Authors: Clara Bayard
Joe laughed and finally relaxed. "You're right, Rick. I'm sorry to deprive you of that." He took Liss in his arms. "But I can't wait another hour to make this woman my wife."
Rick shrugged. "Might as well. You've been whipped since the day you met her." He scowled, but I could tell his heart wasn't in it.
"So, does that mean we're doing this?" Julia asked. "When and where?"
Joe looked around. "You're all onboard?"
Everyone was.
"Then the answer is here and now." He pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed. He muttered something brief and then put it away. A minute later a parade of people entered via the door we'd used. Crew members, Red and the security guys, Julia's backing band, Blaze and the rest of Playology, even Julia's mother and my new cameraman. There were even a couple of people I didn't recognize. Most were carrying a bottle of booze or a covered plate. They dumped everything on the bar and surrounded us. The mood turned from confused to celebratory.
Becca grabbed Julia and me and hustled over to Liss. She was beaming.
"What do you need us to do?" I asked.
Liss shrugged. "Not much. Ellie, we're giving to exclusive coverage of the wedding for your site, if you want it."
"Really?"
"Of course. I know we haven't spent much time together, but you're part of the family now. Besides, Joe sent me a copy of your documentary. I'm impressed, and we'd be lucky to have your talented look at this night."
"Thank you." I glanced over at Matthew and swallowed past the lump in my throat. "I'd be happy to write a story and post some photos, but I think the video should be a private thing." My boss would certainly disagree, but she didn't need to know I'd been offered a choice in the matter.
"Okay, great. Um, I don't know what to do next."
Becca laughed. "Allow me." She parceled out instructions, and sent Liss up the stairs to make her entrance.
She arranged us in a semi-circle by the windows, with the last-minute officiant facing the crowd. I was a little disappointed he wasn't an Elvis impersonator, but it wasn't my Vegas wedding, so I let it go.
Matthew kept his arm over my shoulder as someone turned on music and Liss walked slowly down the stairs. She'd only been gone for a minute but she was a different person now. Glowing and vibrating with excitement. Not nervous, just happy. At the bottom of the staircase Joe met her. They held hands and walked up to the front of the room.
As the strange, but beautiful ceremony went on, I looked around. It was a strange group of people, to be sure, and not the most conventional guest list. But given how hard everyone here worked together, it made sense. Dream Defiled had brought all of us together, personally and professionally. Without the band, Joe and Liss never would have met. It was bizarre and silly, and the exactly perfect way for them to become husband and wife.
When the officiant told Joe he could kiss the bride, they both froze, staring into each other's eyes for a long moment. Only Dex's loud, "Hurry or I'll do it for ya," spurred them into action. The kiss was long and sweet and I felt a tear fall from my eye. When they finally parted and turned to the crowd, a loud cheer went up.
"All right," Joe said, gripping his new wife's hand tightly. "Let's get fucked up."
The ensuing celebration was a blur of drinking and dancing and hugging and laughing. It went on for hours, and by the time we all made our way back to the band's suite, the sun was coming up. Joe and Liss went out to the balcony to toast each other, and I collapsed onto a couch with Matthew. I rested my head on his chest and sighed contentedly.
"Good night, huh?"
I nodded. "Who would've thought it could get even better."
"Great wedding."
"It's the first one I've ever been to, actually."
He looked at me, shocked. "Really?"
"Yeah." I shrugged. "Foster kid, remember? Not a lot of happy couples in my life." I kissed him. "Until recently, that is." I looked over to the corner of the room where Dex and Becca were slow-dancing. Well, really just swaying along to the soft music playing.
I looked out the window. "How can a new day just start like nothing's changed? Everything is so different than yesterday morning."
"In a good way?"
"In the best way."
Matthew kissed me again. We sat there in silence as the morning brightened completely. We must have nodded off at some point, because I was jolted awake by Joe's voice booming through the room.
"Family meeting!" he shouted. "Everybody up."
I wiped at my eyes and looked around. Dex and Becca were on the couch across from us, and Liss was perched on the edge of an ottoman.
