Page 50 of Knot Their Opening Act

Steve shakes his head. He’s Beta, and a tall, intellectual-type with maroon-rimmed glasses, sideburns, and a hairline fighting for its life.

He’s never really had that much to do with us day-to-day, and somehow Ash has remained hands on despite handing us over to Steve after Knightley Entertainment took us on for our second tour. I think Ash has a fondness for Nico since he knew both Nico and Enzo when they played together. Maybe that’s why.

Or maybe he thinks we’re more trouble than Steve can handle. Either way, Steve’s always been far more administrative than managerial, but when he appears, that’s when I know something’s serious.

I sigh, and my shoulders let go of the denial they’ve been holding on to. I glance up at Ash, to his pint, then back up. He rolls his eyes but nods. I take a huge fucking gulp.

“That’s all for me tonight. Getting a sore throat I think.”

“Do the steam thing, take the Vitamin C, and rest after this. That’s an order,” says Steve, not looking up from his well-worn tablet.

I nod. I know when I’m beat. “Okay, here it is. Jez is in heat, and she’s our scent match. Over to you, boss.”

“Fuck,” spits Ferny, looking up at me.

Ash doesn’t blink, but his brows narrow like a hawk about to pick my eyeballs out. “When did you find out?”

“Do the others know?” Steve asks.

A huge cheer goes up around the bar as someone’s actually scored in the football. I raise my voice. “No, I haven’t discussed it with them yet. Well, not with all of them. Thomas knows about her heat, at least. He’s already been with her. They got stuck in a lift together.”

“Fuck me, how did I get involved in this shit again,” yelps Ash.

“What?” I ask.

“Never mind. Let’s figure this out. You need a band meeting,” Ash says, taking his pint back and diving into it.

Ferny looks concerned with his hands clasped over his tablet now, but it’s Steve who says, “You need to tell them immediately. Don’t wait another day. I want all four of you on the same page so you can hold each other accountable.”

Ferny clears his throat. I don’t know him well but he’s been around Knightley’s offices, so I’ve seen him about. All I know is Jez is his second client and he’s not taking her on full-time until the first month of this tour is behind us.

“I don’t want her getting involved with you guys, unless you’re all absolute adults and can still focus,” Ferny says. “This tour could be really profitable for both of you, and really open you guys up to a wider crowd. The numbers for the amount of tickets she’s sold via her website really aren’t to be sniffed at. I know it’s not a huge share, but just look what she was doing a month ago. Yes, she was at the festival but the smallest tent, and midday. Now she’s here, with you, on a 68-night tour of Europe and North America. Guys. This isn’t time to fuck around. Whatever you believe, she’s prepared to give this 100%, so you need to be as well. If you distract her from the quality of performance I know she can give, I will have your balls in a fucking blender.”

He says this in the friendliest tone possible. But I don’t think he’s joking.

“I don’t want a band meeting. I want to talk to her alone first. After what I said last night. I want to apologize to her.”

Ferny gives an exasperated snort. “Why didn’t you talk to herlast night, you know, the night you said the totally bonkers thing in the first place?”

Ash just shakes his head. “Do it however you want, Kai, but sort it out before we go across to Europe. The schedule gets much more demanding then and we can’t all be fannying about with Alpha bollocks. Get your shit together. Tonight. And stop trying to take your own issues out on her. She’s not Nyah, Kai.”

I open my mouth to protest as another cheer goes up, quickly followed by a crestfallen wave of disappointment. Ash just shakes his head.

“Here’s something you can shift your focus to for right now—you’re doing a live interview in fifty-five minutes with Radio Verve. The station is a five minute drive so I want you back down here in twenty minutes. On-air but not filmed. Got it? Oh, and Kai, it’s just you and her. Think of this as a chance to make it up to her.” Ash stares me dead in the eye as he swallows down the rest of his pint, then winces. “And if you got me sick from your sore throat germs, I will personally beat your ass.”

CHAPTER23

Jez

I jerkmy head off the pillow when the bus lurches to a halt. I wipe the back of my hand against my mouth in case of drool and realize no one can see me, though it takes a couple seconds to remember where I am. I hear nothing from the other side of the door so maybe the guys are all asleep, too.

I ease open the door the tiniest crack but can’t see or hear anyone, except Caylee’s voice outside the vehicle, talking, I think, to the driver. The guys must’ve been ready and immediately hopped off, which gives me the privacy needed to slip into the bathroom and freshen up. Huh. I wonder if that was on purpose? If it was, it was bloody considerate.

I brush my teeth, slap on some more deodorant and moisturizer, then grab my shoulder bag and head off the bus.

“How’d you do? Get some rest?”

Caylee’s indeed standing there speaking with the driver and two other crew people as I clamber off the bus. The driver then comes over to secure the door. We’re parked up just behind the hotel, and there are three minibuses nearby. My band climb off one and wave at me.

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