Page 21 of Taming the Rockstar

“Refreshing it won’t change it. You might as well read a book or something,” I say.

“Bold of you to tell me to read a book!” Lyndsey huffs.

“Hey! I like to read!”

“Alright, smarty pants, what’s the last good book your read?”

I pause. “Hmm, I’ve been revisiting the works of Chogyam Trungpa recently; that’s been great for tour. I think meditation is great in general. I think a lot about using beginners’ minds when it comes to touring. It’s easy to feel like I’ve done this before and slip into autopilot instead of absorbing the experiences around me.”

Lyndsey looks up from her phone. “You know Trungpa?”

“Yeah! You do?”

Lyndsey sighs and tucks her phone into her pocket. “My mom’s a yoga teacher. She teaches at the community center in Pasadena, so I know a lot about meditating by proxy.”

“That’s cool! How long did it take for her to get her certification?”

“Six months or so? I don’t remember; I was on tour at the time.”

“That’s wonderful. What’s your favorite book, then?”

“I can’t focus enough to read big novels, so I mostly stick to short stories and graphic novels. I likeSaga, Chekov’s short stories, Carmen Maria Machado, that sort of thing. I have a Raymond Carver book in my bunk right now.”

“What We Talk About When We Talk About Love?”I guess.

Lyndsey’s eyes sparkled. “Shit! You’re the last person I would have guessed to know that book.”

I shrug. “I get that I don’t have the most erudite persona, but I’m full of surprises.”

“Wow, ‘erudite’? Someone’s been using their word-a-day calendar, or did someone teach you a new word?”

“Henry taught me that one,” I replied.

“That makes sense.”

When we pull into the venue, the sky is bruised and green with violent streaks of dark purple interspersed.

The air is hot and heavy. It feels swampy, like the whole world is a sauna. Sweat drips down my back. Priya finishes her bottle of water in one gulp.

“It’s not looking good,” Apollo says, glancing up at the sky.

Lyndsey rubs her hands against her jeans and then claps. “Okay, I’m going to help with load in and talk to the venue about their policy for rain delays. The four of you chat amongst yourselves!” Lyndsey dashes off the bus, a blur in denim.

I find myself staring at her ass. I can’t help it. Everything I learn about Lyndsey Vynse only makes me like her more.

“You like her, don’t you?” Priya teases as we hustle into our dressing rooms. The sky breaks moments later, and we can hear the rain pattering against the window.

I sigh. “Is it that obvious?”

Priya pauses.

“Yes,” Apollo says.

“Hey, it’s cute!” Henry adds, checking out his face in the mirror. “I’m going to shave unless you lads need to first,” he says.

I shrug. “Go ahead.”

“I’m fine. It looks like I have to counsel Vince about his love life again,” Apollo groans.

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