Chapter 7
Alice
Of course the show didn’t go off without a hitch—they rarely ever do. We had a few slow lighting cues when Chase went off script. He liked to talk and banter with the crowd, and you couldn’t predict that kinda thing. Something a poor lighting tech was learning firsthand.
I always spent the concert standing offstage. I couldn’t gawk at the show or daydream about it being me one day. My job was to anticipate Noah’s needs before he even realized them. At about the two-thirds mark, I swooped in to hand off another set of sticks in one smooth motion. It was beautiful.
But not really something I could crow about to anyone. No one really got it. It sounded ridiculous when I said it out loud, but it felt like poetry. So smoothly done and just…perfect.
I was damn good at my job. And proud of it.
I was grinning as the guys took the stage for their encore. Music pulsed through the arena. It felt like my heartbeat. The music of my soul. I loved every minute of it.
“Thank you for worshipping with the Tin Gods tonight, Las Vegas!” Chase shouted over the roaring crowd. “We love you!”
And I felt a loss when the guys bowed before bolting from the stage.
It was over.
And now the real work began.
I stayed in the wings, letting the talent pass by, while most of the crowd lined up to exit the arena. A buzz still thrummed through the huge space, but it was nothing like the excitement of the show. This was more like a small aftershock following a body rocking orgasm. Still fun, just not as much fun.
I laughed slightly at the thought. When was my last man-induced orgasm? That guitarist, when he first got to Vegas months ago, Axel Harris. His band was shit, but that man had crazy fingering skills. Maybe I should call him—
“Are you coming to the afterparty?” Lark asked in a huff as she popped up next to me, ripping me out of my sex daydream. Sweat streamed along her temples, but otherwise, she looked as gorgeous and put together as she had when I saw her a few hours ago.
“Yeah. I just have to tear down. No show tomorrow, you know.”
“Of course. I’ll see you at the club. Bailey’s meeting us too.”
“Great!” I called at her already retreating back.
Shaking my head, I turned to the stage and started boxing up equipment. I had most of it loaded up on a cart when I got the sensation of someone standing behind me.
Whirling around, I blinked in surprise at Grady lurking like a weirdo. “What are you doing?”
There was laughter in my tone. Despite his tattooed sleeves and facial piercings, Grady had always given off big brother vibes. He was a guy you just knew wasn’t a threat—he was too nice. Too normal. And that was saying something in this biz.
“Need a hand?” he called loudly.
I rolled my eyes. He knew more than anyone I had to do shit my own way, that I didn’t appreciate that whole weak woman stigma. “No. Why are you being twitchy?”
But Grady wasn’t looking at me. He was eyeballing a roadie moving some set equipment. I turned to follow his eyeline and realized it was Keegan.
That creepy, crawly sensation returned as Keegan paused to look me up and down.
Turning back to my job, I nodded at Grady. “Yeah, hey, would you grab that stand? The sooner we tear down, the sooner we can be drinking at the Sandbar.”
“You know it.” Grady laughed amiably as he helped me load the rest of my gear.
After a few minutes, the noise died down, and I waited for Grady to load the last box. But once it hit the cart, he didn’t turn and give me a nod like I expected. He stood there for a moment, one hand on the box. After a beat, he turned to me and shook his head. “I don’t know what it is about him, but I don’t like it. Has he been giving you a hard time?”
Grady didn’t have to even say who ‘he’ was. I shrugged. “Nothing I can’t handle.”
“Just…keep an eye out, okay? And I will too.”
I didn’t really need the advice. I knew how to look out for myself, and he knew that too, but I liked Grady, so I didn’t give him a hard time. I just nodded. “Sure. Is Michelle coming to the party tonight?”
“Nah, she’s home with the kids. I’m going to pop in and be seen then split early. Family time and all that.”
I tipped my chin at him. “Michelle is a lucky woman.”
Grady snorted. “Yeah, maybe tell her that the next time you see her.”
That sounded like a loaded statement, but we really didn’t have the time to dive into it, and we weren’t really those kinda friends, so I just nodded. “See you at the club.”
“See you.” Grady knocked on one of the boxes then headed off.
I appreciated the fact he left me to finish on my own. So many men had to be the hero. I respected a guy who let me do my thing. Michelle really was lucky. I could only hope to find what they had.
I sighed as I pushed the cart down the crowded hallway. Lord knew I hadn’t had much luck in that area…ever.
* * *
I was too tired to even pretend to be in the party mood as I pushed my way through the crowded dance floor. The look the bouncer had given me when I’d told him my name was still seared on my brain. He’d wanted to turn me away, but my name was there so he had to let me in despite all my sweaty messiness. The fact that I was still wearing my black stage clothes probably didn’t help. But who had time to change?
