Indigo blues, p.23
Indigo: Blues, page 23
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Anytime, baby.”
“I love you.”
“Love you, too. See you soon.”
After hanging up, Eli stared at her phone and smiled as warmth burst in her chest. Finishing the rest of her travel plans and figuring out where Sarah was going to be when, Eli purchased plane tickets and a concert ticket. She decided last minute to keep everything a secret, hoping to surprise Sarah with the risk and commitment she had made.
It had been three weeks since she’d seen Sarah last, and Sarah had pretty much slept the entire time she’d been at the house. While Eli had enjoyed the time with her, she knew Sarah couldn’t sustain that amount of busyness for much longer. Surprising her on her last week of shows would be the perfect way to end the tour.
The concert had gone wonderfully well. Eli had sat near the back having to buy cheap last-minute tickets, but it had all been worth it. She would have enjoyed attending the concert with someone else, perhaps her friends or even Sarah’s friend, Kara, who she talked about often, but since she hadn’t made any of those plans, she’d kept to herself.
As the concert ended, people gathered up their stuff and left the building. Eli knew, from stories her friends had told and from what Sarah had said, that often people would wait out back by the tour bus to get autographs and pictures with her. Eli checked her phone to see if Sarah had texted her, but she hadn’t, not yet. She expected she would soon, she usually did as soon as she had a moment when her concerts were over and then she’d be up literally all night running on the adrenaline that came from it.
Smiling to herself, Eli waited until the crowd died down before she headed toward the back of the small theater to see where the tour bus and the rest of the line were. Sure enough, there was a group of about two hundred people waiting outside.
Tugging her jacket a little closer around herself as the night brought a slight chill to the air, Eli pushed as close to the front of the line as she could. A rope was hung, barricading people from getting any closer, which would give Sarah ample space to move and leave if she chose to do so.
The text came almost immediately after Eli got to the rope. She was closest to the bus, could almost touch it if she wanted to. Two security guards stood, one by the door and one by the bus. Eli couldn’t imagine living this way, or traveling this way, though she supposed the guards were only there for moments like this.
She didn’t send Sarah a text back since she was supposed to be sleeping in her own bed halfway across the country and Sarah would in no way expect her to answer before morning when she would text back and not expect a response until much closer to noon.
Another hour passed before the back doors opened. Some in the crowd had left, giving up on waiting for Sadie Bade to emerge, but Eli held strong, knowing this was about to be the biggest reveal, the biggest outing of herself she’d ever done.
Sarah started on the far end, signing whatever people had brought and taking quick pictures with them. Eli’s toes curled in anticipation, wanting Sarah to look over at her and see her standing there, wanting to call out to her and make some sort of scene, grab her attention, but she wouldn’t. Sarah loved her fans, loved giving them that face-to-face time when she could and building those relationships, so Eli hung back and let Sarah work her way toward her.
By the time she got halfway through the crowd, Eli’s stomach was a mess. Her shoulders were so tense, she was pretty sure it’d take all week for the knots to come undone. Sarah turned to grab a CD from someone, and she stopped short. Their eyes locked. Sarah’s dark brown ones widened in shock as she hastily signed the CD and shoved it into the waiting fan’s hand.
Immediately she ran over to Eli, stepping over the rope and launching herself into Eli’s waiting arms, their mouths pressed together in a heated embrace. People snapped photos, but Eli couldn’t even think about it as the crowd around them cheered. When Sarah pulled away, she punched Eli lightly on the arm and laughed.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“Thought I’d give you a break from traveling.”
Laughing, Sarah grabbed Eli’s hand and dragged her to the other side of the rope line. She kissed Eli’s cheek again and grinned at her. “I’m shocked you’re here.”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“Well, you succeeded.”
Eli squeezed Sarah’s fingers tightly. “Go do what you need to do. I’ve got all week.”
“The whole week?”
“Yup.”
“You sneaky son of a bitch.” Sarah planted a loud kiss on Eli’s lips before turning to finish with her fans.
Eli tried to step away from everyone, but she wasn’t sure where to go. She didn’t know if she’d be allowed on the bus or if that was where Sarah wanted her to go or what. She stood awkwardly to the side and let Sarah be the Sadie everyone knew and loved.
It was unexpected when Sarah grabbed her hand and dragged her inside the bus, spinning around and putting her hands on her hips. “How did you get away?”
“I called my dad.”
“And he came for the whole week?”
“Two weeks. Him and my mom.”
“So I have you for a whole week?”
“Yes, but you’re going to have to tell me what to do because I’m already lost.”
