A Face in the Crowd (8 page)

“No one feels let down.”

“How would you know? You don’t know anything about me or my life.”

“I know your fans care about you and I know your bandmates care about you.” She gripped the end of the bed and stared him in the eyes. “This isn’t your fault. People get sick.”

“I don’t. I’m young and I take care of myself. This shouldn’t have happened.”

“It isn’t a matter or should or shouldn’t.” In contrast to his, she kept her voice low, forcing him to listen. “Cancer doesn’t discriminate. I see old people, young people, every race, every ethnicity. And, unlike so many others, you have a good chance of beating this thing.”

He looked at her, then, as though he were seeing her for the first time. His chest continued to rise and fall, but slowed as his breaths became more even. “I’m sorry.” His voice cracked and he dropped his chin to his chest. “I shouldn’t have yelled at you.”

“It’s fine. People have said worse to me before.” She took a step toward him. “May I?” she gestured toward the bed next to him.

“Sure.”

“Listen, Bailey, I know you didn’t ask me what I think, but I’m going to tell you anyway. You need to own this. All of it. You need to use your usual flirty, crazy attitude and face it head on. Share with your fans on Twitter or the band’s website. Let them show you how much they care. Don’t hide out in here waiting for the worst to happen.

“Let your band members help you. Shave your head and take control. Write music while you’re here. Use your time away to your advantage as best as you can. Keeping your mind sharp will not only help you, but think of all the new music you’ll have when you break out of here.” She paused and took a breath. “You will beat this.”

He raised his face to meet her eyes. “Do you really think so?”

“I do and I’m very smart.”

His expression softened as the hint of a smile returned. “I feel I’m inclined to agree with you on that point.”

“Good. Now, let’s start over.” Lexie stood. “How are you feeling, Bailey?”

“Better, actually.” He nodded. “Thanks for that.”

“You’re welcome. I have to go now, but I’ll be back.” She started for the door and paused. “Own it, Bailey.” She walked out of the room and almost ran right into his mother. Again. “Excuse me. I’m so sorry.”

Cathy had tears streaming down her face. Lexie blinked. “Um . . .”

“I’m sorry if I was rude earlier,” Cathy reached out and took Lexie’s hands in her own. “Thank you for what you said to my son.” She squeezed, let go, and disappeared into the room.

Eyes wide, Lexie stood there speechless for a moment before she continued down the hall. Never a dull moment with the Honeycutts around was an understatement.

The long day dissolved into evening and what she wanted more than anything was a hot shower and her flannel PJ’s. When it was time for her final check, she saved Bailey’s room for last and she hoped he was moving toward acceptance. It would make life easier for everyone.

Raised voices sounded through the door. Unsure of what she was about to walk into, she steadied herself, but jerked to a stop when she pushed the door open and found David and Oliver arguing over whether or not David should have a Mohawk. She stood there momentarily torn between laughter and confusion.

“Oh hey, Lexie. Are you here to help?” Leo stepped around her and stood next to Oliver as they appraised David’s head.

“Yeah, we could probably use it,” Bailey added as he eyed himself in a small hand mirror.

Before Lexie could answer, Cathy stepped out of the bathroom with two towels in hand. “These should work. Hello, Lexie. Can you grab one of the little throw away pads from under the sink? I want to catch as much of the hair as possible, so we don’t have a lot to clean up.”

“Sure,” Lexie managed, still curious if she’d stepped into an episode of
The Twilight Zone
. She helped Cathy spread the pad out and watched as David removed his hat and sat in front of her.

“I say we try the Mohawk first and then shave it off. I can at least see what it looks like.”

“Sounds good, man,” Leo stood beside Cathy as she went to work on David’s hair. In this setting, surrounded by guys she’d watched grow up, Cathy’s demeanor was softer, less mama bear, more nurturing. Features relaxed with a smile, Lexie could see faint traces of the shared facial features between mother and sons. The slight slant of the nose, the crinkled eyes.

