Page 104 of Sky Full of Stars

“Family,” he says.

“Yep,” I smile. “Don’t get me wrong, I hope you get it back, I really do. But if you’re thinking it’s a symbol of what you’ve achieved, and that is what you’ve lost, then you really only need to look at these idiots to see that isn’t true.”

“I didn’t think I’d be able to articulate what it meant,” he says, eyeing me. “These guys loved my mom too, knew her giving me the guitar was a big deal but, I don’t think they would understand. I’m still not sure I’ve got it across to you.”

“You don’t need to,” I give him a soft smile.

“Plus the fucking thing is worth about thirty grand. I’m pretty pissed the assholes who stole it probably won’t realise what they’ve got, and someone is gonna end up with a super expensive guitar they have no respect for.”

“You have insurance though, right?”

“Fucks sake,” he grumbles but he laughs too. He holds his glass up to Adam who nods and turns to the bartender. “I want it back, don’t get me wrong. It is sentimental, it belongs to me. But you’re right, the world won’t end if I don’t get it back.”

I tap my fingers over my lips, raising my eyes to the ceiling. “You should start a campaign,” I tell him. He arches a brow, confused. “Use all that you’ve achieved. Your fans, the press, Instagram bloggers and vloggers. Make it a whole thing. Find this guitar for BreakNeck. Make it so that no one would ever be able to buy or sell it.”

“You mean offer a reward?”

“Hell no. Unless you want to, but it wouldn’t have to come to that,” I add. “I mean get it trending on every social media platform. Hell, give it its own Instagram page. Find The Warwick,” I hold up my hands like the words are in lights. “You must have people who run your social media for you.”

“You’re nuts,” he says as Adam makes his way over carrying a tray of bottles and glasses.

“There are millions of people out there who would love nothing more than to get that guitar back for you. And not for money, but because of how much they love the band and what the music means to them. Shit, if Axl Rose told his fans he lost his favourite cycling shorts, I’m sure his fan clubs would create a huge call to arms.”

That got him really laughing and drew the rest of his bandmates attention.

“Did you just mention Axl Rose’s cycling shorts?” Jordan looks over. He gives an appreciative nod. “That man knew how to wear a pair of cycling shorts.”

“You’re not gonna believe the idea your woman just had about my bass,” Nick says with a laugh, as Adam passes out drinks.

“Yeah?” he looks at me questioningly.

“Who has Trey’s number?”

“Trey who?” Jordan asks.

“The guy who does our social media,” Nick says. “The college graduate Bianca wants to bone.”

Archer bursts out laughing, Jordan looks confused but after shouting around one of the guys at another table says he knows him. Nick explains my ridiculous idea as he types out a message. Everyone is drunk enough to think it’s the best thing they’ve ever heard and before we’ve finished the drinks, Nick has already got this Trey guy working on a new Instagram page. Jordan wants to take pictures of the band in various poses beseeching the safe return of ‘The Warwick’. I duck out of the way when that starts.

It is a testament to how big this band is and how much they are loved when a little over an hour later, the page has almost a million followers, groups of people are setting up treasure hunts and creating competitions to find the guitar first and ‘The Warwick’ is trending.

The party atmosphere dulls a little when Bianca arrives, and not just because she wants to know what the hell this whole guitar thing is, and who authorised it, but she also has Erica and her bitchy faced friend in tow.

“For fuck’s sake, B, stop being such a Debbie Downer. It’s an awesome idea, not only for the publicity, we’re gonna get my boy’s bass back. I can feel it in my bones.”

“Your broken bones?” Archer hoots.

Bianca rolls her eyes. “You still should have run this by me, whose bright idea was it anyway? Trey should be coming to me to authorise any new social media.”

“It is a fucking awesome idea,” Jordan says, draining his glass. “She should be our new publicist, she has all the fun ideas,” he winks at me.

Bianca turns to look at me, the pinched smile on her face showing that she is clearly not impressed with what Jordan said. Bianca doesn’t want to chastise me in front of everyone but at the same time, she is struggling to agree this is a good idea. All I did was make a stupid suggestion, I didn’t think they would run with it. I avert my eyes, I don’t know what I did to make Bianca dislike me but I don’t want to cause any more stress to the band.

“No harm, no foul, B,” Archer says. “If it brings the Warwick home, then it’s worth every second of Trey’s time. And looks like the fans are having fun with it too.”

“It made Nicholas smile,” Jordan points out, his arms folded over his chest, as best he can with his cast. He is looking at Bianca like she pissed in his whiskey. “And no one had to show their tits, which is a bit of a downer,” his lips pout out.

“Hey,” Adam slaps the back of his head. It was something I’d seen them all do at one time or another. Jordan looks surprised when they do it though and I can’t help but laugh, earning another wink from him. “Jordan is right, it is just a bit of fun, what’s the issue?”

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