Chapter 11
Still Alice
“I don’t need a hero. I can take care of myself.”
Noah smiled slightly. “So I’ve seen. First with that roadie last week, and now with that asshole.”
“That asshole was my ex.”
Noah’s eyebrows went up. “You dated Parker Webb of Alien Attraction?”
I was mid-eyeroll when the bartender came back. “One water. Is everything okay here? Do you need me to grab security again?”
I didn’t look away from Noah, but he only gave me a little smile like he knew what was coming. “No,” I answered. “We’re good here.”
The bartender tapped the bar. “I’ll just make sure security is on their way back. I think you’ve still got five before your second set.”
“Thanks.” I turned and genuinely smiled at him and took a small amount of pleasure at the easy-to-read interest in his eyes. If I hadn’t been burned by so many asshole men lately, I might’ve been tempted.
Once the cute bartender walked away, I turned back to Noah. “Honestly, I’m kinda surprised you didn’t pull the whole ‘don’t you know who I am’ routine with him.”
“That’s a douche move. Besides, if I were going to get thrown out, I’d rather not have everyone know who I was. It’s the easiest way to end up on the Babbler for all the wrong reasons. What a dumbass.”
“You say that like no one would recognize you.”
Noah laughed. “He didn’t.” He tipped his head in the direction the bartender had disappeared. “And you’ll know soon enough, only front guys get all the glory. Although, that might be different in your case.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Was that an insult? This night had gotten so weird, I couldn’t tell at this point.
“Just that you’re pretty special, Alice. Which is why I wanted to talk to you. If you have a minute, that is.”
“I have to play another set, and I don’t have the bandwidth for more drama.”
“This isn’t that. It’s actually the opposite of that.”
Heaving a sigh, I grabbed my water and settled in for whatever Noah had to get off his chest. I gestured. “You have one minute.”
I planned to mentally count it down.
“Right. I realized I’ve been an ass since Dublin. I don’t even think it was really about you telling Harper about the drugs. Because let’s be honest, I deserved that. But I think it was because every time I saw you, I could see that because of my actions, I’d lost your trust—your respect. And I was embarrassed, so I lashed out at you. Repeatedly. That’s not on you. I did stupid shit. I put you at risk because of my actions, and I’m sorry. And I’m really sorry I’ve been such an ass this past year. It was immature and stupid.”
I don’t think I even got to two in my countdown. I stared openmouthed at Noah.
He tipped his head. “I hope we can have an amiable working relationship going forward. But I’m fine with whatever you’re comfortable with.”
“I—”
“Oh my god!” Bailey shrieked behind Noah as she raced over. “Was that Parker I just saw getting kicked out of here? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I muttered even as Bailey swept me into a huge hug. “He was being a tool bag, so I had security escort him out.”
Over Bailey’s shoulder, I saw Noah’s eyes dart down to my left arm where Parker had grabbed it. My eyes followed, but there was no visible bruise. Yet.
“That was unhinged. Security was literally carrying him out the door,” Lark said with wide eyes. “Are you going to be okay to play the second set?”
Noah gave me a little smile. “Alice is a tough chick. She’s not going to let an asshole like him dull her shine.”
“Noah?” Lark blinked up at him, only now noticing him standing with me. “What are you doing here?” She turned back and gave me a what-the-fuck look.
“I hustled over here to save her, but she’d already saved herself.” Then he tipped his head at me. “Can’t wait to hear your second set. You guys are killing it.”
And then with one more enigmatic smile, he turned and walked away.
“Okay, what the fuck is going on?” Lark shook her head. “This night is so fucking crazy. Are you really okay?”
“I’m fine. Really. Parker is gone, and Noah…” I watched him walk back to his table in the corner and realized he was sitting with the rest of the Tin Gods. They had all come out with their spouses to support us. Wow. They’d chosen a table in the back corner and kept their heads down, and unlike Chase with his indoor sunglasses, the rest had gone for the hat version of incognito. Aside from Noah who apparently didn’t even need that much of a disguise.
