Chapter 12
I load up my kit in the Jeep and head over to the club, parking in the back to haul everything inside.
There’s no sign of June yet, so I find my tape marks on the stage and rebuild my kit.
The sound guy comes over to mic up my drums. There are a few other folks milling around getting everything set up, but it’s pretty low key at the moment.
The calming powers of my hot shower are fading, and I’m feeling giddy with excitement, so I decide to get some fresh air and clear my mind.
The sun is just coming out from behind the clouds as I make my way around the neighborhood.
Two police cars cruise past me with their sirens blaring, and I watch as they pull up to the curb.
An officer jumps out to grab an order of hot dogs, and I can’t help but smile. Ahh, Chicago. It’s good to be back.
I circle around to make my way back toward the club, but that’s when I notice there’s already a huge crowd of people gathering at the front door to the club.
Whoa. This is a pretty big deal.
I spot June giving instructions to an employee who’s manning the door, and she practically screams when she sees me.
“Oh, Kacieeeeee. You look incredible , girl. I can’t believe you guys are opening tonight.
This is gonna be huge.” But then she catches herself.
She knows big audiences can make me nervous.
“I mean, The Lost Souls always bring in such a fun crowd, and their fans are going to love you guys so much.” She gives me the sweetest hug, being careful not to muss me.
“Is everything going OK so far?” I ask.
“Yeah, we’re keeping it under control, but we’re still short one bartender.
I’m gonna have to help out behind the bar all night, so I won’t be able to hang out with you when The Lost Souls hit the stage.
Is there any way you could come back tomorrow night and we can watch their final show together? That way we can really do it up right.”
“Of course. It’s a date,” I tell her.
She gives me a great big smile, but I make the mistake of glancing over her shoulder at the ever-growing crowd of people waiting to get into the show. The line stretches several blocks now.
She squeezes my hand as she whispers in my ear, “Hey, I love you, girl. You’ve got this.”
“I love you too, June,” I say, squeezing her hand back as I make my way inside.
Suddenly the stage seems dark and ominous. I’m flashing back to my great escape at the last show, and my hands start to shake.
No, no, no! I’m not going to freak out. I’ve played dozens of shows before where everything went just fine, and I know these songs like the back of my hand. I can totally do this. I just need to keep myself calm.
I steer clear of the stage and make a beeline for the stairs leading down to the greenrooms so I can collect my thoughts. I’m taking the steps down two at a time when I nearly crash into Anthony Von Essen.
“Whoa, there. Hey, it’s Kacie, right?”
His deep, throaty voice is unmistakable.
“I’m looking forward to playing with you guys tonight,” he continues, cheerfully extending his hand to shake mine.
“Oh my gosh…uh, wow…uh, thanks. Yeah…me too.” I’m completely starstruck, and my hands are still trembling, but his amiable nature and confident smile wash over me like a cool waterfall, soothing my nerves as I reach out to shake his hand.
“I saw you onstage once last year,” he tells me, but my brain struggles to compute this new information. Anthony of The Lost Souls was at one of our shows?
“It’s a powerful sound that you have when you play. I was pumped when Mallory told me you two might be able to join us on the road for the European leg of the tour. It would be a fantastic lineup.”
I’m gobsmacked.
But just then someone calls down, “Anthony, we need you up here for a sec.”
He waves to me politely as he steps past me to head up the stairs.
“Nice meeting you,” I call after him.
Wow. On the road. Who is Micah going to play with when he goes on tour?
No. I can’t think about this right now. I need to focus on the show tonight. One thing at a time.
I spot Micah on the couch in our greenroom working through some parts on his backup guitar, and as I walk into the room he turns and his jaw nearly hits the floor.
“Ohhh wow, Kace—you look…”
OK, well he definitely noticed .
He’s staring at me with his mouth wide open, and he can’t even finish his sentence.
“…you look…incredible.” He finally manages to get it all out.
I do a little mock curtsy. “Why thank you.” I laugh, but he’s still watching me closely, his eyes intense.
His gaze shifts toward the door behind me, and for a split second I wonder if he’s actually thinking about closing it to give us some privacy, but he seems startled, and I hear the shuffle of someone’s feet behind me.
When I turn around, Rebecca’s standing in the doorway, and she’s dressed to the nines.
What’s she even doing here?
