arms up in the air. “Let’s go, girl!”
I glance over at my new best friend, who nods.
Here we go.
The music blares, alerting the crowd that the show is about to begin. I stand at the edge, and my legs feel like Jell-O. I can’t move. What if the guy is out there? What if he’s a part of the stage crew and he’s planning to drop lights on me Phantom of the Opera style? Maybe the guy is just going to bum-rush the stage and run away with me.
My eyes meet Wade’s dark glasses, and I try to breathe.
“Are you okay?” His deep voice is low.
“No. I can’t go out there. You can’t go out there, and I—” My heart pounds in my chest.
Wade pulls his glasses off and steps closer. “I will always be in your line of sight.”
“But what if I’m in his line of sight?”
“That isn’t what you should worry about,” Wade tries to reassure me. “All you should worry about is doing your job. I’ll worry about the rest.”
That sounds easy enough, only it’s completely irrational to think I’m not going to be scared. There’s no way I can do this. I just can’t. I want to go home to Bell Buckle where no one gives a shit who I am.
Where Cooper is.
Where it’s safe.
Wade’s hand grips my shoulder and tears pool in my eyes. “Nothing will happen to you, Emily.”
“You can’t guarantee that,” I counter.
His lip turns into a cocky smile. “I can.”
I shrug out of his grip and look out at the microphone standing alone in the middle of the stage. That’s my home, and I’m afraid to go there.
“You have a choice.” Wade’s voice breaks me from my stare. “You can choose to let this person win and take away your life or you can go out there and live the life you’ve fought for. Do you think Cooper would’ve left if he didn’t think you were safe? If he didn’t think I was the absolute best at my job, would I be here? You don’t put the woman you love’s safety in the hands of a novice.”
Cooper’s name causes my heart to race. If he didn’t believe in Wade, he would be here right now. I know that without a doubt.
“I’m just scared.” My voice is small and trembles at the end.
“Are you ready to get this party started?” the MC calls over the speaker.
I could throw up right now. My head starts to swim, and I know my face has gone bloodless.
“Look at me,” Wade commands. “When you’re out there, if you feel uncomfortable or someone makes you scared, look at me and scratch your nose. I’ll grab your ass and have you off that stage before you can sing another note. Okay?”
I nod. “Okay.”
The intro music cues, and I know I can’t hide anymore. “Please welcome Emily Young!”
There is a time to be scared and hide and a time to step up and be brave. I have to dig deep and find the inner strength to go out there and not let fear hold me back. I’ve done the work, I deserve this, and I have to trust Cooper’s judgment in Wade.
I plaster a smile on my face, grab my guitar, and step out into the lights.