The buzz of excited voices and flashing lights filled the backstage VIP lounge, but none of it mattered. Not when Ross was standing just a few feet away, grinning as he scrolled through his phone. I shifted my weight, trying to play it cool, but the way my stomach flipped betrayed me.
Ross glanced up and instantly locked eyes with me, his smile widening. "There she is," he said, slipping his phone into his pocket. "Figured you'd find a way back here."
I scoffed, folding my arms. "Please. You basically begged me to come."
He laughed, a sound so easy and familiar it made my heart squeeze. "Alright, fine. Maybe I wanted my best friend around so I donāt go insane smiling for a hundred pictures."
"Sounds rough," I teased, stepping closer. "Autographs and adoring fans? Tragic, really."
Ross leaned in, dropping his voice conspiratorially. "You know what's even worse? The fact that I only get, like, two minutes with you before security starts herding people out."