“Micah, I’m so glad I got here in time,” she says. “They’ve already got Kacie’s drums all mic’d up, but that’s no problem. I’ll just play on her kit for tonight.”
I stumble backward. Wait a minute. Does she actually think she’s playing tonight?
“No, Rebecca—” Micah tries to interrupt, but she’s like a steamroller, and she just keeps on going.
“You better get your phone checked because I probably sent you a dozen texts today just trying to figure out what the hell the plan was.”
OK. I see what’s going on now. This girl can’t take a hint.
“Wait, Rebecca. I don’t—” He tries again, but she cuts him off.
“No, this is a big fucking deal, Micah. It’s a sold-out show, and The Lost Souls’ fan base is a huge opportunity for us.”
Hold on. Who’s “us?” I don’t like the sound of this at all.
She goes on, “I spotted the label guys on my way in too. This is not child’s play, Micah. You need to get your shit together, and you need me on drums up there.”
Wow, this woman doesn’t hold back. I’m starting to see how she was able to push him around, but is he actually gonna fall for this?
“No, Rebecca, stop !” Micah’s raising his voice, and he must have finally gotten her attention because she pauses, stunned.
“I don’t think you’re getting the message,” he tells her.
“You don’t play for The Heat anymore. Period.
It’s too bad that it didn’t work out for you to get back with Triple X, but I don’t want you up on that stage tonight.
I don’t want you showing up at the studio tomorrow, and I don’t want you acting like you’re still in the band. Got it?”
He’s glaring at her, and it’s clear he means business.
If there was any doubt in my mind about how Micah felt about her, there isn’t anymore. He wants her out of his life.
Her eyes look like they’re about to pop out of her head.
She gestures angrily toward me. “Is this what you think The Heat needs to make it big, then?”
Micah’s eyes narrow, and he steps in between us, shielding me with his body.
“Yeah, you got that right,” he tells her, and my heart flutters in my chest.
“Well good luck with that. Do you think she might play through a whole set this time without losing her shit onstage and crying like a little baby?”
Ouch. That hurt.
“Enough.” Micah’s voice is a low growl as he stares her down, daring her to speak again. “Don’t you ever talk about Kacie that way. You know damn well she’s got more talent than you could ever dream of having. This is over, Rebecca. You got that? You need to leave. Now.”
I’m touched by the way he’s being so protective of me.
“Yeah, whatever, Micah.” She gives him the finger as she turns on her heel, marching back up the stairs as he closes the door behind her and turns toward me .
“Jesus, I’m sorry. She had no business showing up here and talking to you like that.”
“It’s OK.”
“No, it’s not OK. Can you believe the nerve?”
“Thanks for sticking up for me,” I tell him.
“I should have done it a long time ago.” He scowls, shaking his head.
“Yeah”—I nod—“but you’re doing it now.” I smile to let him know it really is OK.
He nods slowly.
“No matter what happens with the show tonight—I don’t care if we blow it onstage; I don’t care if you forget every part of every song—no matter what happens, it’s just you and me up there, OK? It’s just you and me and the music between us, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
He’s flashing me the most reassuring smile, and I love him right now. I love him for making everything feel OK again. I love him for reaching right into my heart and making me feel like I truly belong here.
For the first time I realize that there’s something here that might be worth risking our friendship over…something so much deeper.
“It’s true what I said,” he tells me, lowering his voice and giving me a mischievous grin.
“Hmm? What you said about what?”
“You look fucking incredible tonight.” He looks me right in the eye, sending my heart into overdrive.
“I always did love dressing up for our shows,” I admit.
“No reason this has to be the last time.” He winks. “You could come back, you know. We could go on tour together. You and me.”
My heart pounds in my chest as I realize what’s happening. He’s asking me to stay.
“No pressure though, Kace. I know you have to decide for yourself what’s best for you. I’m just so grateful to you for coming out and helping me get the album finished up. So definitely, no pressure. I’m just saying you could give it some thought.”
But just then there’s a click and the door to the greenroom flies open. For a second I’m afraid it’s Rebecca coming back, but it’s one of the guys from the club.
“Hey folks, it’s showtime. We need The Heat upstairs.”
A tingle runs up my spine as we gather up our gear. As I slide my fingers into my leather gloves, I realize my hands have stopped shaking. I catch Micah’s eye, and we nod to each other before hiking it up the stairs.
Just like old times.
Here goes nothing.