22. Kai
CHAPTER 22
Kai
I meet Ash in the hotel bar. He’s got Ferny and our manager, Steve, with him, still teaching Ferny the ropes and catching him up on all our fucking drama, no doubt.
It’s a sports bar, with football blaring from at least ten screens and then some bloke in the corner drinking a whisky on his own watching snooker. I’d rather be over there with him than with Ash.
“You need to speak to her. Alone,” says Ash by way of greeting as I slide into the seat between he and Ferny at a high round four-top.
I ignore this completely. “Good evening, all, how dost thou fare?”
“Kai,” Ash says in a warning tone, taking that ever-present scarf off from around his neck and setting it on the table, but not before mopping his forehead with it.
I shrug and glance at the menu, noting they’ve already procured pints and not grabbed one for me. I need to stick to water tonight anyhow. My throat’s had the slightest sign of wear with a scratchy sensation and I don’t need to give it any ideas.
“Okay, I admit, I’m a bit worried about the hole I’ve dug.”
Steve shakes his head. He’s Beta, and a tall, intellectual-type with maroon-rimmed glasses, sideburns, and a hairline fighting for its life.
He’s never really had that much to do with us day-to-day, and somehow Ash has remained hands on despite handing us over to Steve after Knightley Entertainment took us on for our second tour. I think Ash has a fondness for Nico since he knew both Nico and Enzo when they played together. Maybe that’s why.
Or maybe he thinks we’re more trouble than Steve can handle. Either way, Steve’s always been far more administrative than managerial, but when he appears, that’s when I know something’s serious.
I sigh, and my shoulders let go of the denial they’ve been holding on to. I glance up at Ash, to his pint, then back up. He rolls his eyes but nods. I take a huge fucking gulp.
“That’s all for me tonight. Getting a sore throat I think.”
“Do the steam thing, take the Vitamin C, and rest after this. That’s an order,” says Steve, not looking up from his well-worn tablet.
I nod. I know when I’m beat. “Okay, here it is. Jez is in heat, and she’s our scent match. Over to you, boss.”
“Fuck,” spits Ferny, looking up at me.
Ash doesn’t blink, but his brows narrow like a hawk about to pick my eyeballs out. “When did you find out?”
“Do the others know?” Steve asks.
A huge cheer goes up around the bar as someone’s actually scored in the football. I raise my voice. “No, I haven’t discussed it with them yet. Well, not with all of them. Thomas knows about her heat, at least. He’s already been with her. They got stuck in a lift together.”
“Fuck me, how did I get involved in this shit again,” yelps Ash.
“What?” I ask.
“Never mind. Let’s figure this out. You need a band meeting,” Ash says, taking his pint back and diving into it.
Ferny looks concerned with his hands clasped over his tablet now, but it’s Steve who says, “You need to tell them immediately. Don’t wait another day. I want all four of you on the same page so you can hold each other accountable.”
Ferny clears his throat. I don’t know him well but he’s been around Knightley’s offices, so I’ve seen him about. All I know is Jez is his second client and he’s not taking her on full-time until the first month of this tour is behind us.
“I don’t want her getting involved with you guys, unless you’re all absolute adults and can still focus,” Ferny says. “This tour could be really profitable for both of you, and really open you guys up to a wider crowd. The numbers for the amount of tickets she’s sold via her website really aren’t to be sniffed at. I know it’s not a huge share, but just look what she was doing a month ago. Yes, she was at the festival but the smallest tent, and midday. Now she’s here, with you, on a 68-night tour of Europe and North America. Guys. This isn’t time to fuck around. Whatever you believe, she’s prepared to give this 100%, so you need to be as well. If you distract her from the quality of performance I know she can give, I will have your balls in a fucking blender.”
He says this in the friendliest tone possible. But I don’t think he’s joking.
“I don’t want a band meeting. I want to talk to her alone first. After what I said last night. I want to apologize to her.”
Ferny gives an exasperated snort. “Why didn’t you talk to her last night , you know, the night you said the totally bonkers thing in the first place?”
Ash just shakes his head. “Do it however you want, Kai, but sort it out before we go across to Europe. The schedule gets much more demanding then and we can’t all be fannying about with Alpha bollocks. Get your shit together. Tonight. And stop trying to take your own issues out on her. She’s not Nyah, Kai.”
I open my mouth to protest as another cheer goes up, quickly followed by a crestfallen wave of disappointment. Ash just shakes his head.
“Here’s something you can shift your focus to for right now—you’re doing a live interview in fifty-five minutes with Radio Verve. The station is a five minute drive so I want you back down here in twenty minutes. On-air but not filmed. Got it? Oh, and Kai, it’s just you and her. Think of this as a chance to make it up to her.” Ash stares me dead in the eye as he swallows down the rest of his pint, then winces. “And if you got me sick from your sore throat germs, I will personally beat your ass.”