Noah slid into the end of the booth and the unfamiliar blonde next to him immediately cuddled into his side, her hand coming up to caress his chest. He shook his head, and she turned away with an exaggerated pout and crossed her arms over her chest.
I didn’t really want to examine how that whole scene made me feel. From Parker popping up, to Noah apologizing, to me feeling some kind of way about him cuddling with a mystery blonde…I half wondered if this was all a weird twilight zone fever dream.
“Earth to Alice.”
I snapped back as Bailey’s hand waved in front of my face. “Did you know they were all coming?”
They turned to follow my eyeline. Bailey and Lark both waved.
“I invited them,” Lark said with a grin.
“Lark.” I groaned. “I wish I would’ve known that before we approved the setlist. I’m going to feel so self-conscious now playing their songs in front of them.”
Lark laughed. “Because you play them so much better?”
“Who’s the blonde?” Bailey asked.
“The winner of the Win-A-Date scheme,” Lark answered. “I guess Noah had Harper pick someone just to get it over with. Doesn’t look like it’s much of a love match, huh?”
I whipped my head around and took in the still pouting blonde typing away on her phone while Noah talked and laughed with the guys, a clear glass of water sitting in front of him.
Huh.
“Ladies.” The manager stepped up behind Bailey. “I understand we had a little security issue tonight. Does anyone need medical aid? Or want to press charges?”
My friends both looked to me, but I shook my head. “As long as he doesn’t come back, we’re fine.”
The manager nodded. “Understood. We’ll provide a security escort to and from the parking lot while you pack up per the contract.” Then he shifted and crossed his arms over his chest and gave us a look I’d seen so many times on arrogant assholes. “In the future, we’d prefer for you to keep your domestic issues outside our establishment.”
“What the fuck.” Lark stared at him with the same wide eyes Bailey and I no doubt had. “Did you seriously just blame that asshole’s behavior on us?”
“This isn’t some backwater honkytonk bar. We at Maison Publique pride ourselves on providing our clientele with a luxe Vegas experience. That does not include screaming patrons who assault other patrons or our security team.”
“You just guaranteed that we won’t be back. Come on, girls.” Lark pushed past him and stomped away.
“Ladies! You’re still under contract,” the manager called after us.
Bailey whipped around. “Oh, you misunderstand. We’re still playing. But tonight’s the last night that Tattered Monarchs will ever step foot inside your establishment . So you can take your veiled threats and shove them where the sun doesn’t shine. Asshole.”
I’d never felt so loved or supported in my whole life.
And that feeling doubled when we took to the stage to the cheers of the audience.
We stood in the center of the stage in a little huddle, and I grinned at my friends. “I love your brand of crazy. You ladies ready to kill it?”
“Let’s burn this bitch to the ground,” Bailey shouted as she placed her hand over mine.
Lark placed her hand on ours. “On three?” We nodded. “One, two, three.”
“Tattered Monarchs soar!” we all shouted. Then after one bracing group hug, we took our places.
In seconds, the bar vibrated with our special brand of music. And I grinned the whole time.
* * *
The manager gave us shit as he paid us in his office at the end of our last set.
“You can’t blame me for not wanting that kind of drama in my bar.” Jon sat back in his chair and gave us all his patented condescending little smile.
Lark rolled her eyes as she counted the cash he’d just given her.
“We appreciate the opportunity you gave us. Thank you for the spot tonight.” Bailey beamed at him. We’d all agreed not to aggravate Jon until after we’d been escorted to our van. I don’t know if Jon thought about screwing us out of our promised security or not—he seemed like the petty kind of douche who would’ve—so we were better off playing it safe.
“So you’ll play again? The crowd really liked your show. And I loved the way you kept pointing everyone to the bar. We sold more drinks during your show than we ever have with any other act.”
Lark pursed her lips.
I rolled my eyes. I knew what she’d been up to during the show. She wanted to show this asshole all the business he’d be missing out on by pissing us off. Lark had told everyone to grab a drink at one point then led a toast. She’d also asked the crowd to buy her a drink since she was so thirsty standing on the stage singing. Eighteen different drinks were delivered to the stage by her admirers. Then she talked up the drinks while she’d taken a sip of each one.