Lark, as it turned out.
She was gyrating in the center of the dance floor in a sparkly gold number that would be indecent if she raised her arms over her head.
Check that, she had sparkly Underoos on, too.
Laughing, I shook my head and made for the bar. I needed a drink.
Of course the fact that I was wearing all black, barely five feet tall, and not a glamazon didn’t help me flag down a bartender. I’d almost given up when someone sidled next to me and whistled. “Yo! Barkeep! Over here!”
Everything in me froze when I recognized Keegan’s voice. Shit. This was going to be awkward. Maybe I could just creep away…
“What did you want to drink, Alice?” Keegan asked as a bartender stepped to our end of the bar.
“Ah, an espresso martini?” I don’t know why I phrased it as a question. I was just so thrown by the way he kept popping up.
“Make it two.” Keegan held up two fingers.
The bartender nodded and stepped away to make our drinks.
“I noticed you didn’t have any problem accepting help from Grady tonight.” Keegan didn’t exactly shout the statement, but he hadn’t said it quietly either.
Everything in me tightened at the awkwardness of the situation. “Yeah, well, I wanted to get out of there quick tonight, and it’s already been a long day. Hence the espresso.”
“Right.” A stern expression hardened his features. “And it had nothing to do with the fact you’re fucking him?”
I blinked in shock. “What the fuck? He’s married.”
“I’ve seen how you two are. I know chemistry when I fucking see it.”
“Wow. You’re crazy, you know that?” I stepped back from the bar. Screw the drink, I wasn’t sticking around for any of this insanity.
“Hold up.” Keegan grabbed my arm before I could retreat. “Just tell me why. Why him and not me? ”
“Let me go.” I tried to shake his grip, but his hand tightened on my arm.
“Just tell me.”
Blood whooshed in my ears, and it felt like the whole world slowed down. My vision crept in, and suddenly I couldn’t move. Oh god. He was so strong. And I was so small.
Oh god.
A flash of light snapped me out of my trance. Bits of the self-defense class I’d taken years ago came back to me. In one smooth motion, I wrenched my arm through his fingers, driving my elbow into his shoulder.
“Son of a bitch,” Keegan bit out. He stumbled, and I took advantage of it. I slammed my foot into the back of his knee. As he toppled, I kneed him in the face on the way down.
Stools went flying as he collapsed.
Everyone in the vicinity turned to look at the commotion.
I could see our bartender and two bouncers making their way over to us.
But before they could reach us, I bent down and hissed in Keegan’s ear, “Now you know what I’m capable of. Back the fuck off. We clear?”
“Everything okay here?” the bartender asked as he set two drinks down on the bar.
I stood up and pulled my wallet out of my back pocket. Laying two twenties on the bar, I said, “We’re good. He’s just klutzy.”
And before the bouncers got to us, I grabbed both drinks, turned, and disappeared into the crowd.
“What the hell?”
Of course, it was never that easy.
My shoulders slumped as I faced Lark. Her eyes were wide, concern written all over her face.
“He tripped?” I took a slurp of one of my drinks like that would make my statement believable.
“Girl, you’re crazy. We should tell Harper.” Lark swung around, searching the club.
“No, I don’t want to make another enemy at work. Noah already hates me. I don’t need that rep. It’s good. I swear. We both know who we’re dealing with now. It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine!” Lark roared. “You’re vulnerable. He’s bigger than you. What if he corners you in a storage room or something?”
“I think I just proved I can take care of myself. Keegan isn’t that stupid.”
“You emasculated the man in a public place. I’m pretty sure you’ve made an enemy for life.”
I shrugged and set one of my drinks down while I clutched at the other like a lifeline. “What’s one more?”
“Oh my god. Be serious. We need to tell someone.”
“Leave it, Lark. It’s not up to you.”
“How about it’s not only your safety we’re concerned with? Keegan just proved himself to be the kind of ass who will put his hands on a woman in public. What about the rest of the women on the crew? What about them?”
Shit. She was right.
I’d hate myself if he did something to another woman on the crew.
“Fine.” I huffed. “Let’s find Harper.”
“Err, looks like she’s found you.” Lark’s wide eyes were pointed at the short blonde woman making a beeline toward us. People dodged to get out of her way. Harper was clearly a woman on a mission.
Shit.
She stopped in front of me, raised her eyebrows, surveyed me from head to toe, and then she tipped her head to the back of the club. “Let’s go.” She turned to Lark. “Did you see what happened?”
