Chapter 4 – Malcolm #2
“I can do that.” I smirk and wink at Lumen. “Enjoy the show, Lulu.”
I don’t see Lumen after the show, and it’s kind of a bummer. Between the meet and greet and interviews with the press, there’s no time for me to search for her before we’re crammed onto the buses.
The trip from Atlanta to Savannah takes all damn night, since we didn’t get going until late.
Next time we visit Savannah, I want to get off the bus and spend some time touring the city. We did during our first tour, but that feels like a million years ago, and we’re only in town for a night this time.
I spend most of the early afternoon learning the layout of the venue.
There’s no practice room here, so the sound check will be on the main stage. The venue we’re at tonight is larger than some we’ve played in so far, but smaller than the amphitheaters and stadiums the label has booked for later on in the tour.
Benji told us this place holds just under five-thousand people. It’s going to be a shock for Tangled Desires. That’s significantly more people than they’ve played in front of yet, but it’s small compared to some of the shows we’ve done in the past.
Sometimes I prefer the smaller venues because it feels more intimate. There really is nothing like playing for thirty-thousand screaming fans, though.
No matter how many times I circle the building, I don’t run into Lumen, and it’s starting to annoy me.
I’m anxious and bored, which devolves into lingering outside Tangled Desires’ bus.
That also doesn’t magically produce the tiny woman.
Fine.
She’s probably five-four or five-five, but that’s like a foot shorter than me.
While I’ve always had an affinity for blondes, I love how her eyes stand out compared to her dark hair. They’re light bluish-gray with green specks, and I can’t wait to see if they change based on what she’s wearing.
I’m still not sure what her scent means, but it has to mean something.
It’s sweet and fruity, but there’s this electric undertone that I’ve never smelled before on another human being.
It’s stormy and chaotic.
That makes no sense.
I don’t even know if she’s an omega. It’s rare that I can’t pick out someone’s designation after smelling them, but either way, it doesn’t matter.
She’s all I can focus on.
The itchy ache under my skin tells me the only thing that will lessen my misery is being close to her.
Tangled Desires shows up to practice, and I can feel my forehead wrinkle.
She’s not with them.
Why isn’t she with them?
It’s not creepy at all that I’ve paced this entire venue bare trying to find her.
I’m obviously just a concerned citizen.
Not a stalker.
“Yo, man,” Theo says, swaggering his way over and holding out a hand. “My girl said you stepped in last night when security got handsy.”
“Yeah.” I slap his hand and nod.
It’s a battle not to bring up how handsy I’ve seen him getting with some of the groupies when Lumen isn’t around.
It’s a fine line, and I get that.
It’s a balancing act between keeping the fans happy while setting boundaries. They want to feel like they have a real chance at bagging a rock star, but that doesn’t mean we’re under any obligation to fuck them.
I haven’t seen him fully cross the line.
For Lumen’s sake, I hope I’m wrong about him, but I don’t think I am.
“I just wanted to say thank you,” Theo says as his bandmates file past us to head out onto the stage to practice.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask where she is, but that wouldn’t be very covert.
It’s also hard not to ask why he hasn’t gotten her a full-time bodyguard. Last night should have been a wake-up call, and if he doesn’t do something to secure her safety soon, I’ll bring it up.
“No problem.” I nod, shoving off the wall and meandering back toward the greenroom Liminal was given.
I barely slept last night, and it’s starting to catch up with me.
I come around the corner and jolt.
Riser quirks a brow as his dark brown waves fall over his forehead.
I swipe a hand at him and continue down the hallway.
“What has you so jumpy?” he asks, following me without mercy. “Did you sleep last night?”
If Kincaid is Dad, Riser is Mom.
Kincaid is just a straight-up bossy dick, while Riser is calmer and more nurturing while also trying to parent my ass.
I miss Drew.
They were so focused on him that I was able to slide under the radar for years. They party too, and it’s starting to piss me off that they like to gang up on me.
Neither one of them is perfect, and I don’t say shit about their faults.
“We have three more shows before we get a night off,” he says conversationally. “Now isn’t the time to go on a bender.”
“Pot, meet kettle.” I spin around, flipping him off with both hands.
“You’re in a mood,” he says, as calm as ever. “Likely from the lack of sleep.”
I shake my head, turning and stomping off. Every member of the band did lines before the show last night. It’s expected in the industry because we have to rock out on stage for just shy of two hours. Then have the energy to give interviews, meet fans, and take pictures.
Tennyson and Parish bumped up before the meet and greet, but he’s not all over either of their asses.
They were bouncing around the bus all night while I was trying to sleep. I tried, but I couldn’t force my mind to shut down, and all I could think about was Lumen.
Goddammit.
Maybe I am losing it.