Chapter 37
THIRTY-SEVEN
Vail and I contemplated whether to stay home or attend the show.
After a brief discussion, we decided that rather than avoiding Sam and Ivy, it would be better for us to act nonchalantly and simply show our faces.
After all, why give the impression that we had something to hide?
So, we found ourselves settled in a plush booth at the venue.
The familiar chords of the song resonated through the air, and I couldn’t help but lose myself in the music. When Connor caught my eye and winked, a delightful flutter raced through me. I could sense Vail’s gaze on me, but I didn’t care as I let the smile spread across my face.
“Rosie, you’re embarrassing to watch. You’re acting like a college girl,” she remarked.
Turning to her with a mischievous glint in my eyes, I retorted, “Don’t be jealous, and I am still a twenty-four-year-old, technically.” With a wink thrown her way, I redirected my attention back to the stage, fully immersed in the music.
I could feel Vail’s restlessness beside me; she clearly didn’t want to be here and was itching to explore the warehouse.
I wondered how she felt, sitting here while Sam and Ivy were on the stage.
Sam had a bottle of beer resting on a stool beside him, lifting it now and then for a sip, while two empty bottles lay on the ground in front of him.
Sweat trickled down his brow, and when I turned to Vail, her steely gaze was fixed on the performers—two people she was convinced wanted her dead.
The lights dimmed as the final song finished, and the audience erupted in cheers.
The band started packing away their instruments, and a few minutes later, Connor appeared at our booth, effortlessly sliding in beside us.
He leaned in, his lips finding mine. His kiss was salty from the sweat on his skin; it reminded me of the metallic tang of blood.
I inhaled deeply, immersing myself in the alluring scent that clung to him, finding it delicious.
I stopped myself, feeling Vail’s eyes on me.
“I’ll be back,” she declared, gracefully slipping out of the booth, leaving Connor and me alone. His hands, strong and assertive, trailed down my thigh, pulling me closer to him.
He kissed me again, this time with a deeper intensity that left me breathless. In that moment, I didn’t care that we were out in public. All that mattered was the overwhelming need to have him close. The world outside faded into insignificance as we created our own bubble.
As our lips parted, I told him, “You’re impressive on the stage, Connor. You have good stage presence, it’s quite captivating.”
“Thanks,” he replied with a modest nod.
A smile played on my lips. “The way you play it looks like you’re telling a story.”
Connor cocked his head, his eyes reflecting the twinkle of the candlelight on the table. “Music is my way to escape,” he said. “I often lose myself in it. Even if it’s just for a moment, everything starts to make sense.”
“Also, I can tell, you’re very skilled with your fingers,” I said, a playful flirtation infusing my words.
A sly grin crossed his face. “You have no idea.”
I leaned in once more. “You were amazing tonight, Connor.”
“Yes, he was,” a voice chimed in, breaking the intimate moment as someone greeted us. Connor and I turned around, and someone was standing there with an extended hand. “Hi, my name is Jet Phoenix.”
“Oh my god, yes! I know you. You’re the drummer for Subdivide. Dude! I love your music. It’s nice to meet you, my name is Connor.”
They exchanged a handshake.
“Mind if I join you?” Jet inquired.
“Absolutely,” Connor gushed.
Jet settled in the booth across from us, and Connor shifted his body, fully facing him.
“I want to kick things off by saying you guys were awesome. I really liked what I saw up there. So, I’ll take a leap here and propose that Subdivide is going on a small tour in a couple of months, and I think Sungods would be a perfect fit for the opening act.
I would love to discuss the possibility of you joining us on tour. ”
“Man, that would be incredible!” Connor could barely contain his excitement. “Holy, Rose, this is huge!” he exclaimed, turning to me before refocusing on Jet. “I’ll need to check with everyone else, but I’m pretty sure they would totally be down.”
Jet reached into the breast pocket of his jacket and pulled out a business card. “Here is my card. I’ve got to step out for a call, but I’d like to continue this conversation. Give me your number, and I’ll be in touch.”
Connor accepted the card and quickly jotted down his phone number on the back of a napkin, passing it back to Jet. “We’re actually playing a show at a secret pop-up location in a couple of days, and if you’re still in town, you should swing by.”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Jet replied.
“I’ll be texting everyone the location on the day of the show,” Connor added.
