Chapter 11
Spunky – an attitude Gibson can’t seem to resist
Gibson
“How’s Mercy doing?” Dylan asks as he plops down on the sofa next to me.
We’re sitting backstage waiting for the opening act to finish. I glance at the clock. They started five minutes ago. It’ll probably be another hour before we go on.
Usually I fill this downtime with women and booze. I scowl as I glance at the bar in the corner. My fingers itch to grab a beer but I’m not an alcoholic. I don’t need a drink.
Besides, I promised Mercy I wouldn’t drink while we’re on tour this week. Considering her past with her mom, I’m not breaking my promise.
I can’t believe my sassy girl had such a horrible childhood. I would have never guessed she had wounds she’s hiding. I refuse to be another wound she has to carry.
“I’m sure she’s fine,” I answer Dylan.
“You’re sure she’s fine or you know she’s fine?”
“She’s fine,” I repeat because I don’t know where he’s going with this interrogation but he’s going somewhere. And the best way to avoid further questioning is to stick to your story.
“How was she doing when you spoke to her today?”
“I haven’t…” I trail off when I realize he caught me.
Shit. A real boyfriend would phone his real girlfriend and not merely fantasize about her. I stand.
“I’m gonna make a call.”
I find an empty room. I can always find an empty room wherever the band is. In the past, I used the space to fuck fans. But I don’t fuck fans anymore.
“Hey.” Mercy sounds breathless when she answers the phone.
“You busy?”
“Mercury insisted I move his chair. He finally let me put up curtains but they don’t block the sun enough for him. Apparently, he’ll wither and die if the sun touches his skin. I think he’s a vampire.”
“Vampires don’t age.”
“Damn. There goes my theory on why he avoids the sun.”
I chuckle.
“Shouldn’t you be on stage somewhere thrilling fans and making them want to throw themselves at you?”
“Opening act just started.”
“Are they any good?”
“Is who any good?”
She huffs. “The opening act. Are they any good?”
“I don’t know. Aurora picks a local band wherever we stop.”
“Who’s Aurora?”
Do I detect a hint of jealousy in her voice? I need to shut this down. I don’t do jealous women. I am my own man and I’ll do what I want.
But Mercy’s jealousy has me smiling. I like this woman. I enjoy her spunk. Her sassiness. I bet she’s fun in bed. My cock twitches at the idea. He’s ready to explore her sassy mouth.
He’s been ready since the kiss in the brewery. The kiss I’ve imagined while I’ve been in the shower with my hand on my cock more times than I can count. Those dark red lips would look sexy wrapped around me while she sucks me off.
“Hello! Gibson are you there?”
“I’m here.” My voice comes out gruff so I try again. “I’m here. Aurora is the band’s assistant.”
“Oh.”
“Jett’s obsessed with her,” I blurt out.
“Seriously? Tell me more. Are they having a secret relationship? But everyone knows about it and pretend they don’t? Do they have a secret code?”
“They’re not having a secret relationship but they want each other.”
“Why aren’t they involved?”
“Jett doesn’t do relationships.”
“Why not?”
“It’s his story to tell.”
“Gotcha.”
I wait for her to pry. Women always do. They want to know everything. And once they do, they use all of your secrets against you. I shouldn’t have told her about Aurora and Jett.
“Today was my first day working with Basil.”
Maybe she won’t pry into my life.
“Yeah? How did it go?”
“It was good to get my hands on an engine again. I missed it. We’re working on a Camaro now. She’s a beauty. I spent the day under her hood working on her.”
I wish she’d spent the day under my hood working on me. Her hands touching every inch of my skin.
I clear my throat and force those thoughts away. Mercy and I aren’t in an actual relationship. And love isn’t for me. I’ve seen how love can turn sour. I’m not interested in experiencing it again.
“And Mercury did okay while you were away?”
She sighs. “He says he was fine but I don’t think he drank anything all day. I’m worried he’s afraid to go to the bathroom when he’s alone.”
“What about adult diapers?”
“I am not talking to my uncle about wearing diapers. His pride is hurt enough at how restricted his movements are.”
I admire her for respecting Mercury.
“Can you ask for someone to stay with him while you’re at work?”
“It’s not a bad idea, but I don’t know many people in town.”