Maison Publique had done killer sales tonight. Mostly due to Lark and her special brand of crazy.
I loved that girl.
“I’ll have our manager call you to set something up.” Lark smiled, but I could see the animosity in the curl of her lips.
Plus we didn’t have a manager, so there was that.
I guess Jon believed her because two burly guys in security t-shirts stood by while we packed up our equipment. They didn’t lend a hand, but they kept the drooling drunk assholes away.
“We need to hire some roadies.” Bailey groaned as she set down the box she’d been holding. “I’m too pretty to do heavy lifting.”
I laughed. “What happened to your adoring fans? At least the ones you were talking about leaving with?”
“They were arrogant asses.” Lark scoffed. “You know the types—talking over us and flexing their little dicks.”
“Yeah.” Bailey laughed before pushing the box inside the back of the van. “I’m better off with B.O.B.”
“Who’s Bob?”
We all swung around and stared in amazement at Noah standing behind us. None of us had heard him approach and our “security” hadn’t said shit. My eyes swung from him to them, and they shrugged like what-do-you-want-us-to-do-he’s-Noah-freaking-Hawker.
One of them waved a sharpie signed cocktail napkin. “Everything okay, ladies?”
I huffed incredulously then waved them off.
“Some security,” I muttered to Lark.
She shook her head. “Hopefully, they’d at least try to stop anyone from carrying us off. I guess that’s the most we can expect at this point.”
Meanwhile, Bailey had turned all bashful at Noah’s innocent question. Unlike Lark and me, she wasn’t around the guys often. So to her Noah was Noah Hawker , drummer for the Tin Gods .
“I didn’t know you were dating anyone.” Noah looked around the mostly empty parking lot. “Is Bob here? I’d love to meet him.”
I didn’t think it was possible, but Bailey blushed from red to purple. She made this little gaspy sound, and I seriously worried for a second that she might die of embarrassment.
But of course, Lark had never been bashful a day in her life. “Bob isn’t a man. It stands for Battery Operated Boyfriend. You know—a dildo?”
Noah gave me a wide-eyed look like he hadn’t expected that answer.
I shrugged. “You asked.”
“Right. Clearly that was a mistake.” He shook his head like he was clearing the mental image out of his brain. “I just wanted to compliment you guys again on an awesome show. I really loved your version of ‘ All Sins Forgiven ,’ especially your drum solo, Alice. You killed it.”
“Thanks,” I replied numbly. It was so surreal. Almost felt like a fever dream or something—all it was missing was a clown lurking in the background.
And then it got weirder.
“Do you guys need a hand loading up?” Noah gave me a little smile. “I’m seeing a distinct lack of roadies here.”
“I, uh…” I sent Lark a panicked look.
“That’d be great.” Lark smiled at Noah. “Thanks.”
I waited a beat for him to head back into the bar then shook my head in disbelief. “Did one of you forget to tell me that I’m dying?”
“What?” Lark blinked.
“Well, how else can you explain that?” I hissed.
“Me? You’re the one who needs to do some explaining,” Lark whispered back. “I thought you guys hated each other?”
“I can’t believe you talked about my dildo with him.” Bailey groaned through her fingers. “Every time he looks at me, he’s going to think about that!”
“Alice, tell us already,” Lark barked. “Hurry, before he comes back.”
“I don’t know what’s going on.” I shrugged helplessly. “He came up to me after the whole Parker debacle and apologized for Dublin and how he’s been an ass ever since. I think I said thank you, and then you two came and tackled me. We didn’t really even talk. I don’t know why he’s helping us now.”
“Oh.” Lark raised her eyebrows. “I think this is one of those amendment things.”
“What?” I gave a little laugh. “An amendment?”
“No, that’s not the right word.” Bailey squinted like she was deep in thought. “I think it’s called…shit, what’s it called?”
“We don’t have a lot of time.” I clapped, punctuating each word, and reminded them of the urgency. We didn’t have a lot of kit left in the bar; Noah would be back any minute.
