Chapter Seven #2
“It’s okay to have a crush on someone, Ice. Proves you have a heart in that chest of yours. You don’t know when you’ll see her again, though. Do you have a way to talk to her when you’re not on security detail?” he asks me as Ruby starts to sing once again.
“We exchanged numbers earlier when we took our pictures,” I tell him as I look back out over the stage and see Noah watching us from across the expanse.
He’s got a smirk on his face and I know he realizes what everyone else has.
“I’m not gonna use it when I’m not workin’ security.
If Ruby needs somethin’ when I’m on guard, I’ll respond.
Otherwise, it will just be a number in my phone. ”
“Don’t be like that, Ice. She could be the one for you and you’re not gonna give it a shot?” he questions me in a more serious tone.
“No. She’s a fuckin’ rock goddess and I’m just the manager of a strip club. We won’t work ever,” I state because I know it’s the truth. I’m nothing more than a member of her security detail for the current show.
“I’m tellin’ ya like I told Judge when he was pullin’ all that shit with Wren, pull your head outta your ass and man the fuck up.
Don’t let her status ruin what could be amazin’ between the two of you.
She was flirtin’ with you earlier from what I could see.
That girl responds to you the same way you do her,” he says before moving back to his original position so we can watch different angles of the performance.
I think about his words and realize he’s right.
Ruby and I definitely respond to one another, but it’s not worth the heartache that will happen because we don’t ever see one another.
I’ve been around long enough to realize the distance will put a strain on any relationship we try to have with one another.
No, I can’t see into the future and tell what would happen between the two of us, but I know without a doubt the fame and attention would bother me.
No, I’m not insecure as a man and have a feeling Ruby would remain loyal to any man she’s with regardless of if he’s on the road with her or not.
However, I’m also man enough to admit that as a man, I don’t want a bunch of overgrown apes staring at my girl when I’m thousands of miles away from her and can’t do anything to protect her.
It’s better if nothing happens between the two of us and we remain the way we are now—me as a member of her security detail and nothing more than that.
Memphis comes up on stage for the last song of the night and I watch as they have the same chemistry as the night before.
They’re electric together and I wouldn’t blame Ruby for being with him.
The two of them are closer than I’ve ever seen another duo on stage.
Ruby and Memphis play off of one another and sing to the other one like no one else in the world exists except the two of them.
It’s exactly what Jagger wanted to happen as I look across the stage and see him standing by Noah with the largest smile on his face.
When Memphis leaves the stage, Ruby says a few words to thank the fans for coming out and attending the festival.
She waves, blows the crowd kisses, and then slowly walks away as Death and I take up each side of her to walk down the steps where the rest of the team waits for us.
Jagger is also included tonight as he wraps Ruby up in a huge hug.
“That was better than last night, Ruby. Are you gonna see the fans tonight or go straight to the bus?” Jagger questions her as we begin to walk away from the stage and toward the buses.
“I’ll see the fans as always. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have the career I do today.
If I can give them a few minutes of my time, it’s worth it to see the smiles on their faces and hear a few words from them.
Has anyone checked on Nora and Bridger?” she returns, her smile vanishing as she asks about her friend.
“They’re good. Bridger just went back to sleep for her and she’s resting. The doctor was here to check on her and she’ll be okay. She told me she was gonna cook for the two of you so you could enjoy dinner together,” Jagger answers her as Ruby starts to laugh.
“Am I gonna have a bus left standing when I return if she cooks?” she asks as her regular team starts to laugh.
“We’ll have to see. I did send some food over so maybe she won’t cook,” Noah tells her when he finally stops laughing for a few seconds.
We all follow Ruby to the waiting fans. She takes pictures, signs autographs, and exchanges a few words with each fan waiting to meet her.
Ruby truly takes the time to make each person feel special in one way or another.
I’ve never seen anything like it before.
It doesn’t matter if she’s meeting fans like this or holding a meet and greet event.
Ruby gives each fan every ounce of herself and doesn’t hold back.
I can see how exhausted she is as she slowly makes her way down the line.
By the time Ruby’s done, she’s unsteady on her feet as we all move in closer so she doesn’t fall.
Noah, Death, and myself surround her as we rush her back to the bus.
I hear Jagger calling the doctor he keeps on staff and tells him to get to the buses so she can be examined.
This week seems to have been too much for her.
Or she really does need a longer break than what she’s had.
Jagger really needs to listen to her or she’ll get sick and won’t be able to perform even if she remains headlining for Wicked Angels.