Page 24 of The Roadie
Brett was used to hectic tours, but never expected a full bus, which included three kids, an older aunt, and a nanny, to be on the road with barely a stop in between shows. Immortal Angel performed tirelessly, and their tour was go-go-go, which meant Brett worked nonstop. His first day off came six days into the tour and landed on a Saturday.
Both Brett and Kira slept late, long after everyone else disembarked, and it was oddly quiet on the active tour bus. Maybe that’s why they didn’t roll out of bed until ten in the morning.
After checking into the hotel, they ordered room service and had lunch on the balcony. “So what’s the plan for tonight?” he asked Kira. This large group did almost everything together, so he wasn’t sure if they were on their own or there was something on the schedule.
Her shoulders fell. “I have to work tonight. I hope you don’t mind. There’s a band I’m scheduled to scout in Atlanta. I was hoping you’d come with me. We don’t have to stay all night.”
She said it as if he wouldn’t want to accompany her. As if it were something he wouldn’t be interested in. He loved live music just as much as she did, but he knew this was also her job. “I’d love to come with you. As long as I’m not in the way.”
“Of course not. The band I need to see is playing at a local bar. We could grab a bite beforehand and drop in to catch their set.”
“That’d be great.”
“I’d love for you to give me your take on them, as well. I don’t usually have someone with me to discuss it with. It’ll be nice to have a fellow music lover, someone who knows the industry, to give me input. I’d love to get your perception of the band.”
He was honored that she valued his opinion and respected his know-how when it came to music. Although he knew his grasp on the industry in no way compared to her expertise, he loved that she felt as if she could engage in an educated conversation with him about her craft.
Brett was surprised that Kira didn’t try to bypass the short line on the way into the bar and waited her turn, just like everyone else. He was even more surprised when she pulled out her wallet and tried to pay the cover charge for the both of them. He quickly stuffed some cash into the guy’s hand at the door and ushered Kira inside by her elbow.
“Why’d you do that?” she protested. “I didn’t bring you here so you could pay. You’re my guest.”
“I don’t care if technically you’re working tonight, babe. As far as I’m concerned, we’re on a date.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “And my girl doesn’t pay.”
She opened her mouth to say something, then stopped and smiled. “Your girl?”
He rested his hands on her hips and rubbed her slender waist with his thumbs, then tugged her closer to him so their bodies touched. “Are you someone else’s girl?”
“No.”
“Then it’s settled. As long as we’re on this tour together, you’re my girl.”
She looked up to the ceiling, considering his statement. “Well, then, I guess that makes you my guy. While we’re on tour.”
He pulled her in for a hug and placed a kiss on top of her head. “Why didn’t you tell the guy at the door who you were? Any club or bar would be thrilled to have an A&R exec from Falcon Records walk through the door and be noted as the place where the next superstar rock band was discovered.”
She shook her head. “I want to pay the cover charge just like any other customer. I know I could easily take advantage of my status as an industry professional and get VIP treatment, but I prefer anonymity. I don’t like people to make a fuss just because of my name or because of who my father is. I never did.”
Her down-to-earth, easy demeanor continually amazed Brett. This girl had every amenity under the sun available to her, yet she chose to blend in with the crowd. He never met anyone like her. “So, where do you want to stay? Do you want to sit in the back by the bar or stand up front?”
She took his hand and led him toward the front of the stage but stayed against the side wall. Then she turned and surveyed the large group of people waiting for the band to go on. “I like to be able to see everything clearly. I want to see the band and people’s reaction to them,” she explained. “I start off here and then weave through the crowd.”
“I like your strategy.” He looked at the stage, which was really only a platform about two feet off the floor. The band was setting up their equipment. He wanted to watch, but he couldn’t keep his eyes off Kira. She was studying the group of people surrounding the stage. Her head was cocked to the side, listening to something, and he couldn’t help tweaking the outer edge of her ear.
Her mouth spread into a playful smile, and she nudged his shoulder with her knuckle. “What are you doing?”
“What are you listening to?”
“I’m trying to hear what people are saying. I want to know if they’re excited about the band.” She tilted her head toward the crowd again. “Try it. Tell me what you hear.”
He was taller than most in the place, so he had an advantage and picked up several conversations right away. “That girl over there just said that they’re her favorite local band. She goes to all their shows.”
“I didn’t hear that.” A spark of excitement lit up Kira’s eyes. “I’m glad you came. You and I make a good team. What else do you hear?”
He listened to the voices around him and tried not to concentrate on the way Kira’s fingers sunk into the back waistband of his jeans as she slipped her arm around his waist. A conversation caught his attention, and he motioned to a guy several feet away. “That dude is trying to pick up that girl while her boyfriend is in the bathroom.”
She laughed, a fun and whimsical sound. “I don’t doubt it. You wouldn’t believe some of the things I hear. Once, a guy broke up with his girlfriend right before a band went on. I mean, literally right before. He pretended not to hear her when she was pleading with him. He just kept shaking his head. The poor girl finally burst into tears and ran out. I felt so bad for her.”
Before he had a chance to tell Kira that he thought the guy was a coward, the lights went down, and the band took the stage.
