Chapter Two #2
She hops down from the stage and strolls toward me.
The giraffe onesie looks almost too big for her, swishing around her legs as she walks.
Her cute button nose scrunches slightly, that dazzling smile still stuck on her face.
It’s confusing. She looks like a kid, but the woman underneath that ridiculous outfit is definitely all adult.
She’s peculiar, whoever she is.
“Us. The band,” she says, waving her hands in loose circles. “We’re not a very organized bunch. But you seem to know what you’re doing, and that’s great. You can keep us in line, right?”
“You’re with the band?”
She giggles, a sound that’s both husky and delicate, my cock twitches in response.
Jesus.
I tense, hating the way my body is reacting to her like it’s got a mind of its own.
“Sure am. I’m Effa… that’s short for Effervescent.
You know, like the bubbles that make people happy.
” She beams, lifting her hands and twinkling her fingers like she’s doing spirit fingers from that cheerleader movie.
“I like to be the bright light in people’s lives.
Lift people up when they’re feeling down.
I’m the sparkle, the pizzazz, if you will. ”
A lump forms in my throat as I stare at her, not sure if she’s joking. But her smile is sincere, and the calmness in her gaze tells me she’s deadly serious.
“Wow. That’s, uh… great?” I say, more question than statement.
She nods and extends her hand. “Nice to meet you, I’ve heard great things. I’m assuming you’re Kaden? Our new lighting director?”
I take her hand, tiny and warm, and it practically disappears in mine. The minute our skin touches, a jolt shoots up my arm, and it throws me off so much that I forget to speak for a moment. Looking back up, I manage a half-smile. “Mercs. Everyone calls me Mercs.”
She giggles again—fucking hell, that sound—and I breathe in deep as her eyes drop to my bare chest.
“Mercs,” she repeats, the name rolling off her tongue like it was made to be said slowly. “Sounds expensive. Like a fast car.”
I grin, tilting my head. “Nah, nothing like that. Last name’s Mercury. Nothing fancy there.”
Her eyes light up, and she bounces on her toes.
“Oh my, are you related to Freddy? Please tell me you are. He’s a lyrical genius, a melodic mastermind, a gifted god…
oh, praise Gaia, please tell me it’s true?
” She grabs my other hand with both of hers, eyes wide and sparkling like a hopeful fan girl.
I wince slightly, already feeling guilty about disappointing her. “Sorry, no relation. But I do love “Bohemian Rhapsody.” ”
She gasps. “Oh man, me too. That and “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton. Oh, Gaia, that song gets me every time.”
I laugh, unable to help myself. Those songs couldn’t be more opposite if they tried. Shaking my head, I glance down and realize our hands are still connected.
She notices too, and chuckles, rubbing her thumb over my skin. The motion sends another sharp tingle up my arm.
“Your skin is really smooth for a roadie. Do you moisturize?”
I laugh again. What the hell is with this chick? “Uhh… no. Just my natural, umm… softness?” The last word comes out higher than I meant, and I immediately want to take it back.
Effa tilts her head and brings my hand up to her cheek, placing my palm flat against her skin.
Her face is warm, slightly flushed, and soft.
There’s barely any makeup on her, if any at all.
She’s effortlessly stunning, and I tense, completely thrown.
I glance around to see if anyone’s watching, but there’s no one.
When I turn back, her eyes are closed, that same soft smile stretching across her face as she holds my hand against her cheek with both of hers.
“Umm…” I murmur as she sways gently, like she’s in a trance.
“Shhh… I’m feeling your energy.”
I freeze, my muscles locking tight.
What in the fuck kind of world have I stepped into?
I’m pretty sure I am being Punk’d.
Ashton, you can come out now.
“My energy…” I whisper, half-afraid to speak louder in case it ruins whatever the hell this is.
“Yes. You have a calm energy, but right now, you’re very tense. And there’s a nervousness about you… like there’s a big problem weighing you down.”
My brows pinch together because her words hit a little too close to home. She’s spot-on, and I have no idea how.
Startled, I pull back, my hand dropping from her face as our fingers finally part.
She opens her eyes and gives me a soft, apologetic smile. “It’s okay, I know I’m eerily accurate about these things.”
I take a full step back and breathe out. “How can you tell all that… from me touching your face?”
She half-smiles, her brightness dimming just slightly.
“I can sense things. I’m in tune with the world and its energy.
Some say it’s hippy shit. Some say I have psychic abilities.
I don’t really know, I call it my gift. Gaia gave it to me.
It helps me sing, helps me connect with people through music. ”
I stare at her, still skeptical. “Can you read minds and shit?”
She bursts into laughter so hard she doubles over, holding her stomach as her giraffe hoodie flops over her face. It’s ridiculous and honestly, a little adorable.
I tilt my stance, annoyed, and as if sensing it, she straightens up, still chuckling but now catching her breath.
“Oh, Mercs, you kill me. No. No one can read minds. That’s parlor tricks. I don’t have ESPN or whatever it’s called.”
I press my lips together to hide my smirk.
“I’m just me… Effa. Lead singer of Luminous. And you…” She steps forward again, gazing up at me. “You are our savior. Thank you for fixing us. I can’t wait for you to make our stage shows far more like… betterer. Or, something like that.”
I laugh and nod. “Betterer… that I can do.”
Effa tilts her head, her eyes shimmering like they’re soaking up every word I say. Then, slowly, she leans in, pressing her open palm to my still slightly sweaty chest. The warmth of her touch sparks something inside me. I hold my breath as her gaze meets mine—soft, serious, searching.
“That’s why I’m here… the peace and quiet.
The calm before the storm. You’re right, it’s here I truly live.
This is where I can be… me. Once the crew arrives, the crowds invade, and the music overruns everything, everything changes.
I have to be one hundred percent on, all the time.
But here, in the quiet, I can just be me.
I like the peace.” Her voice drifts off as her eyes lower, and it feels like she’s revealing something personal, something she probably doesn’t share with just anyone.
I don’t know why she’s telling me. We’ve only just met. But maybe that’s the point. Maybe it’s easier to show your real self to someone when there’s nothing expected of you yet.
And maybe this whole peace-and-energy thing isn’t just a gimmick.
Maybe the hippy vibe is just her.
“Are you okay?” I ask gently.
She glances up, that momentary crack in her mask quickly sealed with a bright, practiced smile.
“I’m good,” she says, her hand sliding up to rest briefly against my shoulder, not in a flirtatious way, more like a grounding gesture.
Then, with one last twinkle in her eye, she spins on her heel.
“Thanks for the chat, Mercs. I’m looking forward to the show tonight.
You’re coming to the after-party, right?
” With that, she then skips off down the hall, her ridiculous giraffe onesie flopping with each bounce.
And I stand there, still trying to figure out what the hell just happened.
“Uh… I guess?” I call after her, but she’s already out of sight.
I blink.
Exhale.
Scrub a hand down my face.
What. The. Eff. Just. Happened!