Page 88 of See Her

“What?” I snap my head in his direction again.

“Well, I was going to wait to tell you until after tonight’s show, but…” He gets a grin on his face like a kid who’s finally been given permission to share a secret. “We had a conference call with Ron this morning while you were in the bunk on your computer. ECHO wants to sign us.”

My entire oxygen supply tries to escape out of my lungs but gets caught in my throat in a tight ball of air.

“They’re signing you?! What?!” I try not to shriek in the tight confines of the vehicle, inching closer to Jack instead.

“ECHO wants to move forward and do an album.” This time my jaw drops and my eyes widen to their limits. I probably look ridiculous.

I shake my head with my mouth still hanging open. I have no words. I just stare at him in amazement.

“You did it,” I finally choke out.His smile is shy and modest as he nods his head at me, his eyes only part way open, looking at me through his lashes.“Oh my God,” I say, cupping my hands over my mouth, so the words sound muffled.I put my arms around his neck and rest my head on his shoulder, enjoying the feel of his soft white t-shirt against my cheek as I breathe him in. My soul is swelling with warmth and joy as his arms come around me, his face nestling into my neck. This is monumental, and his happiness means so much to me. He deserves every bit of it. “I’m so happy for you, and I’m so proud of you.”

“You helped.”

“Jaaack,” I say on his shoulder.

“Maaaze,” he responds. “Argue all you want. You don’t know all the ways you helped make this happen.”

“You wrote the songs. You play the music. You’re the one who goes crazy on stage.”

“You gave it new meaning.”

“Nope. Sorry. This is all you. OH!” I gasp. “And the guys!”

As if by divine intervention, this is when the SUV pulls up into the city of buses, and when it comes to a stop in front of ours, I push out the door and make a mad dash to its front door.

Like it or not, these guys are getting assaulted by congratulatory hugs.

Turns out,the unwanted invasion of photographers is just one of the adjustments we have to make in this new life. The fans can be just as bad, if not worse. Some of them are downright mean, and some are just plain crazy, as Erin explains later that day as we walk from the buses to the stadium.

The Shock Wave decided to add a song to their set where they bring Turn it Up on stage to join them, and we’re excited to see them rehearse it. We’re walking up a path leading to the stage that has been cordoned off, with venue staff stationed along it.There are fans gathered around, hoping to catch a glimpse of anyone from either of the bands.As Erin and I approach, I see some frowns immediately take place on some of the female fans’ faces.

“Get ready for some serious tongue-lashing,” she says, without breaking stride. “Don’t react, and smile as big as you can. They hate that shit,” she grins. She’s got years of experience with this and I trust her, so I follow her lead, smiling like I don’t have a care in the world.Sure enough, noise and commotion elevate as we get closer, and a variety of colorful words are shouted out.We’re whores, we’re gold diggers, and we’re not good enough for such hot, successful guys. Oh, and one fan is apparently carrying George’s love child.Erin smiles and waves through all of it, making some faces turn seriously red with rage as security holds them back. I do the same, as I’m told I’m a bitch. Before we know it, we’re through the open area and are obscured by the side of the amphitheater we’re walking behind.

“You’re right, that was fun,” I say, sharing a giggle with her as we make our way backstage.

“And when you can help it, smile for the paps too. Not necessarily at them, but when you know they’re there.Looking happy gives them nothing to work with.” Jeez, she’s a goldmine. I don’t know what I’m going to do when the bands aren’t on tour together anymore. She and George have settled in L.A., since that’s where the label’s home base is.I wonder if Jack and I will eventually have to do that, too. I don’t like the idea, but that’s our life now – at least if things keep going the way they’re going.

The tour continues to take us up the eastern seaboard, and I’m looking forward to seeing the shows in NYC and Boston.For the most part, the schedule is busy, but predictable. Predictable in the sense that it’s still totally unpredictable. The guys are constantly tired, but they roll with it. When they’re gone, I hang out with Erin, or I spend time writing.

The shows in NYC and Boston are like nothing I could’ve imagined.The crowds in those cities were bigger than any of the other shows I’d been to, and the guys were totally feeding off it during their performances.Jack’s crazy stage personality seemed to come up a notch or two, and the rest of them followed suit. I’d been to concerts in the past, but before I saw the other side of it, I never realized how much give and take there is between a musical act and their audience. I found myself screaming and jumping around backstage whenever I’d see the guys getting fired up,and holy hell, did it lead to some amazing after-show nookie.

Erin and I have become closer than ever, and she and I have fun getting dolled up before shows.It also gives us both someone to cling to at the after parties when the guys have to schmooze.

While in New York, Ron hijacked the guys and pulled them into the studio to record Breakthrough. It was convenient, and the label wanted it ready as the next single.

Erin had also emphasized to me during one of our many chats that it’s important that I have something, too, besides just being Jack’s cheerleader, and I couldn’t agree more. While she enjoys modeling and charity work, I by no means have put my writing or dance aspirations on hold. Since we’ve pushed through the difficult beginning, I’ve been inspired, and have been working on something not work-related; but it would be cool if it could be one day. I just want to get used to the idea myself before sharing it with anyone.

42

JACK

My girl hung in there remarkably well for the next couple of weeks of the tour. The only complaint she’s had – other than the obvious loss of privacy and meddling press – is missing our dogs and dancing. But Mayzie being Mayzie just made light of it, joking that our next bus needs to have a dance floor and doggy condo. Her goofy, outlandish humor is only one of the many things I love about her, and again, the fact that we got through one of the hardest adjustments already seems to have her relaxed and level headed about our new life ever since.

Late December sees us back home as both bands have a break in the tour. That said, the tour is expected to resume in two weeks after the holidays, and we’re expected on it. But for now, I’ve never been more stoked to just do nothing. Come and go as I please, relax with my dogs, wake up when I’m done sleeping instead of to an alarm, and have plenty of sex with my wife.

Speaking of my baby, I turn my head in her direction when I hear a disgruntled scoff beside me as we ride in the back of the Uber from the airport. She’s frowning down at her phone.

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