“And you would do that for me?”
“I’d do anything for smoking hot, potty-mouthed witches.”
Why? I wonder, but am too scared to ask. So I just say, “Thank you.”
He shakes his head, “Don’t thank me…”
“But…”
“Shush! I wasn’t done.”
“Sorry.”
“As I was saying… don’t thank me. Buy me a post-concert celebratory drink. Come on, I’m sure everyone’s waiting for us.”
He throws the door open and steps out into the hall, chanting, “ROCK CHAMBER BOYS! ROCK CHAMBER BOYS”
I laugh and follow him, and wonder, if it’s the past and my performance issues that’s going to be my biggest problem. Or if it’s going to be that guy with the sad brown eyes that can read my every thought who is going to ruin everything.
***
“To my bandmates, who can charm the nipples off an angry bull, and play like Lucifer himself, to our lovely PR assistant, who buries all the bad and makes us look good even in sunlight, to our crew, who make us sound good, and to our lovely guest performer, Anca a star was born tonight. To us!!!” Brad raises his drink as he toasts us and we all cheer as we clink our glasses together.
“To us!!!”
I take a long, deep drink of my brain-freezingly cold beer, enjoying the cool, refreshing bubbles prickling the back of my throat and the froth tickling my lips. I didn’t even realize how thirsty I was. Everything that’s happened is a blur. I wonder if I’ll ever really remember the things that happened tonight.
“Anca, you really were something else tonight. The crowd went so wild for you. Thank you for adding a little class to our little side show act,” Sebastian says and it sounds so sincere I can’t help blushing at his praise.
“Hear, hear,” Marius agrees, raising his glass to me and gives me a wink.
“Yeah, let’s swap you out for Jez!” Brad suggests, to the unanimous agreement of everyone.
“HEY!” Jez protests and pouts, before breaking into a grin, reaching over and hugging me around the shoulders. “Nah, she’s alright, my little sister. I mean, I did teach her everything I know.”
“Ahem, Anca is not a manslutsticle!” Hailey points out.
“Okay, maybe not that. I already told her she’s not allowed to have a boyfriend until she’s 50. And even then, only holding hands. And some innocent dancing, as long as they adopt the ‘6 inches between you for the holy ghost’ rule.”
“Yeah, that’s not what the 6 inches between us is going to be for, my loving brother.” I can’t help shooting at him with a wink, to the sound of whistles and whoops and a glare from Jez.
My eyes steal a look in Marius’ direction, who I’ve been trying to avoid and catch him doing the same. He holds my look for a moment, then coughs and looks away, pretending to call for the waitress for another round of drinks. I can’t help feeling disappointed, when I know I shouldn’t. You’re just lucky he hasn’t kicked you out of the band, you idiot. I remind myself. Stolen glances are not going to do you any good.
“Oh, but I’ve been meaning to ask.” Brad turns to me. “What happened at the beginning of your first song, you missed the cue a few times and then Marius went over to talk to you before you started playing.”
I open my mouth, but I don’t have a reply.
My eyes flit to Marius’s again, but he’s already on it. He stands up and hands around a bowl of peanuts.
“Oh yeah, I forgot about that. I went over when Anca missed the cue and noticed one of her pedals was stuck so I just gave it a little… unsticking. It was fine after that.”
“It was better than fine. It was bloody, fucking magical.” Hailey says, throwing her head back, downing a shot.
“Thanks, Hails.” I smile at her. Every word of praise filling up the hole of dread still gurgling in my chest that they’re going to find out I’m a total fraud.
“Yeah, yeah, you’ve thanked me enough by adding some estrogen to the group. I didn’t know what I was going to do with myself with Cadence gone. Emily’s good, but she’s busy writing post-show a lot for her publication and blog, and these guys can be pretty unbearable with their chest pounding after a good concert.”
“Hey, I can pound a chest with the best of them.” I grin, thumping my fist against my chest and giving a little growl. The beer has obviously gone to my head fast.
“Oh my god, the images of Anca and Hailey chest pounding!!” Brad says and makes a panting noise. Then stops. “Oh wait, I’m engaged. Damn. Jez, you take over.”
“Gross, she’s my sister, dog turd for brains.”
“Fine, then Marius.”
“She’s Jez’s sister, double dog turd for brains!” Marius protests, and I’m careful to not look at him, in case he sees my disappointment.
“You guys are no fun. Sebastian?” Brad turns to his fellow engaged bandmate for help.
“Yeah, no. If I even thought about any other women chest pounding, she could hear it from 10 thousand miles away, I’m sure of it,” he cringes.
“Fine.” Brad says, sulking, mumbling into his beer.
I giggle and sneak a peek at Marius over the rim of my beer glass. He’s looking at his phone, absentmindedly scratching his stomach and I can’t help but think, what it would feel like, to be pressed up against him, his chest crushing mine, my hands scratching down his back.
I shake my head, but the images stick.
“Hailey? I’m going to need more beer.”
***
“G’night guys!!” I wave to the others as we stumble down the hotel hallway, stopping off at our respective rooms. “Thanks for the hangover!”
“No problem, babe! All thanks to Brad’s credit card!” Emily giggles drunkenly and blows me a kiss. She had joined us after posting her article to her editor. And made a worthy female ally in terms of keeping the guys in their places.
“Ugh, I was wondering where that went. Come now, me Brad, you naughty drunken woman,” Brad mumbles as he lifts his fiancee over his shoulder and carries her like a caveman back to their room.