Chapter 7
7
As we walk off the stage, a familiar buzz pulses through my veins. The cheers of the crowd fuel my adrenaline even after setting my custom Gibson down. It’s been less than two weeks since we performed together, but I missed it. The heat from the lights, the thrill from the screams, it’s a high I’ve never been able to replicate.
The satisfied grins on my brother’s faces say they agree. We are never more in sync than when we perform. Grayson keeps our tempo with his drums as Dec and I play off each other with our guitars. The rest of the band backing us up has been with us for years and together we put on a show our fans pay top dollar for.
“You played good out there,” Tim, the sound guy says as he takes my ear piece. He hands it over to Bryce and I wonder how the youngest Ryder is enjoying his crash course in sound engineering. He can put together a DJ set well enough on his own, but if he wants to produce, Tim has a lot to teach him.
“Thanks, man. I felt good.” And I did. Better than usual. I want to say it was the excitement of the crowd, but there was something different about this show—this night. Maybe it was knowing Lainey was in the crowd, but I don’t find myself wondering what she thought of the performance. My mind goes straight to Ellie and wondering if she enjoyed it. I know she was busy at the merch table, but I’m sure she caught bits and pieces.
When was the last time she attended a show? It’s been years, I’m sure. Does she dig our new stuff? Was she impressed by my solo? Some needy part of me hopes she is.
After the way her eyes ate me up in my towel earlier, I find myself craving those baby blues on me more. Something tells me flustered isn’t a normal reaction for her, and I soak that up. My family would call me a shit disturber, but I can’t help it if I love getting a reaction out of people.
And I would love to catalog all of hers. It took all my self-restraint not to pull her into my arms and kiss that shocked expression right off her pretty mouth. I bet she makes the sweetest noises. I don’t think kissing the daylights out of her would not be well received, though—not by Ellie, not by my brothers, and especially not by Lainey.
I’m glad she was too busy checking me out to notice I was doing the same or take in the semi under my towel. Show me an unattached man who can resist a long-legged blonde surprising him in his dressing room, and I will show you a man with restraint of steel. It’s not the first time a woman surprised me in my dressing room before a show, but it was the first time they weren’t there for me.
Ellie wasn’t there to get ravaged. She was there to do her job, which is a shame for both of us. If she wasn’t my little sister’s best friend, I one hundred percent would have turned up the charm. It was hard not to, as it were. The forbidden aspect makes me want it that much more. Call it the middle child in me, but I love to buck the rules. I wouldn’t call myself a rebel, but I do seem to find myself in trouble more than my brothers. I may not be the middle child anymore, but it felt like it growing up with all the attention on me, Grayson, and Declan. Lainey and Bryce were a separate entity outside the spotlight.
I bring my mischievous energy to the greenroom after the show as I lift my hat off to pour water on my head and shake it around the room.
“Damn, Jack. You’re worse than a dog,” Grayson gripes, wiping the droplets off his face.
“Aww, are you saying I’m friendly and lovable, Gray?”
“More like a menace,” Declan answers for him. “Do you have to do that every time?”
“I think the better question is why you guys always stand in the splash zone knowing I’m going to do it. I think you secretly enjoy it.”
“No,” they say in unison. I simply shrug, downing the rest of the bottle and catching my breath before our post-show meet and greet. I know they love it.
“You were on fire tonight,” Paris, a reporter for a popular country channel, says as her partner points a phone toward us, capturing footage for social media. “What made this show better than others?”
“I wouldn’t say this show was better than any others,” Declan says.
“All the credit goes to the crowd. We feed off their energy and tonight the vibes were chef’s kiss,” I add, making the motion with my hand .
“It didn’t have anything to do with your time off? Sources say you guys enjoyed some time out in Nashville. Any special ladies fueling you, or are the three of you still on the market?”
“Who’s asking?” I wink. Paris pretends to blush, but I see the sultry gleam in her eye. I may be hamming it up, but it’s exactly what she wants. Flatter her and give her a nice clip for social media. We’re all single but we try to keep our private lives out of the spotlight. That way, whenever we do have someone in our lives, we can keep it on the low.
