SebastianMoore,drums.
Tyler“Ty” Meade,bass, back-up vocals.
Wewere clustered backstage in a moderately sized club in northern Connecticut,getting ready to play our first real show. It was a place about an hour from homecalled Fat Cat’s. Dark. Atmospheric. A broody hole in the wall that bordered onseedy, but it was popular, and after “Daisies & You” had spent a weekcirculating the local stations, the show sold out in the matter of days.
Ihad yet to hear it play myself, but I knew from the amount of hits on theYouTube video, that it was doing well. Better than well.
Itwashuge.
Richardhad taken to calling me an “overnight success,” and after Kylie had confirmedthat my following on Instagram was piling up by the day, I was starting tobelieve it.
Kyliearrived late, after stopping by her mom’s place before the show. She was seeingher a lot more often, and I was glad.
“Therearesomany people here,” she said, her voice shaking with excitement asshe slung both arms around my neck. I bent, looping mine around her waist as Ipicked her up, pulling her into me for a celebratory hug.
Robbiepulled his fifth cigarette from between his lips, as I put her feet back on theground, and ever-so politely directed the puff of smoke in our direction. “Youdorealize this is a sold-out show, right, Princess? Of course, there’s a decentamount of people.”
Robbiewas the hot shot of the group, and he never let any of us forget it. He hadplayed shows with some of the biggest names in the biz, usually as a stand-in,and yet, he couldn’t hold down a steady job. The closest he had come was afour-month tour with some one-hit wonder in the early-00’s. That star’s fireblew out, and so did Robbie’s steady paycheck.
Richardhad warned me about his attitude and he wasn’t wrong. The guy was crude,egocentric and completely unapologetic. Still, practices with him had beenenough to solidify how impressed I was with his talent, not to mention blownaway that he’d want to work withme.
Kylie,however, was less than enamored with his status in the industry.
Shewaved her hand frantically, unsuccessfully clearing the air of smoke. “Classy,”she gritted through her teeth.
“Can’thandle a little smoke, Princess?”
Tysighed impatiently. “Is it always necessary for you to be a dick?”
Tywas a quiet, gentle soul, with killer skills on the bass and a voice to match.He was shy as hell though, and therefore, could never make it in the spotlight,but he did the job to boost the front man.
Robbiesnorted and waved his cigarette in Ty’s direction. “It’s all a part of mycharm. It’s how I get all the good snatch, and why you’ll always get my sloppyseconds.”
Tysnorted in response. “I’m sure mywifeappreciates that.”
Tippinghis head back and sucking a long, hard drag from his cigarette, Robbie exhaledtoward the dingy lighting. “Wives aren’t privy to telling their rock star menwhat they can do on the road. They marry into that fucking life, man. They knowwhat they’re signing up for,trust me. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll,man, and if you think she’s not getting some cock on the side …” He shook hishead with a sinister chuckle. “Then, you have another thing coming.”
Kylieuttered a noise of disgust and Robbie turned to her, smirking and waving hiscigarette from his thin fingers. “You’ll learn, Princess. Just you wait andsee.”
Itightened my arms around her, affirming that there wasno wayI wasfalling into that trap. I wished there was a more private place for us to go,somewhere for us to talk. Somewhere for me to tell her how scared and nervous Iwas without being called a bitch, or worse. I settled for focusing on her face,on her gray-purple lipstick. On the way her high cheekbones seemed to gleamunder the light. I then focused on the colorful world within her eyes that Iwished I could take a moment to hide in, just to gather my bearings and find mycourage.
Shereleased her hold on me, pressed her hands to my cheeks, and smiled. “You’reshaking,” she whispered, and I nodded. “You’re going to blow the fucking roofoff of this place, babe, and I’ll be right up front to cheer you on.”
Idropped my forehead to hers and whispered, “You better be.”
“Ihaveto be, just to make sure you’re not checking out any of the othergirls,” she said with a teasing smile, and with a challenging grin, I took astep back, taking her hands in mine.
Shewas wearing tight black jeans and a Pearl Jam t-shirt, cut to show off her flatstomach and pierced bellybutton and the black cat crawling over her hip. Ishook my head and smirked, prying my eyes away from her curves and back to hereyes, framed by a sparkling eyeshadow galaxy.
“Nota fucking chance.”
Sheopened her mouth to reply when Richard poked his head in. “On in five, boys.”
Abarreling wave of stomach-rolling nausea hit me and I closed my eyes with adeep breath. Kylie stepped toward me, pressing her body against mine and shereached up to hold my face between her hands.
“Dev,look at me,” she coached and I opened my eyes to fixateon hers. “You’re going to befine, baby. Just look at me, okay, anddon’t pay attention to anything else.”
Inoddedand she pulled me down, pressing her mouthfirmly to mine. “I love you,” she whispered, her lips moving against mine.
