Appassionato by Erin M. Leaf Page B

know, Julie, I know. It’s just—” she sighed.
    “You’re nervous.” Julie smiled and rubbed her friend’s arm compassionately.
    “Yeah.” Emma sat down on her sofa. She looked at the pink nail polish that peeked through the open-toes of her shoes. “I mean, yeah, I was exhausted from the situation today at the school, then I was really nervous about the concert, then I just sat down and zonked out.” Emma carefully didn’t mention how she spent a good half-hour eavesdropping on Jake and Duncan while they had their little heart-to-heart in the dressing room. She didn’t think Julie would understand her fear. Her friend was a fan of Duncan’s and would probably love to be telepathically attached to the man. Emma, though, had spent most of her life alone. The sudden invasion of her mental privacy was as upsetting as it was comforting.
    “Well, okay, I don’t know how you could sleep, but at least you’re rested and ready for the show! Come on.” Julie grabbed Emma’s hand and pulled her up. “Time to go!”

* * * *

    Two hours later, Julie stopped her car in the parking lot a few blocks west of Madison Square Garden. Emma felt her stomach flip over and silently congratulated herself on having the good sense to not eat anything heavier than an apple for dinner.
    “Oh my God, I’m so excited!” Julie said after they’d paid the attendant. “Look! You can see the Garden from here!” She pointed and Emma obediently looked down the street at the venue’s distinctive outline. “Do you see it?”
    Emma grinned. “I see it, I see it! I’ve been here before, you know,” Emma teased, but Julie just laughed and grabbed her hand.
    “Let’s go!”
    Two blocks later they were walking past the tour trucks parked in back of the building. “Thank God the parking wasn’t far,” Emma remarked, trying not to get a heel wedged in the metal grates that dotted the sidewalk. “I can’t walk very far in these shoes.” She let Julie tow her toward the front entrance, trying to ignore the way Jake and Duncan felt in her head. The proximity made her even more aware of the two men. She could feel them as they moved around backstage, and the mental double-vision was making her dizzy.
    “I told you it wasn’t far. That parking lot’s pricey, but it’s worth it.” Julie shoved them both through the crowds. They walked up the wide steps, and Julie tugged her towards the VIP entrance. “Come on, I think we’re supposed to go in here.” Emma balked and Julie pulled on her hand. “Oh relax, it’ll be fine! Seriously.”
    Emma shook her head but stopped trying to hold back. Julie had no idea. Duncan and Jake knew she was there. She could feel their anticipation. Her heart tripped alarmingly, but she gamely moved forward with Julie, hoping everything would be okay. She laughed to herself as Julie showed the ticket attendant their paperwork. What did she think was going to happen? She knew they were nice guys. Even if they hadn’t taken up residence in her head, just watching the interviews she could find of them on the internet assured her they weren’t typical rock-star assholes. Most of the interviews she could find featured Duncan, but she’d managed to track down two that had Jake, including the infamous Oprah segment. She smiled as Julie tugged again, exasperated with Emma’s timidity.
    “I’m pretty sure I’m going to throw up with nervousness,” Emma said when they finally broke through the crowds and into the hallway leading to the floor near the stage. “We’re practically on the damn stage here.”
    “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. And the lights shining in his eyes will make it hard for Duncan to see much in the audience. I’ve been in the front row here before, a few years back. Different concert.” Julie grinned, maneuvering them both down the rows of chairs. Emma tried to keep her feet as the number of people grew larger the closer they got to the front. She could feel the excitement in