While clumps of hair continued to fall to the floor, Lexie dared a glance in Oliver’s direction, and found him already looking at her. He smiled, turning her insides to mush, and then nodded toward the marker board. Her name had been changed to Sexy Lexie and this time there was a picture of a warrior woman complete with a sword and shield to match. She shook her head, but couldn’t refrain from grinning as she turned her attention back to David’s transformation.

“What you need is a little color on the end of your spikes. Dark blue or red. Something with a little attitude,” Bailey pretended to touch imaginary spikes on the top of his head.

“Maybe we’ll save the coloring for Leo.” David, when stripped of his signature baseball cap, morphed into a different person. A light dusting of freckles became visible across his olive complexion and his dark blue eyes were sharper. They were the kind of eyes one might call soulful and Lexie vowed if she had eyes even a fraction as beautiful, she’d never hide them.

“Andy is going to freak out,” Leo chimed in from his place in the opposite chair.

“When is Andy not freaking out?”

“That’s the truth. Who cares about Andy, though? What’s your girlfriend going to say?”

This was news to Lexie. As far as she knew, none of them had girlfriends. Except for Oliver, he was always running around with someone. Every time she saw a picture of him there was some blonde hanging off his arm. Usually one of the halfwit variety.

“Sara won’t care.” David gave a mock pout which only added to his crazy appearance. “She loves me just the way I am.”

“Aww, that’s so sweet,” Oliver teased.

The group laughed, but no one said a word against Sara.

David rubbed a hand over his newly exposed skin. “You’re just jealous.”

Oliver glanced at Lexie, her face igniting in heat, and then responded, “Maybe.”

“Sara is way better to look at than you. Where is she anyway? She didn’t want to fly out and see me?” Bailey pretended to be offended, but his smile betrayed him.

“I offered to fly her out, but she was too busy with work.”

Cathy reached up a hand and pressed David’s head down, forcing his chin to rest on his chest while she tidied up his neck.

“Ahh, the busy life of a producer.”

David glanced at Leo. “She’s always busy. I need this break we have coming up.”

“Okay, David, go look in the mirror. I think we’re ready for gel.”

David turned his head from left to right, checking all the angles and then grinned. “Sweet.” He picked up the gel and went to work.

“Leo, you’re up. Lexie, do you want to do the honors?” Cathy held the clippers out toward her.

“Yeah, Lexie step on up. Make me even more irresistible.” He said it in a deep voice and puckered his lips.

She couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay,” she moved behind the chair, the craziness of the entire situation not lost on her. “All of it?”

“All of it. It’s time for a new look.”

She went to work on his hair and the final outcome was startling. Fortunately, he had a nice shaped head. His scalp was shockingly white under the florescent lights in the hospital room, but he looked good. Now he didn’t have a bunch of long dirty looking hair hanging down. It was crazy how this already insanely hot group of guys was getting even better looking right before her eyes.

“Nice job,” he said as he rubbed his head. “Is it cool in here to anyone else? There seems to be a breeze right around here.” Leo circled his arm around his head.

The guys laughed as Oliver sat down in front of Lexie. “The special please, Miss.”

“You got it.” As she slid the clippers through his long brown hair and it fell to the floor, she was only vaguely aware of the pictures being taken. She was too busy concentrating on the way Oliver’s hair felt as it slid through her fingers. Though there were other people in the room, including his mother, the moment felt strangely intimate. It hadn’t been the same with the other guys. Touching Oliver was different, and then all too quickly, she was finished.

He glanced at her over his shoulder and grinned, heat starting in her cheeks and radiating all the way down to her sweaty hands. Thankfully, he stood and went to the sink before she did anything stupid.

“We all knew I’d still be hot, let’s just be honest.”

“Yeah, yeah, Oliver.” David pushed him to the side and turned, showing off his Mohawk. He was proud of it and almost left it, but decided to take a picture instead, before shaving off the rest.

Bailey stood up next and slid down into the chair. Lexie caught his mom’s eye and raised the clippers in question, but Cathy shook her head. There were tears swimming in her eyes, so Lexie returned her attention to Bailey. “Here goes nothing.”

A little while later, the entire band stood together, balder than the day they were born, laughing and making fun of each other.

