Page 129 of On The Edge
“Fuck yeah.” Kai fist pumps, and plays a few beats to match Markus and Adam does a snare kick before I chuckle and nod.
“Fuck yeah.”
Forty-five minuteslater and we’re all successfully warmed up, all the equipment checked and each of us having run through the warm-ups. I set the mic back onto the stand as the guys all do the same with their respective instruments, walking towards the wings.
“Wonderful, guys!” Louis claps like he does after every sound check. “Showers, food, drinks, show time!”
We all nod, walking off, but Paul grabs my arm, asking me to stay back for a minute to get my approval on some lighting cue during one of our slower songs. After giving him my opinion and a pat on the shoulder, I yawn and mentally groan.
I’m so fucking tired, but I’m starting to get anxious, filled with nerves and adrenaline, like I always get before a show.
It’s such a rush, and I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it.
I start walking towards the dressing room when I hear someone mumbling to the side of me. Half whispering, half arguing around the edge of the hallway.
“Make sure she’s pulled from any and all communication. All clients are already transferred and she’s pushed out the door. I’ll push her further, but I want every trace of it legally bound, understood?” There’s a pause before they continue. “I’ve spentsix fucking years bleeding for this band and I won’t have it derailed now.”
What the fuck is Louis up to? What’s he talking about?
My heart beats faster as I try to walk quieter. I need more information. The trickle of dread fills my chest and I walk closer to listen more, but he stops talking. Just grunts in approval or disapproval.
Right as I’m about to rip him a new one, Paul runs up asking if I’ve seen Louis.
Goddamn it.
Louis' stupid fucking face peers around the corner and he has the fucking balls to look nonchalant.
Normally, I’d rest assured that he’s acting with the band's best interests at heart. I know I can’t say that anymore. And I definitely can’t trust him with Melody.
“Yeah, I’m right here. What do you need, Paul?” Louis asks quickly, taking Paul’s elbow and steering him past me while he does everything in his fucking powernotto look at me. I watch as he pulls Paul further down the hallway until they use the exit out onto the soundstage.
“Fuck,” I sigh and turn, walking faster towards the dressing room.
THIRTY-THREE
After I wakeup from my nap, the guys are running around getting ready. Markus is smoking a blunt and drinking some energy drink, while Adam is stretching his arms and legs before jumping up and down. Kai is late out of the shower so he is trying to talk to the stylist, speaking angrily while he’s got a towel wrapped too low around his waist.
If I wasn’t so relaxed and excited, I probably would’ve stepped in when she started making googly eyes at him, and then when her gaze dropped from his eyes to his wet chest every few words.
But then she steps closer, and I stand up.Fuck that.
Reis watches the whole thing with a knowing smirk on his face and he comes over to me, enveloping me in a big hug. He tucks his face into my neck as he whispers, “You know women are going to be around us, right? It’s just part of the territory. But I can speak for all of us when I say we won’t let anyone touch what’s yours. And wedon’t wantto touch anyone else either. You are ours. We are yours.”
The way he speaks so gently, but so firmly, it makes the knot in my chest loosen just a little.
But then the woman has to go and push it further. She steps forward again, pressing a finger to his chest, and Kai immediately steps back with all the anger and tension in his shoulders. The hand not holding the towel goes up, and he barks something at the woman that makes her teasing-angry expression turn straight to embarrassment.
“See?” Reis smirks, releasing me with a smack on the ass and goes over to the rack of clothes to get his outfit on.
After that, I decide I’m going to focus on myself. On making myself feel so fucking good and sexy that my men being screamed at, flashed by, and adored by hundreds of beautiful women right in front of their eyes doesn’t register.
I go to the ladies bathroom down the hall—I don’t want to take up space in their dressing room, there are already too many people in there—and get dressed in this black little dress that looks too short, but it covers mejustenough. It’s got black sequins covering the whole thing, so my movement is visible and alluring. The neckline dipslow, coming to a point right below my sternum. Cleavagegalore. I throw on my beat-up biker boots that give me an extra two inches of height before curling my hair so it falls in waves down my back. Makeup? On point. Smoky. Dark. Big. Fucking perfect.
Putting all my stuff back into my bag, I can hear people running around in the hallway, and I quickly make my way back to the dressing room in alarm. When I open the door, I see all four guys bouncing around like they’re pool balls after their formation has been broken.
Adam’s twirling his drum sticks in each hand. Markus is looking around, staring at everyone with a pointed, paranoid look as he passes them, while Kai is clenching his fists over and over, like he’s just barely containing his anger. Reis… Reis looks devastated, running his hand over and over through his dark hair. I’m sure his stylist is pissed.
They’re not talking, but everyone around them is buzzing. Louis is grumbling in the corner, and Kai snaps.