“Right on. It was nice to meet you, Connor, and I hope to talk to you again soon,” Jet said, shaking Connor’s hand once more before turning to me and extending his hand. I shook it, exchanging a brief smile, before Jet slipped out of the booth and disappeared into the crowd of people.
Turning to Connor, I couldn’t contain my own excitement. “That’s pretty exciting,” I said, noting the joy evident on Connor’s face.
“Yeah, this could be huge for us. The big break we’ve needed,” Connor replied, his gaze scanning the crowd in search of the others to share the news. I spotted Sam right away; he was clearly tipsy, weaving unsteadily through the crowd.
Connor called Sam over, and he approached with three pints of beer in his hands, passing one to each of us. I declined, motioning to the half-empty glass in front of me that I had placed as a prop.
“More for me, then,” he remarked, chugging mine before starting on his own.
“Sam, I have some amazing news,” Connor began eagerly, but Sam dismissed him.
“Buddy, save it for later. I’m not in the mood.”
“No, Sam, it’s really exciting.”
“I said save it for later,” Sam shot back, his glare at Connor intense enough to turn anyone to stone. Connor quickly averted his gaze.
“Loosen up, man,” Sam chuckled awkwardly, clapping a hand on Connor’s shoulder and trying to lighten the mood. “Let’s bring this party back to my place.”
“Party at Sam’s house!” Donovan announced from behind me. I twirled around, and he scooped up Diana, our group ready to depart. As we prepared to leave, I saw Vail walking back toward us.
“We’re partying at Sam’s,” I whispered into her ear, excitement bubbling between us. She took my hand and winked at me. Together, we led each other out of the bar, knowing that this was the opportunity we had been waiting for—a chance to finally get invited into Sam’s house.
We all piled into Connor’s van, and once again, I found myself in the back with Vail, surrounded by cases of instruments. I couldn’t shake the memory of what some of those cases contained—the weapons they hid inside.
Eventually, we turned onto a street lined with identical houses, each with backyards overlooking the river. We came to a stop in front of a house with peeling white paint, its exterior flaking away. A dormant clematis draped along the railing leading to the front door.
As everyone exited the van and headed into the house, I lingered behind with Vail and Connor, who was busy locking up. I glanced at Vail, contemplating how we’d manage to get an invitation into Sam’s place. She knelt beside me, pretending to tie her boot laces with deliberate slowness.
I spun around and took Connor by his shirt, pressing him against the van. I kissed him, sucking his tongue into my mouth, and he deepened the kiss. This passion felt like a continuation of what had been ignited back at the bar.’
“I’m proud of you,” I whispered between kisses.
His hands tangled in my hair, tilting my head back as he deepened the kiss.
I brushed my fingers against his cheek, feeling the rough stubble from a couple of days without shaving.
Slowly, I traced my hand along his jawline, then drifted downward, savouring the warmth of his chest beneath the soft cotton of his shirt.
My touch grew more exploratory as my hand ventured lower, tracing the contours of his body.
“Are you guys coming in?” Sam’s voice called from inside the front door.
I smiled against Connor’s lips as he whispered, “You guys go ahead, I’ll be a minute.” My eyes trailed down to the noticeable tightness in the front of his pants, and I couldn’t help but laugh. Giving him a quick kiss, I whirled around and linked my arms with Vail’s.
“Do you think that was a good enough invitation?” Vail whispered in my ear as we approached the steps.
“Guess we’ll find out soon,” I replied with a grin as we walked up the steps and through the threshold. Stepping inside, deliberately entering a Slayer’s house. What were we getting ourselves into?
Once inside, I was struck by the contrast to the worn exterior of the house.
The interior exuded a curated elegance. Soft, ambient lighting bathed the rooms and the eclectic furnishings in a welcoming glow.
As we ventured into the living room, a large, round orange velvet sofa dominated the space.
Its plush texture beckoned me, and all I wanted was to sink into it.
The walls were adorned with an assortment of paintings and framed black-and-white photographs of famous musicians, while vintage guitars were hung as decorative accents. It was a blend of vintage and contemporary aesthetics that added character to the space.
“Is Sam rich?” I whispered to Vail as we took in the surroundings.
“Looks like it,” she responded, her voice barely above a whisper.