“Just the end,” Lark’s tone was devoid of her usual bubbliness.
I knew bone deep that she’d always have my back.
“Good.” Harper nodded. “You come too.”
And that was how we spent the rest of the kickoff party. Sitting in the manager’s office filing a human resources complaint against Keegan.
I just hoped it wouldn’t come back and bite me on the ass.
* * *
At our practice the next day, Bailey showed up bubbling with news.
“You’re all that anyone’s talking about!” She bounced to my side and grinned down at me.
“You say that like it’s a good thing.” I picked up my sticks and twirled them between my fingers. My eyes flicked over the spot on my right forearm where a bruise had started to form. A lovely little reminder of yesterday’s run-in with Keegan.
Bailey raised her eyebrows. “Chase dedicated the first concert to the crew and then they had to fire someone. It’s kinda epic.”
“That’s funny. It didn’t feel epic at the time.” I scoffed. “More terrifying.”
“Really? You looked so calm and composed. I never would’ve guessed you were scared.”
“You saw it?” Lark asked as she set a bottle of water down next to her stool.
“I saw the video.”
The words made ice slither through my veins. “It’s on video?”
“Well yeah. The club is littered with surveillance cameras. There wasn’t any audio, but the video was pretty badass. He’s a whole foot taller than you, and you took him down like he was nothing. Like a ninja. So epic.”
“I…” My head swam for a minute. The thought of a video going around the internet of me being held down by a big guy made me want to vomit. I didn’t want to think about it ever again. I definitely didn’t want to relive that.
I could still hear his nasty words. “And it had nothing to do with the fact you’re fucking him?”
“Do people think that about me?” I whispered hoarsely. “About Grady?”
“What?” Bailey blinked. “What happened with Grady?”
I looked down and watched my drumstick run over my jean-clad knee. “Before he grabbed me, Keegan accused me of screwing Grady. Do people think that about me? About us?”
“No!” Lark and Bailey both chorused.
“Everyone knows Grady is crazy in love with Michelle, not to mention that you’re not a sleazy ho bag. You’re Alice.” Lark said the last like it explained everything.
I laughed incredulously. “Thanks, I guess?”
“Where’s this video?” Lark twirled an impatient finger. “Pull it up. I wanna see her bring that huge asshole to his knees again. It was so sweet.”
“Oh, I don’t have it,” Bailey replied with a shrug. “I saw it at the club. I kinda hooked up with a bartender before closing, and when we were leaving, a big group was crowded in the manager’s office watching the security video.”
“Great.” I sighed. “So, it’s only a matter of time before it’s circling on social media? Guess I should get ready to be Ms. Unpopular at the venue…and in real life.”
“Do you really think Oasis is going to let that video circulate?” Lark asked with raised eyebrows. “They don’t want it out there showing women that they’re not safe in their clubs.”
“And it’s not like anyone’s sad Keegan got shit-canned.” Bailey laughed. “Do you know how many women he’s made uncomfortable on the tour and at the arena? Spoiler alert, the answer is all of them.”
“Really?” I asked.
“Oh hell yeah.” Lark scowled. “The man is a grade-A ass. No one’s weeping about his spot in the unemployment line. I heard he’s been losing like crazy at the weekly roadie poker game. I guess he owes three different guys at least four figures each. What a dumb ass. Good riddance.”
I sighed. “That’s good. He’s been with the band for a while. I know the roadies get cliquey and was kinda worried about retribution.”
“Eh, he’s a tool. You got nothing to worry about.” A smile spread across Lark’s face. “Expect…maybe you should worry about getting ready for the show I booked for us.”
“What?” Bailey squealed.
I sagged. “Seriously?”
“You know we’re in a band, right?” Lark shook her head at me. “Maybe look a little excited to play in front of people.”
“We just finally settled on a name.” I sighed. “I didn’t think it would happen this quickly.”
“You can thank my sparkling personality for that.” Lark fake dusted her shoulders. “I glittered like a freaking fairy last night. I guess I caught the eye of this bar owner backstage. We got to talking, and he wants us to play at his bar next week!”
“Next week?” My voice trembled as my mind raced. That was too soon. We didn’t have a setlist. How many original songs did we even have? I mentally counted while Bailey squealed and bounced all over us. I shouted through the chaos, “We’ll never be ready by then!”
“Hell yes, we will be.” Lark beamed at us. “This is our chance. This is the first show that will determine the rest of our lives. Just think, this time next week we could have fans. People who come to our shows to hear us sing, who will sing our lyrics back to us.”
“It’s going to be awesome!” Bailey squealed, raising her arms over her head.
This was going to be an unmitigated disaster.