“Back to the sexy… song. I think I have something you’re going to love. Boys?” I turn to them and mouth the title.
We hop off our seats and get into position, giving Felicia a nod to let her know we’re ready.
“Ladies and gentleman…the Rock Chamber Boys, coming to you live from the studio,” Felicia announces.
There’s a short pause as we take a long, deep breath, then Sebastian starts with a soft, crescendo beat. Dum dum dum dum, dum dum dum dum. Jez joins in, his cello’s low, pit of the stomach bass filling my ears, setting the mood. I count myself in, three, three, one, and then my violin soars into the opening to Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game.” I can’t help but hum along. Da da da daaaa, da da da da da daaaaa. Not for the first time it amazes me how different combinations of notes and pauses can have such varying effects on your mood.
The song is mysterious, sexy.
Just like her.
I force myself to keep my eyes closed. I don’t want to look through the studio window to see what effect my music is having on Emily. Because it would kill me if it had no effect at all.
At least give me that. At least let my music speak to her if my words can’t.
Emily
Present Day
I can’t breathe.
I look around to see if everyone is having the same problem. Hailey’s standing next to me and Cadence is pressed against the glass, her eyes fixed on her fiance. But they seem fine.
So, it’s just me. It’s just me, struggling for breath as I stand here, the music catching me spellbound.
This song, this dark and sexy brooding song that gets me in the gut every time. If he wanted to get to me, he chose the perfect song. But of course he would. He knows me.
I close my eyes and I see darkness and red lips and bare skin and hot hands and sweat droplets falling.
And I see the scene switching, and I see them, him and… and that radio host, writhing against each other to the rhythm of the song.
And I can’t breathe again.
It’s been hellish watching him flirt and tease her the last fifteen minutes, but this, this… dirty lust letter to her is what really hurts. This is how Brad communicates, how he’s always communicated. Through his violin. And right now, he’s communicating how he wants to fuck her.
He always was a good performer. And he’s only grown into a confident, stage-commanding presence.
It’s no wonder the women want him.
I want him.
What is wrong with me? Did I really think I was going to be able to spend all this time close to him and not have the past come crashing back? That old wounds would not rise to the surface?
“Emily, are you okay?” Hailey’s hand on my arm jolts me out of my thoughts.
“Oh, um, yeah, I’m fine.” I nod.
“You were just breathing a little heavy.”
“It’s a little hot in here, that’s all. I’m just going to go out and grab some air,” I tell her, patting her hand to reassure her.
“Do you want me to come?” Her genuine concern is touching, and I almost wish I could talk to her. But of course, I can’t.
“No, but thanks. You stay and enjoy the rest of the interview.”
I push the door out to the parking lot. I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have done this. I thought I could be near him, that I had moved on, but I haven’t. And now I’m stuck for the next six weeks, traveling 24/7 with the man who broke my heart beyond repair.
***
“Feeling any better?” Cadence asks me when I return inside.
“Yeah, just needed some air. What’s going on now?” I look around and see everyone scattered, packing up the equipment and standing around talking.
“We’re about ready to go. Any idea on what you want to do tonight?” Hailey says, her eyes hopeful.
“You know what? I want to have some fun,” I tell them. And I mean it. I need to blast the dark cloud away.
“Whoot!” Hailey punches the air and winks at me. “That’s my kinda girl!”
Cadence slings her bag over her shoulder and takes my hand. “We’re thinking of going to a bar and grill just across the street. They have some great live entertainment.”
“I’m in!” I nod my agreement, excited at the prospect of some time out with my new friends.
“Let’s go! Let the guys pack up. We should get a head start on some shots anyway.”
We file out into the parking lot and the girls loop their arms with mine. They sing a popular song we just heard playing on the radio and it’s not long before I’m joining in. Their perkiness is infectious, and for the first time since accepting this assignment, I feel relaxed.
“Last one there pays for first round!” I scream and make a run for it, the girls hot on my heels.
***
“And then, I open the door and she’s just standing there, buck naked! Waiting… for my fiance!” Cadence says, emphasizing the words, enjoying our reactions.
“OH MY GOD! So, what did you do?” I ask her, my drink hovering near my mouth, forgotten in the process of hearing the story.
“Well, I felt bad for her, I mean… she’d gotten a spray tan and everything. So I just said, ‘I’m sorry dear, but I’m pretty sure Sebastian only likes real redheads,’ and handed her a Rock Chamber Boys T-shirt and walked off.”
“Tell her how you sent Seb back into the room,” Hailey prompts.
“YOU DID NOT!” I shriek, almost jumping out of my seat.
“What? I knew he wasn’t going to do anything. I was standing right there. I just thought he might like a little peek. I mean, she had abs.” Cadence pats her own stomach then grins. “He’s not going to see any of those on me,” she says matter-of-factly, before downing her drink and slamming it on the table with a victorious look on her face.
The three of us fall against the table laughing again. I feel completely at home with them, like we’ve been friends for decades.
“So, Emily, do you have any groupie stories you want to tell us about? I mean you’ve been a music journalist for what, almost five years now,” Hailey asks, waving to the waiter for another round of shots.
“Well, I don’t kiss and tell.”
The girls instantly look disappointed, their smiles fading, and their shoulders droop. So I continue.
“But I might walk into a public bathroom and see the four members of a certain male Irish band, um, doing some ‘crafts’ and tell.”