Page 11 of Forever and Ever

We’ve been in Vegas for two weeks, and it’s been a shit show. While the production team works on designing their tour, the band has been trying to find their rhythm again. But it’s a fractured mess, to say the least. It’s almost as if the band’s never played with each other before, and since I’m new to the crew I’m not sure if this is normal after every break or if they’ve officially lost their spark.

“I’m aware of what song it wassupposedto be.” Adrian steps onto the stage. “It sounded like shit. Do I need to pull the plug on this whole thing?”

Sebastian shakes his head like he’s not taking Adrian’s threats seriously.

“Do whatever the fuck you want, man.” Sebastian sets his microphone down and laughs as he walks off the stage. “I’ll be in my hotel room. I’m over this shit.”

He disappears, and I’m surprised they all let him. No one says anything, even though Eloise’s heated gaze has a whole silent conversation with the back of Sebastian’s head as she watches him walk away.

“Take a break,” Adrian tells the rest of them, walking off the stage and making his way over to me. “We’ll try again tomorrow.”

He’s shaking his head, and for a man of few words and even fewer expressions, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him so pissed.

“You can head out too, Merry.” He gathers a stack of papers from the seat next to me. “We’ll resume this shit show when they’ve gotten some rest.”

“You think that’s what they’re actually going to do right now?” I raise an eyebrow. “Rest?”

He lets out a deep sigh. “Who fucking knows anymore.”

“Rock stars,” I say, under my breath, watching them all walking off the stage laughing at something Rome said like this is any other day.

“You get used to it.” Adrian takes a seat next to me and stretches out.

In the few weeks I’ve worked for the band, I’ve started to learn their dynamic, and I’m not sure how Adrian puts up with it. He seems to be the sole reason they’re still together, the glue that keeps them in place. And what pisses me off is that none of them seem to appreciate it.

“They’re lucky to have you,” I say to Adrian, grabbing my bag and standing up.

“Tell them that.”

I dip my chin down and look up at him. “Oh, I do. Repeatedly. I’d be happy to rough them up a little if you think that would help.”

“Tempting.” Adrian grins. “But knowing the guys, they’d enjoy it too damn much.”

I can’t help but laugh because he’s probably right.

Adrian stands up and grabs his things as the rest of the crew starts to empty the stage. “Go enjoy a long night off, it’s Vegas after all. We’ll pick back up tomorrow. And with any luck, they won’t make our ears bleed.”

“And what about you?”

“Tonight, I’m over it. Fuck them. I’d rather not know whatever shit they’re about to get into, so I’m going to bed.”

“Understood, boss,” I say. “Enjoy ignorance.”

Adrian nods and walks away, looking like he could use a month of rest and it still wouldn’t be enough. His job is no joke, with the band continually forcing him to clean up their shit. And it doesn’t help that Adrian doesn’t seem to know how to blow off steam like the rest of them. For the manager of the biggest rock band in the country, he doesn’t party much.

Unlike me.

Even if the band can be insufferable, and babysitting rock stars is a massive headache, I reap the benefits by joining them when I need to let loose. If I have to put up with their bullshit, you better believe I’ll be enjoying the perks as well.

I’m not sure what I was thinking bringing heels to Vegas because there’s too much walking involved to wear them. Instead, I swap them for boots and decide that at least they add a little edge to my skintight black minidress.

The nice thing about Vegas is you can wear next to nothing and still appear fully covered depending on the scene you’re hanging out in.

Hitting the lobby button on the elevator, I lean back and start swiping through my texts. Still nothing from my parents. Apparently, they’re intent on not speaking to me until I decide I’ve made a huge mistake and head back to college.

Too bad that’s not going to happen. I’m twenty-three and going to live my life. Staying in Seattle and chasing a career I don’t care about would be torture.

The doors are about to close when a hand slides between them. Slowly, they peel open to reveal Noah standing there with a smirk on his face. He steps inside, but not before scanning me from head to toe.

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