“Why don’t you reach out to Indigo?”
“Maybe because the woman keeps declaring herself my new best friend.”
I chuckle. “She’s harmless.”
There’s a pause before she whispers, “I’ve never had many girlfriends before.”
My heart hurts for her. She probably didn’t have much of a chance to have friends growing up since she was caring for her mother. I grew up with two loving parents. It was all a lie, but I didn’t know it at the time.
“Don’t you dare pity me,” she growls.
“I don’t pity you. I wouldn’t dare. You’d probably throw a pair of pliers at me.”
“Don’t be silly.” She snorts. “A wrench is way more effective. Heavier, too.”
“I guess I better behave.”
“Something tells me you never behave.”
She’s not wrong. But with her I want to behave. I want to follow her rules. I don’t want to hurt her. She’s been hurt enough.
“What’s the fun in behaving?” I tease.
“I have no idea, but everyone’s always telling me to behave.”
“We can misbehave together,” I suggest.
“You don’t need me to misbehave.”
“No, but it’s more fun together.”
“Why do I have the feeling you’re talking about sex?”
Because I am.
“Caught me.”
“You’re a bad boy, Gibson….” She pauses. “What’s your last name?”
I laugh. “You still haven’t googled me?”
“You’re obsessed with me googling you.”
I’m not obsessed as such. But it would be nice if she knew about the band and our music. And not because being famous is important. I’m a musician. It’s in my blood. I want her to at least know about our music even if she claims she’ll never enjoy it.
“It’s Lewis.”
“Gibson Lewis. I’ll remember it for when I google you.”
“You tease. You’re never going to google me, are you?”
“Not when it brings me such pleasure to listen to your voice go up an octave every time you realize I haven’t googled you yet.”
“My voice doesn’t go up an octave.”
“What?” She asks in a high voice. “You haven’t googled me yet? But I’m rich and famous. I’m a rockstar.”
She doesn’t give a shit I’m a rockstar. I’m starting to understand why Dylan and Fender fell hard for women who don’t care about their fame.
Not that I’m falling for Mercy. I refuse to fall for anyone. But I like Mercy. She’s amusing and fun to be around. With a start, I realize I’m missing her. As a friend. I’m missing my friend. I am not falling for her. I refuse.
“Oh crap,” she mutters.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“Mercury’s yelling about the toilet. I bet he clogged it again.”
“Do you need me to ring a plumber?”
“I’m a mechanic. I can handle a clogged toilet.”
“Have fun.”
“I didn’t say I’d enjoy it. I should go.”
“Don’t forget to phone Indigo,” I remind her before hanging up.
I pocket my phone. When I saunter into the hallway, Cash, Dylan, Fender, and Jett are waiting for me.
“Why are you smiling?” Jett narrows his eyes on me. “Have you been drinking in there?” He leans close to sniff my breath. “No alcohol.”
“Maybe he wasn’t alone,” Cash suggests, and I scowl. I’m not cheating on Mercy. She deserves better than a man who cheats the second he’s away from home.
Dylan grins. “I bet he’s been talking to Mercy.” Fender grunts. “Fender agrees.”
“Don’t we need to get on stage?” I walk away, but they follow me.
“He was definitely on the phone with Mercy,” Cash says. “Indigo is going to love this.”
“Virginia, too,” Dylan adds.
“I don’t love this,” Jett grumbles. “We have a pact.”
I’m not breaking our pact to not fall in love but I can hardly tell Jett the truth. The whole point of this charade is to get the band off my back. I may have gotten them off my back about drinking but now they won’t stop bugging me about my girlfriend. Having bandmates is exhausting.
I shrug. “Be happy you won our bet.”
“What bet?” Aurora asks as she rushes toward us. “Never mind. You’re on in five. Are you ready?”
“Someone’s bossy,” Jett whispers.
“I heard you.” Aurora glares at him as she herds us toward the stage. She stops me with a hand on my wrist. “I’m happy for you, Gibson. Mercy sounds wonderful.”
“She is.”
I nearly stumble when I realize I’m not lying. Mercy is wonderful. She’ll make someone a wonderful wife some day.
But not me. I like her. Enjoy her company. Enjoy having a laugh with her. Nothing more. I am not falling for her. I can’t chance it.