“Right. Well, whatever it’s called—” Lark sent Bailey a narrow-eyed look. “It’s something everyone in AA or NA has to do where they apologize for the harm they’ve caused while they were in their altered state or whatever. Basically saying they’re sorry for being a drunk or drug-addicted asshole.”
“In my case, I was both.” Noah grunted as he set a box into the back of the van.
The three of us let out muffled screams.
“Shoot, you scared me.” I laid a hand over my racing heart.
Noah’s eyeline followed my hand, and now he was staring at my tits. That wasn’t awkward or anything.
I folded my arms over my chest to hide. “Sorry you caught us gossiping about you. They were just wondering why you’re being nice to me all the sudden.”
Noah winced. “I really have been an ass, huh?”
I tipped my head in answer.
“You should hear some of the things she’s called you over the last year.” Lark cackled. “What was that one last week?”
“Lark,” I hissed.
“Nah, that’s okay.” Noah huffed a laugh. “Clearly, I deserved it. Hopefully you’ll have a better opinion of me here in a bit.”
Lark eyed his arms as he shoved the box further into the back of the van. “I have a pretty good opinion of you right now.”
Was that… It must’ve been the sparse lighting in the parking lot, but I could’ve sworn that Noah was blushing.
Nah.
He rubbed the back of his neck, his arm muscles flexing in the dim light.
“What happened to your date?” Lark asked with a little smile as her eyes danced over his muscles. “Is she waiting for you in your car?”
“You saw that, huh?” Noah dropped his arm and ducked his head. “Nah. She was pissed I was more into the band than her, so she took off during your toast.”
I winced even as I felt a new warmth heat my chest. Noah was into me? I mean, us?
“Sounds like we made at least one fan tonight.” Bailey smiled bashfully.
Noah turned his charm on her. “One fan? Did you see those drinks lining the stage? Try a whole bar full.”
“Minus one,” I muttered.
Noah turned to me with a frown.
“Your date?” I reminded him. “I doubt she’s going to be humming any of our songs tonight.”
“Right.” Noah winced at the reminder. “Or a Tin Gods fan anymore. It didn’t end very pretty. Words were said—yelled, actually. And then she threw her drink, and I ducked, so it went all over Ella. It was a shitshow. I bet it’ll be all over social media tomorrow.”
“Sounds like Ella got the short end of the stick,” Lark said with a wince.
Bailey’s eyebrows went up. “In more ways than one, if she’s still managing your socials.”
“Maybe you need to vet the winner more next time,” I added.
“Or not fawn all over the band instead of her,” Lark coached helpfully.
“Oh fuck. There’s not going to be a next time.” Noah laughed. “I’m not looking to repeat this shitshow. And I can’t be with anyone who doesn’t get my love of music. That’s a non-negotiable.”
We all nodded along since we got it. That’d be a non-negotiable for all of us too. Or would be if we ever dated someone seriously.
“You ladies good to drive this behemoth home?” Noah asked, clearly eager to change the subject. “Who’s the DD?”
I couldn’t look away from the muscles on display until Lark’s elbow pushed into my side. “Ouch. I’m driving and I’m sober.”
“Do I need to ask you to walk a line for me?” Noah teased with a cute little smile.
What the hell was wrong with me? I shook my head. “Nah, I only had a sip a few hours ago. Been downing water since then. Cuz I’m boring like that.”
“She’s our little mother hen.” Lark swung an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close to her. “This one doesn’t fuck around.”
I shrugged uncomfortably.
“Well, all right then. Drive safe, and I’ll see you guys at church tomorrow. Night.”
“Thanks.”
“Night.”
“Thank you.”
We all chorused as we watched Noah and one of the security guards walk to the back corner of the lot.
“Oh my god!” Bailey squealed.
“Wow.” Lark shook her head. “This has been a weird night.”
“So weird.” I sighed. “You ladies ready to roll?”
“Let’s get out of here,” Bailey agreed.
We said goodbye to the remaining security guard and headed out.