ryder
It’s so damngood to be home.
Back onstage, back with the band. Guitar in my hands and lyrics on my tongue. I serenade the crowd with all the gusto I can muster, sweeping my eyes across the massive crowd. It’s hard to make out any faces with the bright lights streaming into my eyes, but there must be twenty thousand people out there, sitting on picnic blankets and listening to us perform.
I’m still in shock Aiden was able to pull this off. I don’t know how he managed to get our spot in the lineup back, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised to learn it included a heavy amount of ass-kissing. For a man of few words, he can really turn on the charm when necessary.
We play a few of our modified Lacey songs, plus two of our tightest covers, revving up the audience until they’re swaying and singing along with us. I signal Aiden with a nod before we start the next number and his fingers go still as I step up to the mic.
“Thank you!” I call over the applause. “Man, you guys are awesome. We’ve only got a few more songs to play for you tonight, but this next one is particularly special to me.”
Wolf-whistles and catcalls erupt.
“See, I wrote it about girl I didn’t want to say goodbye to…”
There’s a collectiveawwww.
“I don’t know where she is or if she’ll ever hear this… but Felicity, wherever you are in the world tonight… this one’s for you, baby.”
I know she’s gone, but it doesn’t matter. I conjure up an image to hold in my mind — deep amber-gold eyes locked on mine, long thick braid hanging down her back like a rope, out-of-practice smile tugging at her mouth. Grabbing the mic, I close my eyes and sing to her.
Just to her.
“Why would I look at the stars, when I could look at you?
Why would I close off my heart, when you’ll just break through..?”
The crowd is utterly silent. Totally transfixed.
“’Cause I got too close to the flame
Blinded my sight, ruined my name.
Wasn’t till I saw you that it hit me,
I was burning up…
For a girl named Felicity.”
I think I hear some commotion at the base of the stage, but my focus never shifts from the song.
“Why would I tear you apart, when I could walk away?
Why would I tell you the truth is, I just want to stay?”
Aiden and Linc come in stronger as I belt the last verse.
“‘Cause I got too close to a star
Singed on my mind, scored on my heart
Wasn’t till I left that it hit me,
I was in love…
With a girl named Felicity.
A girl named Felicity….”