Page 6 of Reckless

He too had paused on a mezzanine level to take in all the chaos. Vehicles, techs, construction workers and a dozen other types were down there where his band that he’d started a version of in middle school would open a nationwide stadium and arena tour.

As he’d been watching, Miles he’d caught sight of her sitting and doing the same thing he’d been and he’d started loping her way before he’d consciously decided to. Her dark hair had been pulled up into a braid, exposing the beauty of her face. And the wonder on her features.

During their twenty minutes or so, he’d taken her hand twice. Even now he felt her skin against his.

Just that closeness and the touch of her had nudged that placed within him that had already begun to wake and stretch after he’d watched her perform. Woken it further so that he was already thinking about when he could touch her again.

Grinning, he spun on his heel and arrowed through the main door of their green room space.

“Signed those papers,” he told everyone. “Ran into Harlow. Told them we wanted to meet them, so they’ll be here in a minute.”

“Cool,” Silas said.

“Make sure to invite them to eat with us,” Poppy said.

When his sister told him she wanted to be his tour assistant Miles had turned her down.

He’d argued that she was too young to be out there dealing with the kind of bullshit that happened backstage. He sure as hell knew that firsthand and he shuddered to think about that touching her in any way.

She’d begun an entire campaign for the job that had involved her just sort of…taking over his life but in the best way. She got things done efficiently and to his specifications even when he didn’t know she was about to do something or other until she’d completed the task.

Then she got their parents involved over the Christmas holidays and it had turned into a big Brown family thing and half his relatives were involved in a very lively discussion that had ended in Miles offering Poppy the job she’d already been doing really well.

And there she was being great at it yet again.

A few taps on the doorjamb and Harlow came in with the other two members of Above Me. She raised her chin in greeting, along with a waved hand.

“Hi, everyone.”

Miles moved to her side and faced Nora and Brian. “I’m Miles Brown. That’s my sister and my assistant Poppy. Omar Marquez, lead guitar. Silas Best, drums. Maddie Hurley, rhythm guitar.”

Harlow grinned at them all. “I’m Harlow Martin, guitar. Nora Abelard, drums and Brian Green, bass. We’re really glad to be here. Thanks for having us.”

There was a bit of back and forth as everyone bumped elbows or shook hands and Miles breathed a little easier because so far so good.

Maddie and Harlow stood chatting with Poppy and Nora and he made his way over.

“I saw you sing on stage with your dad’s band six or so years back. I can’t even remember what festival it was, but I do remember it was at the Gorge and I was drinking a beer so I was legal. The sun was setting and it was purple and orange and you came out,” Harlow told Maddie. “It was “Everything”, from theStar is Bornwith Barbra. It was just fucking amazing. You said it was for your mom and that was lovely. I’ve never forgotten that.”

Maddie blushed and took Harlow’s hands. “You don’t know what that means to me. I’m so…thank you. My sister and I used to always sing that one when we were growing up. My mom still cries if anyone ever brings that night up.”

“Small world,” Miles said. “I was there that night too with Silas and Omar. That’s when we swooped in and told her she had to be in our band. I don’t remember seeing you that day though.”

“I was there as a concertgoer. No backstage. Sometimes you just want to be a fan, you know?” Harlow said and became a thousand times more sexually attractive. “I love that it was when the four of you became Earthquakes.”

“Hey listen,” Miles said, “Maddie’s aunt, who is also my aunt too, but by choice rather than by birth, she used to go out with Sweet Hollow Ranch as their personal chef. She and her friends created a catering company that travels with touring acts. They have a load out of a whole ass kitchen before each show. Just in case you were expecting a packet of crackers or room temperature deli meat,” he said. “They also have a post show meal. Something easy and portable most often as they have to tear down every night too.”

“I’ll have it added to your dailies,” Poppy told them.

“Thank you. We’ll definitely take you up on that,” Nora said with a smile.

Harlow poked her in the ribs.

“What? They invited us!” Nora hissed at her friend.

”Just because we think a thing doesn’t mean we have to say it out loud immediately,” Harlow told her in a sing song voice.

“Whatever. Fortune favors the bold.” Nora rolled her eyes and the two friends started to laugh.

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