Page 92 of Down Beat

THIRTY-FOUR

Tabitha

“Wait” - Earshot

I have never, hand to my heart, in my goddamn life stepped into a place as swanky as this. There is glass absolutely everywhere. And if it’s not glass, it’s crystal. And if it’s not crystal, then it’s shiny, reflective brass that’s been polished to within an inch of its existence.

This is how the other half live. And no, I don’t mean the guys from Dark Tide, because they’re simply enjoying the illusion as much as I am while they’re here. I mean the fact that to the right of reception is row upon row of private boxes marked “Residents.”

Holy. Shit.

“You okay?” Rey smiles down at me while I scoop my jaw off the floor.

“This place is… I mean.…” I chuckle. “I literally have no words.”

“It’s one of the better ones.” He shrugs and heads for the bank of lifts where Rick already waits for a car.

One of the better ones. My apartment would fit inside this lobby.

I’m so out of my depth. My phone chimes in my pocket as I make my way over to the men.

K: You made it okay? I’m sorry, babe.

“Kendall,” I explain when Rey looks down at my phone.

T: Already forgiven. We made it. I’m so in over my head. This isn’t my world.

K: You’ll do fine. Just be yourself. Ring me later.

She signs off with a heart emoticon. I kill the screen and pocket the phone again as our ride arrives.

The doors slide open, and I’m reflected back at myself in all my hobo glory. I opted for comfortable since it was such an early flight, but now I’m reconsidering my previously “cute and casual” leggings and Ugg boots.

“I’m a goddamn hot mess,” I moan as we pile into the lift.

Rick ushers another guest out when they try to join, and then shuts the doors. He punches the button for one of the upper floors and steps back.

“You look fine.” Rey slings his arm around my shoulder and pulls me in. “Don’t panic.”

Yeah. I’m only being reintroduced to a group of guys I’ve spent barely a few hours with as the girl who’s on the tour to keep their lead singer in check. No pressure. None at all.

The lift doors open onto a hallway that’s wide enough to drive a freaking car down. Rick hesitates outside the lift and passes my luggage to Rey.

“I’ll see you downstairs in thirty and we’ll head over to rehearsal. I’ve told Toby you’re on your way.”

“Sure.” Rey gives him a nod, and then steers me in the opposite direction.

I stand perfectly still, hands folded before me, while he sets my things down outside what I assume is their suite, and pulls the key card from his wallet. “Fuckers better have tidied up before they left.”

I gesture to my current state of dress. “I’m not exactly high maintenance, so I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

He gives me a smile, and then pushes the door open.

I want to live here.

The enormous room is decorated more like a private residence than a hotel suite. Did they hire one of the empty apartments? Is that the level of pull you get being a globally recognized name?

No cliché TV mounted on the wall over a built-in shelf for your suitcase here. Nope. The large spacious living area looks out over a balcony that boasts an incredible view of the city below. The kitchen area is tucked away to the right, behind a wall so it’s not the first thing you see when you walk in. And leading off the main area are one, two, three, four rooms.

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