Chapter 32
THIRTY-TWO
We get through five songs with Melody at high energy and focus.
She’s sitting in the middle of the crowd of empty seats–right where we can see her fully. She’s watching and cheering, recording and blowing us all kisses, being the best girlfriend and hype woman. I feel my chest puff up with pride, and I bump up the intensity.
Can you blame me? I want to impress my girlfriend.
But around song six, her eyes start to droop, her smile isn’t quite as bright, her head starts leaning against the chair in front of her.
“Go take a nap, Reverb,” I say into the mic between verses. Markus steps up to his mic and backs me up.
“Go, baby.” Our voices mix nicely like they usually do, and the music underneath hits our words like a new melody, just for our girl.
She waves at us, her head lobbing to the side as she falls asleep against the chair, and I shake my head before stepping closer to the mic to start the final chorus.
Adam hits the top hat at the perfect time, and Kai turns around, stepping closer to the drum kit to yell something.
“Get her!” Adam yells down, and Kai nods. Immediately the bass cuts out of the song, but we all continue practicing.
My eyes find the wings as Kai runs off, intent on getting to our girl as quick as he can, but Louis–fucking Louis–pulls at his arm as he passes. You’d think this fucker would listen, or learn.
Kai stops immediately, but yanks his arm out of Louis' grasp so quickly that Louis stumbles, and I chuckle. I can’t fully see what Kai says, but I know Louis looks scandalized as Kai snaps and runs off.
I’m thankful I know all these songs like the back of my hand because I don’t miss a word, a beat, an inflection as the end of the song plays out correctly as Kai runs through the aisle to get to Mel.
“Is she good?” I ask, my voice echoing through the venue and he nods, holding up his hand to give us a thumbs up.
“This girl is going to kill us,” Markus says across the stage, soft enough that only I could hear him, and I nod. “We probably shouldn’t have made her cum on The Eye.”
“You what?!” I snap, my voice way too loud as it reverberates through the venue all because I forget how close I am to the mic. I step back about six feet so no mics will pick up my voice when I call out, “Not fair, Cole.”
“Oh, it wasn’t just me.” He gives me a wolfish grin and tips his head back, gesturing with his head to Adam. Our sinister looking Adam, who’s really the kindest of us all, up on the drum stand who just shrugs and twirls his drumsticks between his fingers.
What strikes me as odd is; I’m not jealous of them. I'm not mad that they were intimate with her. And I’m usually possessive, angry, and upset… but I’m… more jealous that I wasn’t a part of it.
And that’s when it hits me.
I’m truly okay with this situation. I want Melody. Fully. And I have that with her. Just because she has that with the guys too doesn’t take away what we have, it deepens each relationship we have within our little group.
We all chat and talk while we wait on Kai.
After longer than I thought it would take – he probably gave her a goodnight kiss and I know I wouldn’t walk away from that a moment sooner than I had to, so I can’t blame the guy–Kai comes running back on stage, physically shoulder-checking Louis on his way onstage.
“She okay?” I ask before the others can.
“Yeah, she’s good,” Kai smiles, the dimples popping quickly and they stay as he thinks about Mel. “You remember that first jet lag nap that knocked you out when we first started traveling?"
We all chuckle softly and nod, laughing at ourselves in our memories.
“Yeah, Melody barely hit the pillow before snoring. She won’t be up for a while.”
“Good,” Markus says, adjusting the strap of his guitar. “Or bad, because now she’s going to be up all night.”
“Oh, that’s really not a bad thing.” Kai raises his eyebrows and chuckles darkly like he’s already planning exactly what he’s going to do when we get to the hotel.
We all always have a hard time sleeping after a show.
It takes us a few hours to come down from the adrenaline rush.
So, if Mel’s…refreshed, we’ll have to take advantage.
“Is it always going to be like this?” I ask breathlessly, my eyes looking at the ground before I look at the guys. “I want her. But as much as I want her body, I just want her . Worse than before.”
Adam laughs from behind his kit and I look up at him with the annoyance clear on my face.
“Yeah, man.” Markus walks closer, playing a few chords that ring out loud and true through the venue. “It’s always going to be like this.”
“Fuck yeah.” Kai fist pumps, and plays a few beats to match Markus and Adam does a snare kick before I chuckle and nod.
“Fuck yeah.”
Forty-five minutes later and we’re all successfully warmed up, all the equipment checked and each of us having run through the warm-ups. I set the mic back onto the stand as the guys all do the same with their respective instruments, walking towards the wings.
“Wonderful, guys!” Louis claps like he does after every sound check. “Showers, food, drinks, show time!”
We all nod, walking off, but Paul grabs my arm, asking me to stay back for a minute to get my approval on some lighting cue during one of our slower songs. After giving him my opinion and a pat on the shoulder, I yawn and mentally groan.
I’m so fucking tired, but I’m starting to get anxious, filled with nerves and adrenaline, like I always get before a show.
It’s such a rush, and I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it.
I start walking towards the dressing room when I hear someone mumbling to the side of me. Half whispering, half arguing around the edge of the hallway.
“Make sure she’s pulled from any and all communication.
All clients are already transferred and she’s pushed out the door.
I’ll push her further, but I want every trace of it legally bound, understood?
” There’s a pause before they continue. “I’ve spent six fucking years bleeding for this band and I won’t have it derailed now. ”
What the fuck is Louis up to? What’s he talking about?
My heart beats faster as I try to walk quieter. I need more information. The trickle of dread fills my chest and I walk closer to listen more, but he stops talking. Just grunts in approval or disapproval.
Right as I’m about to rip him a new one, Paul runs up asking if I’ve seen Louis.
Goddamn it.
Louis' stupid fucking face peers around the corner and he has the fucking balls to look nonchalant.
Normally, I’d rest assured that he’s acting with the band's best interests at heart. I know I can’t say that anymore. And I definitely can’t trust him with Melody.
“Yeah, I’m right here. What do you need, Paul?” Louis asks quickly, taking Paul’s elbow and steering him past me while he does everything in his fucking power not to look at me. I watch as he pulls Paul further down the hallway until they use the exit out onto the soundstage.
“Fuck,” I sigh and turn, walking faster towards the dressing room.