"Come on, shitheads," Joe said to Rick and Julia who were stumbling into the room looking disheveled.
"Where've you lot been?" Dex asked.
Joe grinned. "I found them fucking in the hot tub overlooking the Strip. Do you two ever do it in a bed? Never mind, don't answer that. I don't want to know."
We all laughed.
Joe rubbed his head and crossed his arms. "Before we all go to bed, there's another thing I want to say."
"We're not going on your honeymoon with you," Becca deadpanned.
"No shit you're not." He grinned. "I just want to be serious for a minute. Wait, first, everyone needs champagne."
Rick was closest to the kitchen, so he passed out glasses and filled them without complaint which shocked me more than the surprise wedding we'd all just attended.
When everyone had a drink, we stood in a circle. Joe stood silently for a long moment before speaking. "First of all, I want to thank you all for putting up with this shit. I know it was crazy, but I've never been happier." He toasted to Liss. "Babe, you're the girl of my dreams. I can't believe I'm so lucky to have walked into that diner the night we met. I wish I hadn't been wearing guyliner at the time, of course. But if it led me to you, I would've happily wore a clown costume. Anything. I've missed you every second we weren't together since then, but not spent one minute regretting that I fell in love with you. You're the port from the storm that is my life and I can never express how grateful I am that you put up with me. I love you so much and I am so proud to be able to spend the rest of my life with you."
Liss cried happy tears and kissed him. "I feel the same way. And I thank you for supporting me in finding my own dream to follow. I know my school has made it hard for us to spend as much time together and I'm so happy that you've been okay with it. You're the most loving, kind man I've ever met and I love you so much."
They hugged for a long time before Joe returned his attention to the rest of us. "Okay, I know. Enough mushiness from everyone. But you all have to know that this wouldn't have happened without all of you. This band. This life. It's been a crazy ride but it's brought us here. All the insanity was worth it, I think. I know. Shit, we've fucked up in all the ways you can fuck up." He raised his glass to each member of the band in turn. "But here we are, boys. Still standing. Still together. Whatever the future brings, you are my brothers. This is our family." Flashing a crooked grin, he glanced at the women in the room and nodded. "Family. Bigger and more beautiful than ever before."
The room was silent for a moment and then erupted in cheers. We toasted and laughed and cried, knowing he was right.
"On tour, in the studio, in this ridiculous room or apart, it doesn't matter," Joe continued. "There is nothing in this world stronger than us together and Dream Defiled is forever."
As everyone lounged around, Dex got the room's attention. "Joe, this has been a wonderful night. We're all honored you shared it with us. I haven't always showed it, but you're my best mate and I couldn't be happier for you."
Joe reached over and clapped him on the shoulder. "Thank you." He looked around the room. "While I'm too drunk to keep from spilling this, there is something else I should tell you all." He sighed loudly. "I've been avoiding the topic, but now seems like as good a time as ever to come clean. You all know I've gotten offers for a solo album. And I think it'll be no surprise to you that I considered it. We've been together for a long time, through good and bad and downright terrible. Sometimes I can't stand the sight of your faces. And I don't know what the future will hold, but I know I'd never be where I am without you. And I'd never just ditch you. Ditch us. This band is the best thing I've ever done. Not the smartest, but the best." He laughed. "I get frustrated always trying to be the guy who does the right thing, says the right thing. But I love it, too. I love that you trust me to represent us."
Dex nodded. "We do. And I know we don't always appreciate it the way we should. You're out there being Mr. Perfect so I can be my fucked up self without destroying everything. It must be exhausting."
"Sometimes," Joe admitted. "But it's what you do for your family. You do what you can to protect them."
My heart hurt hearing that. It's certainly not how my own family had worked. But now I had a new one, and they were different. Amazing. Matthew squeezed my hand as if he could read my mind.
Rick leaned forward. "Is it me, or does this sound like a break-up conversation?"
Matthew laughed. "Every break-up you've had has been a shouting match, dude."
"True," the drummer admitted. "But is that what this is?" His voice was smaller than I'd ever heard before. Almost timid. Frightened.
