22. Wren
Charlie came back.
The lights had barely come back up after the final encore, with Sabrina and I still riding the wild high that seeing only Black Kite live on stage for over ninety minutes could give us, when he was suddenly there, all broody muscles and shaved head, eyeing up the crowd like he was picking horses at a race.
One by one, he selected them, each woman receiving an intense inspection before she was either selected or dismissed, and I watched as he chose ten of the most beautiful, most glamorous women I’d ever laid eyes on. There was no real rhyme or reason to his selection that I could tell, the women representing a vast spectrum of heights, ages, and ethnicities. Charlie didn’t appear to discriminate; as long as they were beautiful, he gave them the nod, and they headed his way like a pack of lemmings.
But then, just as I thought he was finished with his selection, Charlie’s gaze landed on us.
For a moment, he only stared, narrowing his eyes as he tilted his head thoughtfully. I could feel his scrutiny, the way he ran his gaze over me from top to bottom, as though he was attempting to see if I was somehow worth more than the sum of my parts.
I hated it on principal, but at the same time, a desperate part of me wanted to win his approval, as though if he somehow put me in the same category as those other women, it would validate me in the most basic of ways.
I was disgusted with myself, but I couldn’t help it.
For once in my life, I wanted to come out on top.
I stood there, trying not to fidget, and met his stare boldly, lifting my chin and arching an eyebrow at him in challenge.
Charlie raised his own eyebrows in surprise and then shook his head.
“Alright, tough stuff,” he said, waving us over. “Let’s see what you’re made of. Follow me.”
“Oh, fuck yeah,” Bri said, grabbing my hand and towing me along as we followed like a line of rock chick ducklings. “I don’t know what we’re doing, but I’m fuckin’ down for it.”
We trotted out of the main arena and into the darkened hallways that led backstage, the road crew working diligently to disassemble the set all staring at us as we passed. I could hear the other women talking, speculating about where we were headed and why.
“I’m totally gonna fuck Hawk tonight,” one of the girls said, her voice practically vibrating with excitement. “This is the third time I’ve seen them in concert, and I know tonight is the night.”
“I don’t care which one I fuck,” her friend replied, her hands delving inside her tight black tank top as she walked, lifting her boobs higher and squishing them together dramatically. “I just want to be able to tell my grandkids I got me some rock star dick.”
“Weird thing to tell your grandkids, but okay,” Sabrina whispered to me, and I rolled my lips in to keep from laughing.
“Alright, ladies,” Charlie said, stopping before a black door and turning to look at us. “You are about to enter the holy land: backstage at a Black Kite concert. There are some rules you need to know, and they will be enforced without question.
“First, you will respect the talent’s choice. These guys will choose who they want to spend their time with this evening. If it’s not you, tough shit. There will be no drama, no cat fights, and for fuck’s sake, no crying. They fucking hate crying.”
Licking my lips, I swallowed and looked around. What the hell was going on back here that Charlie was worried one of us would end up crying? I slid my gaze to Sabrina to get her thoughts, but she was just smiling like a crazy person, bouncing on her toes with anticipation.
“Second, there will be no photos,” Charlie went on, oblivious to my inner thoughts. “This is not a meet and greet. You don’t get a souvenir photo and an autograph. The talent is off the clock, and they owe you nothing. If you are not okay with that, turn around and leave now.”
“What, exactly, do you think we have gotten ourselves into?” Bri asked, whispering conspiratorially.
“No idea,” I said, my pulse thrumming under my skin like a live wire. “But I’ve never been this excited for anything in my entire life.”
“Alright then, ladies,” Charlie went on, apparently satisfied that he had sufficiently laid down the law. “Welcome to the party.”
Reaching behind him, he swung the door open dramatically, sweeping his arm wide and offering us a dangerous smirk as music and smoke began to pour out into the hallway.
As though a starting pistol had been fired, the other women all rushed for the door, shoving and elbowing their way into the room with the same aggression I’d seen on the men of the senior lawn bowling league when it was all you can eat wing night at the diner. Not wanting to catch an errant elbow to the chin, I held back, snickering at the way they surged ahead as though the room would somehow disappear before they got there.
“Yikes,” Bri said, shaking her head. “Smells like desperation.”
“It’s Black Kite,” I emphasized, just in case Bri had forgotten. “I’m feeling a little desperate myself.”
“Desperate enough to sleep with a rock star?” she asked, eyebrows wiggling.
“Sabrina!” I gasped. “That is not going to happen.”
“It could.”
“It won’t.”
“Why the hell not?” she pressed, and I frowned, rolling my eyes as I looked away. “Seriously, Wren. Why in the world wouldn’t you try to bag yourself a rock star? You’ve been obsessed with this band for years and now we’re here, just steps away from them. This could be the culmination of every schoolgirl fantasy you’ve ever had.”
I laughed, my cheeks heating. I would never admit it out loud, but Hawk Jameson had been the star of more than one sexy dream over the years. As my best friend, Sabrina was privy to all my most intimate thoughts, although I was regretting sharing that information with her now.
“I just don’t think I should have any kind of expectations,” I told her, swallowing the lump that had suddenly developed in my throat. “I’m not looking to hook up, and as much as I’d like to just talk to him, I am sure that Hawk will be very busy making his choice for the evening. I doubt conversation is on any of these guys’ minds.”
“Ugh, you are always so practical,” Bri complained, throwing her hands up in the air. “Just promise me one thing. If the evening does take a turn, and you have the opportunity to explore some of those fantasies, don’t let the moment pass you by. At least pause long enough to consider it, alright?” Reaching out, Sabrina pulled me into a hug, and I sank against her, grateful for her presence. “This is a once in a lifetime chance, babe. You’ve got to seize the day. Carp a dime, or whatever.”
“Carpe diem,” I corrected with a laugh. “Alright. I promise. Should one of the fabulously gorgeous and insanely talented rock stars happen to look my way, I will consider taking things to a more carnal level.”
“God, I love it when you talk dirty,” she teased, taking my hand and towing me through the door and into the room.