Page 3 of Stuck With My Rockstar Boss
“Are you excited for the show tonight?”
Lucas smiles. There’s some sadness in it, though. “Yeah, I’m… I’m nervous.”
“Don’t be. You’re going to be great. You sounded amazing and I know you were half-assing it during sound check,” I say, trying to keep things light. I hope I’m not making him uncomfortable after how things were left last tour.
He chuckles and runs his hand back through his hair; I catch sight of the tattoo on his wrist, a set of letters and numbers I’ve never known the story behind. “Thanks, Mika. You know how to stroke my ego.”
My mouth grows hot. Easy girl…
“I like the new hair, by the way.”
“Oh, yeah…” I remember my hair was down to my shoulders last time I saw him. “Thanks.”
“It’s cool. Edgy.”
“Yeah, you know me,” I say playfully and then give him finger guns. “Edgy.”
Lucas laughs. He’s got a big laugh, and I’m surprised I haven’t heard it sooner. “I’m gonna head backstage and go over some stuff with Dylan. I’ll see you at call, hm?”
“I’ll be there.” Lucas starts to go and I call after him, “It’s gonna be great!”
“Hope so!” he says, shooting me a smile over his shoulder before he disappears around the corner.
Something is off with him. It’s not my place to pry. I’m just here to work and travel. But Soul Sounds is nothing without Lucas. He deserves to enjoy this, every last bit.
“Fuck. Fuck!” Chase shouts as we file off stage, a huge smile on his face. He’s shirtless and coated in sweat. “That felt great.”
I snicker and whisper to Lee, “Do you think that’s what he sounds like after he gets laid?”
“Mama Mika!” she gasps and pokes a finger into my side.
I laugh. “I’m a cool mom.”
The crowd is still raging after the last encore. They ate it up, loved all the new material. And the guys were on it. Usually, the starting gigs of a tour are like warm-ups. But not Soul Sounds.
Dylan leaves as soon as he can to go play on his guitar or whatever he is always doing by himself, and Jay shoots past us and starts to pal around with Chase. They bolt to the stage door as Ken announces there’s an afterparty to get to. They’ll be up all night with that adrenaline. I, on the other hand, am a bit immune to it. I’ve done my partying and had my regrettable nights out. I want to get to bed and have an early start to try and see the city.
Jay turns back before he leaves through the door. “Girls, you coming?”
Crystal and Lee immediately answer ‘yes’, enthusiastically going to meet him.
“Mika?” he adds.
“Not tonight, Jay. Maybe next time.”
“But it’s NOLA! You gotta go out in NOLA! Get some beads and shit.”
I roll my eyes. “It’s not Mardi Gras, genius.”
“Whatever,” Jay snorts. “Have fun, grandma.”
“That’s Mama to you!” Crystal corrects him and pulls on his arm.
Once they’re out the door, I’m left in the stew of roadies and technicians packing up the gear, the din of the crowd dissipating. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Lucas. I realize he hasn’t left with the rest of the guys. He’s pacing back and forth near the stage door. He’s already changed out of his stage clothes into a black T-shirt and jeans. Much more casual than the blue Hawaiian shirt he had unbuttoned down to his navel and the leather pants. It looks like he’s talking to myself.
What the hell is going on with him?
He finally goes to the door and walks out. I don’t want to seem like a stalker and follow right on his heels, but this kid is worrying me. I follow him out the stage door and am immediately stunned by the chorus of shrill female voices.