"It isn't," Joe said.
"It better not be," Becca added. "You guys still have a month left on the tour and another album on your contract."
Julia giggled. "Tell ‘em, business girl."
Becca ducked her head. "Sorry."
Joe smiled at her. "No, don't be. It's good to remember where we are. But it's also good to think about what comes next. We've been in the studio or on the road for almost as long as I can remember. Maybe a break isn't a bad idea. Our lives are much bigger than they used to be. Maybe we should think about exploring our other interests for a time."
The four members of the band looked at each other for a while, lost in thought or imagining life without each other, I assumed.
"Not to be the reporter in the room, but, what would you do? What would each of you do during some time off?"
Dex laughed. "Did someone search you for a camera, Ellie?"
I rolled my eyes. "Come on, you guys want to talk about this stuff, really talk about it for once."
"She's right," Matthew said. "While I was away I thought about it. I had to consider what I'd do with my life without this band and it was scary, but important."
Joe stood up. "Shit, okay. Let's talk about it. After the next album I would like to take some time off. Not to make my own music, just to live my life. Sleep in the same bed for more than two nights in a row. Hang out with my wife." He beamed at Liss at the word.
"That sounds wonderful," she added. "Dex, what about you?"
The Brit chewed on his lower lip for a moment before answering. "I dunno. I guess I'd like to go back to England for a bit. Write some songs, reconnect with my family back there. See what I'm like away from this chaos. If Becca agrees."
"I do. Hell, I've been working twenty-four seven since I got hired by Ryan. It would be nice to just rest for a bit. Be bored. Yeah." She smiled. "Rick?"
He grunted. "Fuck all that. Lazy bastards." He softened the harsh words with a smile. "I have to keep drumming. But, well…"
Julia put her hand on his arm. "I'll tell them." She tossed her long red hair. "I'm working on a new contract with the label, and I'm going to be headlining my own tour next year. Smaller clubs. No pyrotechnics or anything. Just me and a stage. And I was looking for a reasonably good drummer."
Rick growled at her playfully. "Woman, you know I'm miles past reasonably good at everything."
"Yuck," Becca replied.
"His greatest talent is running his mouth," Matthew added.
Rick flipped him off. "Oh yeah, big shot? What's your plan?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. Hell, I'm barely back to playing music again, I'm not looking to stop." He looked at Julia. "We make a pretty good team, don't you think?"
"A great team, actually." She was right about that. They'd done new arrangements of two songs she was performing on the tour and both were fantastic.
"Well, it sounds like your trio will be staying together no matter what," I said.
Matthew's face turned serious. "I'm not going anywhere without you."
I smiled at him. "That's sweet. But, come on. We're stronger than that. We don't need to be in the same place every day to be together, do we?"
"No, I guess not."
"I just don't know what my next assignment is going to be, so…"
"It's okay. We'll figure it out."
"Um, actually, I might have an idea about that," Becca said.
I looked at her. "What do you mean?"
"Well, remember you gave me a copy of the rough cut of that film you made?"
"Yeah…"
"Well, I know it's not done and not for the public."
"It really isn't."
"Right. But, um…"
"It's okay," Matthew interjected. "The only thing I didn't tell you, El, about what happened after I watched it. I talked to Becca. Not just about your job, but about the film. It was amazing. Inspiring to me, but also just really impressive."
I glanced back and forth between them. "What did you do?"
He grinned. "I talked to your brother before I saw you yesterday. Gave him a little homework."
"Yeah, and he got in touch with me," Becca said. "We sent the footage to Truth."
My mouth dropped open. "The production company?"
"Yeah. They're starting a new project with Netflix to produce documentaries with a pop-culture focus."
"And?" My heart was thundering in my chest.
"Nothing's finalized and they know you're committed to this tour, but they're very interested. The president of the company should be reaching out to you in the next few days."
I wanted to scream and dance and cry all at the same time. It was my dream job. Covering fun topics but not from a gossip angle. "You did that for me?"
Becca nodded. "Of course. Steven told us who to contact, but I was happy to do it."