Chapter 5 - Cash
Cash
“Holy shit, you weren’t kidding,” Milo said. “We have our own actual roadies!”
“Why’d you doubt me?” Violet asked.
“It’s been a good rule to follow up to this point,” Milo replied.
The three of us were standing to the side of the loading dock where our new roadies were packing up the band equipment for the upcoming road trip. Up to this point, we’d had to share roadies with whichever band we were opening for. Which meant we were always the second priority.
Not anymore.
“What else is going to kick ass about touring on our own?” Milo wondered out loud.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the band name above the venue,” Violet said wistfully. “I’m gonna get a selfie in front of every single show.”
“Hell yeah, me too,” Milo agreed.
“This is it,” I said. “Our big break. A chance to make some real cash.”
“You’re goddamn right,” Violet said, giving me a fist-bump.
Some cursing came from the alley behind us. Milo looked at me and rolled his eyes.
As happy as the three of us were, it was in contrast to the fourth member of the band. Riot had been pouting since the Austin show two days ago. More specifically, because his muse hadn’t returned his phone calls.
And if our frontman stayed in a bad mood on tour…
“You want to talk to him?” Violet whispered to me.
“What am I supposed to say?”
“I don’t know. You’re the one who he listens to.”
I gave her a sideways look. “You know that’s not true.”
“Yeah.” She smirked. “But you should talk to him because I don’t wanna.”
“Same,” Milo agreed.
I sighed and walked around the corner to where Riot’s car was parked.
Musical instruments were scattered around the area and leaning against the building, waiting for roadies to load them into our truck.
Our lead singer was leaning against the building, scrolling on his phone with a big scowl on his face.
“I read the lyrics for the second song you wrote,” I said.
He grunted in response.
“I’ve been brainstorming the beat. I think I’ve got something tasty for you.” I grabbed a nearby bass guitar and plucked a few notes for him.
Riot nodded in time with the beat. “Not bad.”
“You’ll have other inspirations,” I said, cutting straight to the heart of the problem. “That’s how it works.”
“None like her,” he said, staring off at nothing. “I’m telling you, man. There’s something special about her.”
“I think you have ulterior motives for inviting her on tour.”
“You’re wrong.”
He said it emphatically, but I’d known Riot a long time. I could see through it. He always reacted angrily when he was caught in a lie. A holdover for the abusive family he grew up in, probably.
But I wouldn’t say that to his face.
“I can’t explain it,” he said. “She had this aura about her. I don’t even believe in auras or whatever the fuck you want to call it, but she stuck out in an arena full of people.”
I started to make a comment about how her massive cleavage was the reason she stuck out to Riot, but I stopped myself.
Because, deep down, I could almost see what he meant.
I’d noticed Roxie during the concert myself, and I had been utterly captivated by her presence when she came backstage afterward.
That was another thing I wouldn’t admit to Riot.
“We have a lot to look forward to,” I reminded. “This is our first tour as headliners. Our big break.”
“Yeah, big break,” Riot muttered.
The roadies arrived and started loading our instruments. We had an equipment van for all of our equipment, and a separate tour bus just for the band members. Milo and Violet were watching the tour bus back into alley next to the equipment van.
“Look at that baby!” Milo exclaimed. “I didn’t think we could afford something this nice!”
“Violet’s new father-in-law owns a dealership,” I said. “Got us a special deal.”
“Way to marry into royalty, Vi,” Milo said.
“That’s not why I married her!” she protested.
“Keep telling yourself that.”
Violet smacked Milo, who let out a surprised yelp.
Our overall mood was improving as we climbed onto the bus. Even Riot started smiling as we jokingly argued over who would get the big bed in the back, and who would be stuck on one of the four bunks.
As she usually did, Violet put her foot down. “We’ll share the bed.”
“Didn’t think you swung that way anymore,” I teased.
She rolled her eyes at me. “I mean we’ll rotate who sleeps there. Switching out every night.”
“I can live with that,” Riot said.
“You don’t want to snuggle with me?” Milo asked. “I’ve been told that I’m generous with the covers.”
“Pass,” Riot and Violet said at the same time.
We climbed down the stairs out of the tour bus.
And she was there.
Roxie stood at the edge of the loading area, hands shoved into the pockets of her jeans. A thrill of excitement ran up my spine at the sight of her; she looked as stunning today as she had the other night.
But she also looked like she didn’t want to be there, or was close to changing her mind about everything.
“Roxie.” Riot breathed her word like a prayer. “You came.”
I shared a look with Violet, then Milo. We were all equally surprised to see her.
“Thank God,” Violet said, wrapping an arm around Roxie like they were best friends. “I was sick of being the only girl around here.”
“I’m not agreeing to anything. I have some questions,” Roxie announced. “And one request.”
“Let’s hear the request first,” Riot said.
“I’m a graphics designer,” Roxie explained to all of us. She wasn’t sure who to focus on. “Freelance. I can do my work remotely while on tour—if I went on tour with you.”
“So there’s no problem,” Riot said. “What’s your request?”
“I want an actual job while I’m on tour,” she said. “I get that you think I’m an inspirational muse or something, but I need something more solid to tell people who ask.”
“What do you propose?” I asked.
Her gaze locked onto mine, sending a new shiver through my core. She really was stunning. “I want to be the band’s graphics designer. I can make custom tour posters for each city we play in. That will give me something to do while on tour, and it will look really good on my resume.”
“I think we can find the budget for that,” I quickly said.
Violet and Milo frowned at me, but I ignored them.
“Sure,” Riot agreed. “We could use a graphics designer. Right now we’re using some dude we found on Fiverr.”
Roxie seemed to relax after that. “Okay. Great. Now, the questions I have. What’s the sleeping situation like?
Are we staying in hotels in each city? I’m going to need some personal room to work.
Nothing crazy, just enough space to set up my laptop and a mouse.
Then I have a question about the royalties you offered for your next album… ”
While she and Riot got into the details, I glanced at Violet and smiled. She smiled back at me.
We both knew that Roxie’s questions didn’t matter. She was in. She wouldn’t have come here otherwise.
And deep down, I was already excited about it.