Sarah laughed, her voice sending a thrill through Eli’s body, and she stepped in close, wrapping her arms around Sarah’s back and pulling her in for a hug. Sarah felt wonderful in her arms, warm, full of energy and excitement. She fit, which was something Eli wasn’t sure she had ever experienced before.
Sarah pressed a kiss to Eli’s neck, then her cheek, before she smiled. “Just so you know, I’m not the only one who gets on the bus.”
“I remember.”
“So we only have a few minutes before everyone else joins us.”
Eli nodded. “I figured. Are you leaving tonight for somewhere new?”
“No. Hotel.”
“Good.” Eli nuzzled her nose against Sarah’s ear. “Because I don’t have a room.”
Chuckling, Sarah dashed her fingers under Eli’s shirt. “When did you get here?”
“Last night.”
“You’re shitting me.”
“No.” Eli smirked. “It was late, though. I did get a room last night, but then I explored a bit before going to the concert. I figured you’d be busy.”
“God, I love you.”
Eli’s tensed but then relaxed. She’d known it all along. Everything about Sarah had been different from everyone else she had been with. Leaning in, Eli pressed her mouth to Sarah’s, tangling their tongues as she dipped her hands into her hair and held tight.
When they finally parted, Eli grinned. “I’m not leaving my ranch.”
Sarah snorted. “No, I know that. I’d never expect you to. I know you love your ranch more than you love me.”
“Not more, Sarah. Just longer.”
Sarah’s lips thinned into a line and her eyes narrowed as she worked through what Eli had said. “Did you just say what I think you said or am I imagining things?”
“Never imagining things.” Eli grabbed Sarah’s ass and pulled her in again. “I do love you.”
“Oh good. And here I thought I was the only one.”
“Never.” Their lips brushed again just as the doors to the bus opened.
While Eli tried to move away, Sarah pulled her in even more, giving her a long, deep kiss. When they parted, Eli gave her a funny look as she spun around, gripping Eli’s hand behind her back. She grinned at the other band members. “Guys, this is Eli.”
They all said “Hey.” Eli was struck speechless until Sarah tugged on her arm.
“She’s staying the week.”
“Good. Then maybe you’ll shut up about her.”
Sarah laughed wholeheartedly. “Unlikely.”
She turned again and pressed a kiss to Eli’s cheek. “You’ll get used to it.”
“I will, but only for you.”
“I know. And thank you, Eli. I love you.”
“Love you, too.”
About the Author
Adrian J. Smith has been writing nearly her entire life but publishing since 2013. With a focus on women loving women fiction, AJ jumps genres from action-packed police procedurals to the seedier life of vampires and witches to sweet romances with a May-December twist. She loves writing and reading about women in the midst of the ordinariness of life.
AJ currently lives in Cheyenne, WY, although she moves often and has lived all over the United States. She loves to travel to different countries and places. She currently plays the roles of author, wife, mother to two rambunctious kids, and occasional handy-woman. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, or her blog.
Sign up for her newsletter and get a free story!
Indigo: Nights
Indigo B&B #2
A messy break up can only be healed by the best of friends.
Coming out in a rural Kansas town was never something Jewel thought she’d do, especially as the newly-minuted music teacher. She finds adversity everywhere she looks, except one. Her best friend, Lea, has always been the supportive backbone she’s needed. When her boyfriend breaks up with her, Jewel needs Lea more than ever.
When Jewel dives deep into finding love and tries to drag Lea with her, she can’t help but wonder if the perfect person is right in front of her. Breaking down the walls Lea has put up for decades is not easy, but Jewel is determined to be the one person Lea knows she can always trust. What she doesn’t expect is for music to strike a chord with the science teacher.
Available June 6, 2022!
Preorder Now
Other Works by Adrian J. Smith
Contemporary Romance
Memoir in the Making
OBlique
Love Burns
Admissible Affair
About Time
Daring Truth
Indigo: Blues (Indigo B&B #1)
Indigo: Nights (Indigo B&B #2)
Paranormal/Fantasy
Eira
Forever Burn (James Matthews #1)
Dying Embers (James Matthews #2)
Ashes Fall (James Matthews #3)
Unbound (Quarter Life #1)
De-Termination (Quarter Life #2)
Release (Quarter Life #3)
Beware (Quarter Life #4)
Crime/Mystery/Thriller
For by Grace (Spirit of Grace #1)
Fallen from Grace (Spirit of Grace #2)
Grace through Redemption (Spirit of Grace #3)
Lost & Forsaken (Missing Persons #1)
Broken & Weary (Missing Persons #2)
Young & Old (Missing Persons #3)
Alone & Lonely (Missing Persons #4)
Stone’s Mistake (Morgan Stone #1)
Stone’s Homefront (Morgan Stone #2)
Adrian J. Smith, Indigo: Blues
