Chapter Four
landon
Undeniably, Janae killed it. Stomped her performance into the ground. Her command of the stage stole the show from Cash. When she sauntered out, singing the hook for Cash Black’s latest hit, “Players Play,” the stadium came alive. Every last person jumped to their feet, clearly excited to see their hometown hip-hop princess, destined to be the queen of superstardom until scandal silenced her. The roar of the crowd initially covered the music and her voice. The audience probably couldn’t believe that Janae was back and seemingly better than ever. Del had kept news of her comeback at the rodeo a secret for this very moment.
Confident, bold, and beautiful in her fitted red suit, Janae never broke her stride, her face serious and determined. She didn’t acknowledge the crazy attention and mad energy from the sold-out crowd. She stalked across the stage back and forth, her clear, strong, and raspy voice sending chills down my arms as I played to her rhythm, slowing down the song, and The Hollow Bones followed. Even Cash bopped his head to her groove and changed the flow of his delivery. The song ended all too soon, much to the disappointment of the audience clamoring for more of Janae as she twirled to face the band. Her back was to the audience with her head bowed as if in prayer.
The venue lights shut off for a few seconds. Complete darkness filled the stadium. Cash hurried to the side of the stage to take a breather. I tucked my head to my chest, and the sole blue spotlight focused on my fingers as I plucked the first sparkle of notes to her biggest hit, “A Lonely Woman,” which damn near caused pandemonium.
Red lights hit Janae as she gripped the mic in her hand. She rapped at an almost inhuman pace while bouncing with every step without sounding out of breath. When she finally stopped and held her mic to the audience, they sang the chorus at the top of their lungs. She looked back at me and signaled for the music to cease, allowing the stadium of her fans to sing a cappella. Janae spread her arms wide, dropped her head back, and closed her eyes. Tears streamed from the corners of her eyes as thousands of people told her she was forgiven for her trespasses.
After the crowd finished singing, Janae lifted her head without wiping away her tears, and we resumed playing. She sang along with the crowd and hooked her arm around Cash Black’s neck playfully as he returned to the stage. He lifted her in his arms to hug her tightly, much to the crowd’s approval.
Cash planted her on her feet and announced, “Your hometown girl, the artist formerly known as MILA, Janae Warner.”
She waved at the crowd and yelled into her mic. “Thank you, H-Town, always. I’m back and better than ever. Don’t forget to follow me on all socials as Janae Warner, and be sure to check out me and The Hollow Bones on our limited-run tour.”
Janae took a bow before blowing kisses at Cash as Cedrick began playing the intro to his next song. She danced suggestively to his music, much to the crowd’s delight, on her way backstage. As she approached the curtain on stage, Janae stopped before me. Her eyes were shiny and bright from the thrill of performing.
She whispered, “Thank you for being my knight.”
Then she kissed me. Her soft mouth was pressed to mine as if it were the most natural conclusion to her show. Although the noise level was deafening, it didn’t match my heart beating through my chest. She teasingly tapped my nose and rushed off the stage.
Still lost in the feel and sweet taste of Janae’s lips, I almost missed my cue to join in and quickly recovered. I had to reorient myself to my guitar, and I never lost focus when I played.
I’d also never seen a more dynamic performer.
The five members of The Hollow Bones walked into Porter House in the Galleria area of Houston for the after-party to loud applause. We were escorted to a section beside the golden-lit bar. The cool and elegantly smooth vibe of the restaurant was perfect for someone like me. It was not too big, and dark enough to allow me to duck off into some remote corner yet remain near the action if I needed to appear involved. Black Heritage Night had been a resounding success, from the sold-out show to the phenomenal performance of Cash Black, featuring The Hollow Bones and surprise guest Janae Warner. Champagne bottles popped and flowed freely throughout the area. I tapped my glass to the others, though I didn’t drink the pink bubbly. Del had already asked for water, fried lobster tails, shrimp deviled eggs, king crab and avocado stacks, mac and cheese, and the fluffiest yeast rolls at our table.
In times like this, I could hide in plain sight, surrounded by my closest friends. Cedrick sat on one side of me and Brian on the other. Santiago and Charles buffered the ends of our booth. Cedrick kept holding up his phone to take selfies of us eating and drinking, celebrating our first successful run at the rodeo.
Cameras for the reality show were already stationed, waiting for Janae. When she entered the restaurant escorted by Cash Black and Del, her first hit song, “Premier,” blasted through Porter House. She grinned to wild applause and waved her arms high in the air to her song, making her flowy yellow dress rise high on her thighs. She wore a white velvet cowboy hat, and her black hair was slicked into a low bun under it.
“Are you ready for the circus for the next two months?” Cedrick joked near my ear.
“Ten more shows. I’m counting by the shows and not the time span,” I responded, unable to tear my gaze from Janae as she enjoyed being the darling. She seemed different tonight… still sexy and gorgeous, but mellower and eerily calm. Cash had a possessive hand on her lower back while they were escorted to the bar table in front of our booth. Cash sat down without holding the seat out for Janae, which Del did before joining them.
Brian commented, “Del is excited tonight. His jaws have to hurt from all that cheesing.”
Cedrick added, “He should be. He put us together, and miracle of miracles, it worked.”
