Chapter 8
Chapter
Eight
Tatum
“Where are my lucky sticks?”
“Up your lucky ass.”
“Fuck off, De Beaux. He doesn’t need you breathing down his neck.”
“Why? Because he’s hungover again?”
“No, because he could contract an STI just by being in your presence.”
Calix and Harvey were nose-to-nose snarling at each other as roadies moved around them, packing our luggage and the boys’ instruments into the baggage compartment like it was an everyday occurrence to see bandmates ready to throw down before a tour had even left the parking lot.
“If you two don’t quit it, I’m putting you in time out,” I growled, pushing between them. I made sure to only touch Harvey, but needn’t have worried because Calix took three steps back the moment he saw me.
Don’t take it personally. He doesn’t like anyone to touch him, remember?
Harvey wheeled away, stomping up the bus steps while Calix turned his sneer on me. “What makes you think I’d play along with your stupid punishment, anyway?” he asked.
I smothered a smile. Over the past week, I’d learned a thing or two about the boys. My dinner with Otis had been enlightening, and Cringe Karaoke had helped me find my place with them.
“Because you wouldn’t have to do anything. If you’re in time out, I’ll just tell the others they can’t engage with you. No one to fight with. The perfect punishment.”
Over Calix’s shoulder, I caught the grin spreading across Toby’s face.
“Your sticks are already on the bus. I put them on your bunk earlier so they wouldn’t get lost,” I told him before winking at Calix and skipping over to where Ruby and the rest of Red String Riot stood waiting to wave us off.
“You have so got this. Are you excited? You’re officially with the band!” Ruby grinned, pulling me into a fierce hug.
“I am not with the band, thank you; I’m their manager. You make me sound like a groupie or something.”
“Ha ha,” she deadpanned. “For real though, girl, you’re going to kill it. Don’t let those boys give you any shit. Also, just keep an eye out for the supporting band, okay? Keep to your guys.”
“I wish you guys were supporting the whole tour,” I pouted, glancing at the last bus in the lineup.
Significantly smaller than the bus the boys and I would be riding in, it was clear there was a hierarchy in these things.
Compared to the artfully graffitied monstrosity that declared to the world it was transporting Goats and Vandals, their bus was subdued.
An afterthought. In the front window was a piece of paper that had Blood Dirt spelled out in bold black letters.
Nothing else about the black vehicle hinted at being a tour bus.
My thoughts skipped off their tracks as I noticed Toby leaning against the black siding of the vehicle I had been inspecting, chatting with a waif of a woman in ten-inch boots. Lainey, I thought. Lainey….Something. Blood Dirt’s bassist. I couldn’t remember her surname.
“She’s trouble,” Ruby muttered, following my gaze.
Toby dipped his head closer to Lainey, his hand skimming down the inside of her arm until he cradled her hand in his.
I gritted my teeth, an unfamiliar emotion welling in my stomach, but before I could examine it further, he pulled back.
Sharing a nod with Lainey, he tucked his hands into his pockets and strolled back toward our bus.
“We’ll be with you before you know it, I promise. One more thing.” Something about the change in Ruby’s tone set me on edge. This wasn’t ‘fun-loving rock goddess’ Ruby, it was ‘make sure business gets done’ Ruby. This was the Ruby who could hurt people with very few words if she wanted to.
She held out a small, yellow plastic case.
“What’s this?”
“Something I really hope you don’t have to use. It’s called Narcan. There are instructions inside the box. Make sure you read them sooner rather than later. If your boy overdoes it on opiates, that’ll wake him up and probably save his life.”
“What?” My voice hit a pitch so shrill I expected the local dog population to start howling in solidarity. I couldn’t administer drugs.
“Look, worst-case scenario, get Otis to help you out. I need you to take this, though, because I will never forgive him if we miss out on this supporting act opportunity because he overdosed before we joined you guys.”
I gave Ruby my best mom look.
“Fine, I’d miss the idiot if he managed to knock himself off. Look after him, okay?”
With a sigh, I tucked the box into my purse and gave Ruby one last hug.
“I’ll see you in Bismarck in three months.”
Ruby squeezed me back just as hard.
“It’ll fly. Let Otis help you and call me when you have cell service. I want to be up to date on everything before we join you. Do you hear me? Everything.”
“Love you, Rubs.”
“Love you, Tate.”