CHAPTER 15 #3
“And finally, can we get a huge fucking hand for the newest member of our Fincher family?” Finley cried out and gestured to Jette.
Her slim tattooed arms waved to the crowd as shrill screams echoed in the rafters.
Jette blew a kiss and ran a hand through her damp tousled curls.
Reese’s throat felt tight as she choked out a cheer.
Without warning, Jette launched into the last song.
The rainbow lights overhead felt hot in the dark and sweaty room.
Sav leaned forward so she and Paulie were both singing harmonies into the same microphone.
Sav tilted forward and her long black hair covered her face as she leaned into Paulie’s cheek.
The crowd hollered in excitement as Paulie unexpectedly turned to kiss Sav on the lips.
Finley laughed into the microphone and sank to her knees, continuously playing the guitar slung across her shoulders as she bowed down to the giggling pair.
When she stood up again, she glanced over her shoulder at Jette and grinned.
Jette smiled mischievously and shook her head as Finley flew across the stage and leaned across the drum kit.
Reese’s ears rang from the symphony of screams that erupted as Finley pulled Jette’s face to hers.
She planted a chaste kiss on Jette’s lips and they both broke away immediately in a fit of laughter.
Jette’s dark lipstick was smudged as she sat back down.
The smile on Reese’s lips suddenly felt fake as the unmistakable burn of jealousy coiled deep in her stomach.
Her ears felt hot and prickly as the chorus rang out for the final time.
The arena felt too loud, too cramped, and too hot.
It only became marginally better after the show ended and the overhead lights pushed everything back into view.
Concertgoers shuffled around them, giving Reese the much needed space to catch her breath.
Mercifully, Lida’s arm never left her shoulders.
She didn’t need to see Reese to know what was going through her head.
Reese’s phone buzzed in her pocket and it nearly fell from her trembling fingers in her hurry to unlock the screen.
JETTE
Do you guys want to come backstage? I’ll escort you
Reese tilted the phone towards Lida who grinned from ear to ear and nodded excitedly.
They shuffled through the throng of people trying to exit the building.
As they turned the corner, Reese noticed Jette waiting next to a hulking security guard by an unmarked doorway.
Jette’s eyes lit up as the pair approached and Reese felt butterflies all over again.
She reached out and pulled Reese into a hug for a moment before turning to Lida.
“How’re you feeling, Li?” Jette asked breathlessly. She gestured for them to follow her down the long dark hallway. They quickly breezed past a flurry of people packing up equipment and ducking in and out of dressing rooms.
Lida chuckled. “I’m totally fine. I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.” She flashed a dazzling smile and Reese was convinced that Lida was impervious to embarrassment. “You were amazing up there, holy fuck,” Lida praised. Her voice was hoarse from cheering.
“Oh my god, thanks. I’m so glad you guys could come!” Jette answered excitedly. She pushed a door open and Reese squinted as they entered the harshly lit dressing room. “Were you able to see everything?” She finally turned to meet Reese’s eyes as she spoke.
“Everything was perfect, we couldn’t have been in a better spot.
” Reese answered, thoroughly enjoying Jette’s silent reaction to her outfit.
Her lips parted in surprise as dark brown eyes widened slightly.
Reese smiled innocently as Jette’s gaze darted over her chest and abdomen and Reese could feel heat rising in her cheeks as Jette stumbled over her words.
Reese instinctively chewed on the corner of her lip as their eyes met.
She could’ve sworn she saw Jette swallow with difficulty.
It felt like ages before someone else finally entered the tiny room.
Finley breezed into the room in an oversized hoodie and leggings.
“Hey babe, we gotta help load out in like ten minutes, just as an FYI,” she announced to Jette.
She quietly apologized and waved to Reese and Lida on the couch before ducking out of the room just as quickly as she appeared.
Jette opened her mouth to speak, but Reese chimed in first.
“‘Babe’?” She blurted out the word a little breathlessly, which seemed to be as much of a surprise to Lida and Jette as it was to her.
“Fin calls everyone ‘babe’,” Jette explained.
“I guess it just comes with the territory. You know, queer girl-band that kisses on stage and all that.” Her tone was casual, but she looked at Reese with sincerity.
“I have to go help out in a few minutes, but did you want to do anything later tonight?” The question felt carefully posed to the group.
Lida glanced between the two of them and chimed in seamlessly.
“The rest of the team is going out to a drag show. Sloan’ll kick my ass if I blow it off now, so I’m headed there after this,” she stated confidently.
“But you’re heading back to the hotel, right babe?
” She lied impossibly smoothly. “Something about being tired or something?” Lida’s eyes flashed as she pouted and pleaded, “Is there any chance I can convince you to come out with us instead?” Reese fought off a smirk.
In another life, Lida could’ve been an award-winning actress.
Reese regretfully shook her head and added, “No dice, babe. I gotta go back to the hotel. I had a late night last night.” She added a well-timed yawn and Lida’s eyes sparkled. Reese looked at Jette and noticed dark eyes were already trained on her lips. Reese’s mouth twitched at the corners.
“Ugh, you’re no fun.” Lida playfully teased with a chuckle. She stood and looked around the room before asking, “Can I use your bathroom before we leave?”
Jette smiled and nodded. She led Lida to a heavy gray door on the far side of the room.
The moment the door closed and Reese heard the confirmation of the lock, she turned to face Jette.
Her tongue darted across lipstick-smudged lips and Reese inhaled sharply as Jette crossed the room in a few painfully slow strides.
“You’re going back to the hotel?” Her voice was low and silky.
Reese hummed in response and leaned closer.
“I didn’t sleep well last night,” she answered coyly as she ghosted her fingers over the damp fabric covering Jette’s ribs, thoroughly enjoying the way Jette’s breathing hitched.
Reese tilted Jette’s chin to the ceiling and pressed her lips to the delicate skin of her throat.
Manicured hands tangled in Reese’s curls as Jette relaxed into her touch.
“Why’s that?” Jette breathed, tugging softly.
“I sort of had my hands full,” Reese quipped. Jette’s dark pointed nails slowly dragged over her mesh shirt and Reese had to swallow a gasp.
“I seem to remember you having your mouth full, too,” Jette murmured suggestively. A surprised chuckle rumbled in Reese’s chest. She leaned into the side of Jette’s neck and inhaled the smoky and salty smell of her skin.
“How long will it take you to pack up?” She purred. Her hands wandered over Jette’s waist and she idly wondered how much time they had before Lida returned.
Jette sighed. “I don’t know. An hour?” She traced the outline of Reese’s belt as Reese inhaled sharply. “I can hurry,” she added impatiently.
“Please,” Reese whispered. The sound of the hand dryer hummed through the wall and Jette shot backwards. Reese smoothed her hair and shuffled her feet as Lida came through the doorway.
“Should we go?” Lida’s eyes narrowed between Jette and Reese standing suspiciously far apart.
Reese nodded and watched Lida envelop Jette in a hug.
Even in her platform boots, Jette still had to stand on tiptoe to reach Lida’s shoulders.
Lida pointedly fidgeted with her jacket as Jette turned to give Reese a hug.
Her arms were the perfect height to comfortably wrap around Reese’s neck.
She let go of Jette an instant later, as though she were only another millisecond away from breaking down and giving Jette a significantly less platonic goodbye.
In all honesty, she probably was. But she could behave; for another hour, at least.