All the guys in the band looked hot in the videos and pictures we had been poring over on YouTube and social. LTZ in person? Other-worldly.
Drummer, Jace Deveraux, played shirtless, lean with taut muscles, intense, piercing green bedroom eyes, and sexy dirty-blond hair that brushed just past his shoulders. He thrashed hard yet kept the most complicated groovy rhythm, his mouth moved in time to the beats he played.
Zane Rocks, a pretty boy with an infectious grin, dark-brown eyes, and a mop of jet-black, unruly hair that didn’t quite reach his collar, played lead guitar. He bounced all over the stage but managed to make eye contact with everyone in the crowd, drawing them in. Effortlessly channeling classic Slash and Eddie Van Halen, his natural skill translated into his own unique sound.
Bassist Conner McLoughlin was the hottest ginger I’d ever seen, his thick, reddish-brown hair hung well past his jaw. He stared into the crowd with light, golden-brown eyes that were brooding and almost dangerous. Ropy, thick muscles bulged underneath his vintage Alice in Chains T-shirt. He was cool AF, popping and thumping in perfect rhythm with Jace’s percussion.
As hot as the rest of the LTZ guys were, lead singer Tyson Rainier was the most magnificent-looking guy I’d ever seen in real life. His chiseled, square-jawed face with just a hint of stubble made him look like a young, rogue biker. His gorgeous long, brown hair hung in loose waves. He swung it wildly, scanning the crowd through sapphire-blue eyes rimmed with dark, long lashes. His lithe yet muscular body rocked tight skinny jeans and a frayed, fitted white V-neck. He stomped around the stage like a throw-back grunge rocker in duct-taped, forest-green Doc Martins. Ty’s voice was mesmerizing—a mix of soaring range, complicated and unique lyrical phrasing, wolf-like growls, and passionate, emotional delivery.
He figuratively and literally mastered the stage and the audience, and I was hypnotized by him. There was no way not to stare. To me, he was passion personified. My body was consumed with what felt like an intense, gravitational pull.
While I was gaping at him, the beat changed to a slow, sultry low groove. At that moment, he looked down from the stage directly into my eyes. Like a lightning bolt, his look caused a zap straight to my core. My heart thumped so fast. I wouldn’t have been surprised if it exploded. I glanced around and saw beautiful women everywhere having the same reaction to this magnificent rock god. Immediately, I felt foolish. He hadn’t singled me out, specifically. I was nothing special. He just had that effect, which is why LTZ was destined for something bigger than a local club.
Throughout the rest of the show, I purposefully avoided looking at the sexy singer. Making eye contact was like looking directly into the sun. Smiling to myself at the ludicrous thought that I would ever have a chance in hell with Tyson Rainier, I immersed myself in the music. Alex and I swayed, danced, and cheered at LTZ’s awesomeness. Hands down, they were the coolest band I’d ever seen.
After their encore, Alex and I were still a bit sweaty by the time we pushed through the crowd to find our friends, who were live-streaming their commentary about the show. Alex added to her Instagram story, and I flashed her some rock horns when she turned the camera phone on me. We couldn’t stop squeeing about the band and how incredible they were. Despite my earlier insecurities, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something about the lead singer had struck a chord deep inside me.
“I think he looked right at you.” As if reading my mind, Alex nudged me and waggled her eyebrows.
“Uh-huh. There is no chance,” I guffawed, “the lights were shining in his eyes, he couldn’t see anyone in the crowd.”
“No, I’m serious. He kept trying to catch your attention,” she asserted. “You didn’t see it? He was singing to you. My Gawd, you have to talk to him!”
“I can’t do that.” I wrapped my arms around myself protectively. “I’d die of embarrassment. I’d just be standing there looking completely basic.”
The thought of it made me cringe.
“Holy fucking shit. Well, you better think fast because I’m pretty sure he’s heading this way.” Alex’s eyes were wide with excitement.
I barely had the chance to turn around when a big hand clasped my shoulder and a distinctive, deep, husky voice asked, “Hey, um. Sorry to interrupt, but haven’t I seen you before?”
Looking up into the deepest blue eyes I’d ever seen, for a beat too long, electricity once again crackled throughout my body. I managed to speak, if not eloquently, “Um—Umm. I just was watching your show.”
I stared at his exquisite face, not able to help it. After a beat too long I finally was able to look down at my shoulder where his hand rested. “You are amazing, I mean—the band was amazing— I mean— I loved it!” I stuttered, wanting to disappear through the floor at my ineptitude of being able to flirt.
“Oh, uh, cool. Thanks.” Ty’s cheeks visibly reddened and he looked at his boots almost bashfully. This took me by surprise, I hadn’t expected any of the LTZ guys to be modest. Or nice. Or shy. They were all so, well, overwhelmingly hot. Brushing off the compliment, Ty looked at me intensely. “No, I mean it. I feel like we’ve met somewhere and it’s driving me crazy trying to figure it out.”
I couldn’t find my words. With little dating experience, having such a powerful reaction to a guy was new. But then this was not just any guy—he was a fucking rock god, so maybe