“Now’s the time when you guys should go somewhere where you always wanted to go, but don’t for fear you’ll be recognized. No one would know who you are now, trust me.”

“That’s not a bad idea, Lexie.”

“Okay, everyone, get together. This one’s for the website,” Cathy held up her phone. Lexie stepped next to Cathy while the guys stood together arms over shoulders, smiling like they had just won a Grammy instead of looking as though they were in a hospital room. She understood why Oliver cared so much about them all. After the short amount of time she’d spent with them, she already liked them.

“Now one with Lexie, too,” Oliver beckoned her to join them.

“No, that’s okay. You guys look great.”

He ignored her feeble protest. “Get over here.”

With small steps, she slipped into the space they made for her between Oliver and Bailey. The guys put their arms around her and Cathy snapped a shot. When she was finished and tried to step away Bailey tightened his grip on her waist and whispered into her ear, “Own it.”

She nodded and smiled. “You got it.” With their faces only inches apart, his dark circles stood out like warning signs. Time to play party pooper. “Guys, I know this has been really fun, but Bailey needs to get some rest now.”

“Yeah, we should probably head out.” David bent to retrieve his hat. “We have an early flight tomorrow.”

“Are you heading back home, then?” Lexie tried not to let the slight twinge of panic take hold at the idea Oliver was leaving.

“Just me and old Leo, and only for a little while. We’ll be back.” David slapped Oliver on the shoulder. “Someone has to break in Oliver’s new house.”

“You guys take it easy.”

“See you soon, man,” Leo rubbed Bailey’s head and they filed out, still talking and laughing about each other’s lack of hair.

Lexie made sure Bailey was situated for the night and followed the guys out, leaving only Cathy in the room. In front of her, Leo reached for Oliver’s head. The little gesture earned him a playful punch in the arm.

“See you soon, Sexy Lexie.”

As Leo’s words echoed down the hall, two night nurses giggled behind the desk.
Leo
. Oliver shrugged his shoulders to apologize for his bandmate and then the threesome stepped onto the elevator.

She made her way to her locker doing her best to avoid the other nurses on her way. Sexy Lexie, a nickname she feared would haunt her for years to come thanks to those guys. After grabbing her stuff and clocking out, Lexie made her way to the parking garage elevator, but as the doors started to close a hand hit the door to stop it. She squealed.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. Again.” Oliver stepped inside beside her.

“Oh, sure. Why would a hand slamming into the door scare me in a dark parking garage at night? And, you weren’t wearing a beanie the last time I saw you.”

“That’s why I’m here. To protect you.” He puffed out his chest and stood up straight.

Lexie hit him in his puffed out chest with the back of her hand. He let out a
Humph!
and then relaxed.

“Why do I get the feeling you can take care of yourself?”

“You’re a wise man, Oliver Honeycutt.”

They rode to the top floor in silence except for the shit-eating grin spread across his face. “The hat came from David. He keeps a spare in his car.”

She laughed. “Of course he does.”

“So,” Oliver stopped halfway to her car. “Not a bad look for me, huh?”

“Not at all. Thank God you don’t have some sort of egg head.”

“That would’ve been bad. Then I’d have to steal David’s entire collection.”

Eyes wide, Lexie laughed. “That might’ve been the end of Survival of the Fittest. Thank goodness, I don’t think you’ll have to do that.” They started walking again. “So, who’s his girlfriend?”

“Sara Benson. She’s a nice girl.” He stopped beside her car, his smile a little less playful. “Sorry to disappoint you, but it’s pretty serious.”

“I’m not disappointed. I just didn’t realize. In interviews you guys always answer questions in a way that makes it sound like you’re all single.”

“Oh,” his grin widened again, “that’s Andy’s doing. The label thinks it makes us more desirable. And this way, Sara gets to keep her privacy.”

“Makes sense,” Lexie tried to think of another way to stall, but came up blank. “Well, I’m off. I’ve got to get some sleep.”

“Sounds good. Thanks again, you know, for today. My mom filled me in.”

“You don’t ever have to thank me.”

He smiled at her and opened her car door. “Lexie?”

“Yes,” she paused before sliding the rest of the way in.

“I’m glad I met you.”