Janae scanned the bar as if looking for someone, and her gaze found mine. She didn’t smile, then she returned her attention to Cash and the small crowd around them. I picked up my glass and drank the cool water to hide my smile. I shouldn’t have been pleased that she’d sought me out, except I couldn’t stop the heat that had invaded me since she’d kissed me on stage. Maybe I was just starstruck because although we’d been in the studio together, I’d never seen her perform live. Sooner or later, Janae would remind me she was human and walked among us mere mortals.
The benefit of being sober while everyone around me became intoxicated was that I could observe people in their true form, with lowered inhibitions. My three bandmates laughed and cursed more than they otherwise did. Cedrick became irritable and moody, and I usually kept my distance when he drank too much. Tonight was no exception. Once he snapped at the waitress for trying to remove what she’d assumed was a dirty plate off the table, I knew my time at the party was ending.
I excused myself to go to the restroom. As I walked between our booth and the table where Janae, Del, and Cash sat, I noticed that Cash’s hand squeezed Janae’s upper thigh underneath the table, and she pushed against it. I glanced at her face, and she downed a cocktail and slammed it on the table next to two other glasses. Disappointment hit the pit of my stomach. The allure of Janae, the performer, didn’t mesh with the reality of the flawed woman who would even speak to a man who had disrespected her in front of others, as Cash had done.
After I came out of the crowded restroom, Janae danced in front of her table to one of her songs. Cash stood behind her, groping her as she moved seductively. Her eyes were glazed over, and her gait was unsteady. Although her moves suggested that she didn’t mind Cash’s hands, I noticed her grimace and that she periodically would tap his hand. I looked around the restaurant at the merriment and the intoxicated people from all the free alcohol and pills that had been passed around. Besides the staff, I might have been the only one not under the influence. It was way past time for me to go.
The Janae from last night wasn’t the one there tonight. She’d ended her sobriety at some point, probably before her show. She had been too much of a hit to need drugs at the after-party. Disappointment filled me that she hadn’t been able to remain sober.
I walked back to the table. “I’m out.”
Brian pushed back his shoulder-length locs. “Come on, the night’s young.”
“It’s after one in the morning.”
He grinned at me. His eyelids were almost closed. “Exactly.”
I waved at the rest of the guys, and as I headed toward the door, Janae pulled against Cash, who firmly gripped her wrist. The cameramen were filming. I went to one of the men. “Has he been grabbing on her like that all night?”
The guy nodded. “She seems to like it.”
The other man shrugged. “I’m not sure. She seems too out of it to fully comprehend what’s happening.”
I assessed the situation, and Janae couldn’t even stand on her own two feet. She leaned heavily on Cash, who gripped her hips, leading her out of the restaurant. Normally, I avoided situations like these because it was often hard to tell whether it was consensual. And I hated confrontation. Getting involved in a fight with Cash during rehearsal had been so out of character for me that the rest of the band had kept staring at me as we packed up.
I eased past Cash and Janae to move in front of them as they walked toward the exit. Or should I say, he dragged Janae.
Donning a fake smile, I suggested, “I think we should take her to the hotel room and let her sleep it off.”
“I got her.”
I firmly shook my head. “No, you don’t. She isn’t up for whatever you think she is.”
He frowned. “What? Are you her bodyguard now?”
The cameras were on us, and I gritted my teeth. I could have walked away, but my soul wouldn’t rest. Janae still hadn’t responded with her usual spunk.
I leaned closer to him. “The cameras are following her. It’s not a good look to walk out of here with her like this.”
He looked over his shoulder. “I didn’t make her take anything. She wants to go home with me.”
Too tired to argue with a man with ill intent, I took Janae’s hand. “Hey, I’m going to take you back to your hotel.”
She frowned and looked at Cash. “I thought we were going to your place.”
Cash smiled, his grill flashing. “See?”
I held three fingers in front of her face. “Tell me how many fingers I’m holding up, and I’ll leave you alone.”
A small crowd behind us laughed when she proudly yelled, “Five.”
I shook my head and grabbed her hand. “You can go play with Cash tomorrow when you’re sober.”
She tried to yank her hand free as Cash grabbed my arm. I swung and connected my fist to his jaw. Oh shit . Um… I hadn’t meant to do that. His eyes rolled back before he fell against the wall.
The silence was deafening in the small hallway leading to the exit as I tossed a fighting Janae over my shoulders. “Don’t worry, she’s my friend, and I’m bringing her to her hotel to sleep it off.”
When we made it outside, I hurried to my car, needing to get the hell out of Dodge. The fellas would have to find their way back to the house. I’d never had a fight in my life and didn’t want to start today with a man almost twice my weight.
“Put me down, Landon,” Janae yelled.
“Ooh, you remember my name. While you’re yelling at me, tell me what hotel you’re staying in.” My adrenaline overrode her heaviness as I carried her like she weighed nothing. I ignored my discomfort of unexpectedly being surrounded by people.
“Nope.” She still struggled against me, and I didn’t place her down until I’d buckled her up in the passenger seat of the Range Rover. We sped off past the patrons coming out of the restaurant, including an angry Cash and a surprised Cedrick.
And this was only day two.