I dated around in my early twenties and it blew up spectacularly. And that is nothing compared to Gray’s only public relationship. We learned that vague is the best way to keep people guessing. Never confirm, never deny.
“With the tour closing out and exciting projects on the horizon, a relationship is the last thing that is on any of our minds. That said, we did spend some time with a special,” I say. “Our baby sister Lainey graduated from college and we went to celebrate with her. It’s no secret family is important to us and we try to be around for all the big events.”
I swear Paris’s eyes get hearts in them at my response. Chicks love the good big brother act. Not that it is one for us, but we’ve been told on more than one occasion that it ‘markets well.’
“Isn’t that the sweetest! I’m sure she was thrilled to have her big brothers there to cheer her on. It’s too bad you couldn’t take her on a graduation trip. I know we would all have loved some Ryder Brothers take Hawaii content,” she laughs.
“It is, but duty called. And we wouldn’t trade this for anything. We may not have taken her to Hawaii, but we did bring her on tour with us. I think it’s a nice consolation,” Gray jokes.
“Did you now? And where is this mystery sister? I’d love some shots of the four of you together.”
“She should be around here somewhere . . . ” My eyes search the space. The meet and greet takes place in a backstage area to keep fans from sneaking into our dressing rooms. It takes a few moments, but my eyes eventually land on Lainey. And Ellie. They’re in a corner near some merch bins chatting with a few of the roadies. My jaw clenches when I see the smirks on the guys' faces, as if they’re lions about to catch a gazelle. Nope, not happening. Not my baby sister and not Ellie either.
Any other time I would question why my outrage at them being hit on is equal. I shouldn’t care who hits on Ellie. She is a smart, capable woman who can date whoever she wants. Not that Ronny—or whatever the fuck he’s named—wants to date her. I’m sure he has something very different in mind.
I elbow Declan to ensure he sees what I am. I may be the closest with Lainey, but he’s the most protective. I remember when Lainey was eighteen and one of the guys at our label asked about her. I don’t know what Declan said to him, but he never looked her way again. Declan isn’t a big dude, but his energy is intimidating if you’re not part of his inner circle.
When he spots the girls, he quickly but politely ends the interview. As soon as the press leaves the room, the three of us walk straight to the girls. Ellie sports a pleasant, friendly expression, while Lainey exudes mischief.
“Laines,” Declan greets, sliding an arm over the younger Ryder. “You girls ready to see the bus?”
The three roadies that surround them all take a small step back. That’s right fellas. Not for you.
“You’re with the band?” One of them asks, voice laced in disappointment.
“No,” Lainey says as the three of us say, “Yes.”
The brat rolls her eyes. “These goofs are my brothers.” Her face morphs in annoyance as the men wince, lips tipping down. Men afraid of her brothers aren’t going to do it for Lainey. If they can’t handle us, they sure as hell can’t take her attitude .
“What about you, beautiful?” the roadie—Ron? Jon?—asks Ellie.
“Also, with the band,” I answer for her as she shoots me a confused glance. I don’t have the authority to make that claim, but it’s for her own good. I know what our staff gets into on tour, and Ellie and Lainey don’t need to be anywhere near that. It’s brotherly concern, and nothing else.
I don’t know what Ellie’s type is, but I can’t imagine it’s these wannabe rock stars. She’s too smart to end up tangled up with them. Hell, she’s too smart to wind up tangled with someone like me. She has the kind of intelligence that intimidates weak men. She tends to hide it, but when it comes out even I can’t help the inferiority complex it triggers. I am evolved enough to see it as a turn on, but I doubt these guys are. They’re here for a good time, not a long time and Ellie is no good time girl.
Throwing an arm around both girls’ shoulders, I lead them away from the men and toward the exit. “Sorry, Sis. You’re gonna have to search for trouble further from home. Though, I’d love to watch Dec kick a roadie off the tour.”
“You three are ridiculous,” Lainey huffs. She’s right, but she isn’t going to win this argument. That’s life with three big brothers.
“Get used to it,” Grayson quips. “Now, let’s go check out your home for the next twelve weeks.”