The Songwriter by A. P. Jensen Page B

face.
    “ You’re ready for this,” he said firmly.
    She tried to smile but didn’t quite succeed.
    “Tonight’s the night. Barbie and Cassie are in your bus, ready for hair and makeup. I’ll see you in a few hours,” he said and kissed her.
    She walked past Oliver and dodged the stage crew who worked like a well-oiled army. When she walked into the bus , Cassie and Barbie pounced on her and gossiped about potential bed mates now that they got a look at the men on the tour for the next six months. While Barbie and Cassie called dibs on whoever passed their standards, Gwen checked her phone.
    Natasha: If you embarrass Trey he’ll never forgive you. He loves his career more than he loved me.
    Natasha: How can you perform when you can’t be in front of crowds?
    Natasha: Don’t choke, baby.
    Gwen turned off her phone and took deep breaths as Barbie and Cassie worked their magic and helped her into her first dress. It fit like a glove . It was a simple, classic gown all in white. If she put on a veil, it would be considered a wedding gown which she and Angie agreed on because of The Better Man . The woman in the song accepted a proposal from one man when she was in love with someone else. This dress conveyed a type of vulnerability that complimented the first two songs and it would make her second dress that much more shocking. Silver heels peeked out as she walked to the arena. Her heart was pounding a million miles a minute and she felt as if she was having an out of body experience as Angie appeared out of nowhere and directed her backstage.
    She ran into Trey as he stripped out of a shirt soaked with sweat. Gwen was temporarily distracted by his naked upper torso as someone produced a towel and briskly wiped him down as some kind of video entertained the crowd while he changed. Her nausea receded the tiniest bit as she watched him shrug into another shirt. The crowd roared for Trey’s return as he buttoned his shirt and grabbed his guitar. Gwen opened her mouth because she had something important to say but nothing came out.
    “ See you in a bit,” Trey said with a feral smile before he walked back onstage.
    She watched him walk to the middle of the stage and the noise from the crowd knocked her back two steps. How could she have forgotten how crazy his fans were? The cheers from the crowd were deafening and the ground shook as they stomped and jumped when their idol appeared on the stage where he belonged. Trey was on fire. She’d forgotten how much he loved touring and connecting with his fans this way. This wasn’t a job for Trey. This was his reward for making music. There was no better high than being surrounded by thousands of people that loved the best of you.
    Angie pulled Gwen beneath the stage to an elevator that had her mic and stand all set for her. Gwen was trembling so badly she had to sit down. Stage hands grabbed her so she didn’t keel over. They yelled to be heard over the band and Trey’s voice but it didn’t make a difference because her ears were ringing and she was drenched in cold sweat. She was supposed to go up in the elevator and appear onstage in less than five minutes and she was having a panic attack. She gasped for breath and Angie eyed her disgustedly.
    “ You can’t do this to Trey! You agreed. There’s a contract!” When that had no effect on her, Angie shoved a cold Sprite into Gwen’s trembling hand. “Drink this.”
    Gwen obediently took a few sips and was surprised when the shakiness faded slightly. Angie talked nonstop as she popped mints in Gwen’s mouth, repaired her makeup, toweled her down and straightened her dress.
    “ I remember when you were eighteen, running behind Natasha like a puppy on a leash,” Angie said.
    Gwen ’s head snapped up. Angie shook her head and sighed dramatically.
    “ She treated you like crap, talked down to you and you just smiled and did everything like a good girl. You’re lucky she went through your stuff and found that