Page 49 of Strike A Chord

Though I no longer bleed because of you

“Mmm, coffee.” I woke to the wonderful smell and Marley’s smartass words. “Did you sleep here all night?”

I glanced around as the morning fog cleared and my eyes focused. “Guess I did.” Good thing was it was nightmare free, though I’d drooled on my notebook and my back hurt like a mother fucker. I stood and cracked it when out of the side of my eye I saw Jason reading something. “That’s mine.”

“Dude, these lyrics are killer. Depressing as fuck, but I wanna sing them.” Hard to be mad at that especially when he was tapping out a beat on the tabletop.

“I’m gonna shower.” I grabbed the notebooks but left them with the lyrics to “I Bleed Too” while I showered. The showers on buses were quick and sometimes nothing more than a rinse yet somehow was just the boost the morning called for. After I slid into clean clothes, I grabbed my phone and went in search of food. Hopefully Marley left some for the rest of us.

“Just in time,” the man in question said as he plated an omelet and handed it to me.

“Wow, thanks.” I took the free seat beside Jason. “What’s on the agenda for today?”

“Should be in Vegas by dinner. You and I are with Chase and David, Marley and Nigel are with Rhone. Both houses come with a built-in chef, so I’ve got no complaints.”

“Any other info you need to share, Jase? It’s like we’re getting this as we’re nearly in their driveway.” Nigel’s dry humor conveyed his irritation.

“Well, you’re sleeping in the yard with the rest of the shit for being a dickhead. The first show at Counts is tomorrow night, second show at House of Blues is the following night, then the last night is MGM Grand. We get a day of rest then make the short drive to AZ. Now,” Jason rolled his eyes, “the AZ emails. We’re all staying at Jaxson’s partner’s rental house next door to Jaxson. We have a day’s break when we get there, then back-to-back shows again at The Marquee, The Van Buren, and Arizona Financial Center before heading to LA.” Jason paused, “Once there we play at Whisky a Go Go, Troubadour, and the El Rey Theatre before we head home.”

“Man, playing at Whisky is like a rite of passage for every musician.” Marley got that far away look in his eyes. “Guys, seriously, I’m bursting here.”

“Quit fucking eating,” Nigel nearly growled. Not sure who pissed on his leg today but damn.

“No, jackass, with excitement. This is super major for us.”

“Super major, huh? What’re you, twelve?” Damn, Nigel was in rare form.

“Children,” Deuce stepped in, “maybe separate bunks and a time out is necessary?” Nigel muttered under his breath as he stomped across the bus and slid the curtain to his bunk shut behind him. “ETA twenty minutes.” Deuce ducked around the partition and left us to get our shit together.

We pulled into their cul-de-sac, security already in place throughout the area as Joey, Stoli, Mickey and his partners stepped out of their buses, and we did the same. Both houses emptied out into the road, security was losing their shit trying to protect them from the gawking neighborhood eyes.

“Hey, guys,” a cute little blonde Rhone had a protective arm wrapped around tried to get our attention. When he failed, Rhone released a shrill whistle.

“Fuckers, listen up. Ely’s got an announcement.”

“Thanks, love,” Ely kissed him. “Dinner is in our house.” He pointed toward it and the motley crew that had formed out front followed in a tight, orderly line. Much to my surprise.

“Hey,” Stoli threw an arm around my shoulder. “You doing all right? No nerves?”

“Oh, there are plenty of nerves. Not sure what to expect and it’s way different being on this side rather than behind the scenes.”

“You’ve got this.”

Glad one of us had faith in me.

Chapter Twenty

Reagan

“Um, boss.”

“What?” I snapped at Daniel. “I’m sorry. What’s up?”

“Just wondering what that lemon you just mangled did to you?”

I glanced down at the one I’d been slicing to refill the condiment tray at the bar with. “Fuck.” Tossed it away and started with a fresh one.

“Why don’t you fly to LA and see him? You said Easton would hook you up.” Daniel, always the mediator and of the perfect mindset to bartend.

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