Chapter Three
Liquid Currage – One month later
Fallon
Looking down at the blue ink on my hand, smudged almost enough to be illegible, I realized I’d finally found the place. I pulled my black trench coat tighter, cinching the belt again. I could not imagine that this was one of the better neighborhoods around, and I was shocked I’d even had the balls to show up at all. But a new life meant new adventures and having to step out of my comfort zone just a little.
Two girls bounced by me, clinging together, probably to protect themselves from the chilly wind and light drizzle of rain. Even in late April, I could feel the city’s cold deep down into my bones. After tripping slightly in a puddle and damning the six-inch heels I had stupidly worn, I grabbed the door that the others rushed into.
Dane had been right, I was shocked by the venue. I walked to the second floor of a packed scene. It was dark, smoky, and erupting with the roar of half-drunk people crowding everywhere. The stage had a light reddish glow that barely made the three guitars and drum set visible from where I’d entered.
After checking my coat, I was able to shove my way down the stairs and over to the bar faster than I had expected and happily flagged down a tall, dark-haired bartender with an incredible phoenix tattoo on his forearm. I yelled my order to him over the shrieks of drunken fangirls.
A moment later, I heard the band’s lead singer scream into the microphone, “Ladies, ladies, calm down. We’re The Hysterics, and we’re here for you. Please be so kind as to welcome my awesome bandmates. We have Dane on the drums.”
The crowd exploded. After pausing for the noise to die down, the frontman continued as Dane’s sweet smile lit up.
“Maverick on the bass.”
He started to play a light thumping rhythm at the sound of his name, which Dane jumped on, too.
“Colt is over there, ladies, on lead guitar.”
Colt’s face had a devilish grin on it as he started to play along with Maverick’s tempo.
“And I’m Rodney.”
With that, the crowd went wild and the band kicked off with the melody of an upbeat number that was quickly winning over the crowd.
Rodney was a terrific frontman, playing guitar and singing while practically having sex with any woman he made eye contact with. It was amazing to be out at a show, watching a fantastic band play, but my mind kept jumping back to the bitter guilt and jealousy that I was riddled with. I grabbed my beer in one hand, slamming down the shot of tequila with the other.
Liquid courage, here I come.
It was my first time being around live music since I’d quit my band. It was thrilling and terrifying. I wanted to run away and jump on stage all at once.
“Calm down, crazy lady. Enjoy the ride.”
The sound of my best friend Starr’s voice echoed in my head while I made my way to the side of the stage closest to where Dane was. I was in awe as I got a better look at his gorgeous black DW drum set, to the point of almost drooling. I missed playing so much that it almost hurt.
I took a swig of my beer just as a ballad started to sway the mood down a little. While Dane waited for his cue to jump into the song, we made eye contact. His smile was brilliant. Even his eyes seemed to smile when our gazes met. Right then, I realized how attractive he was.
No more musicians. Don’t do it.
That stupid voice in my head was annoying, but right. I’d had my own freaking Jiminy Cricket chirping in my ear ever since I had woken up in that damn hospital bed.
All the band members were attractive in their own way. Rodney was tall and skinny, with sandy brown hair and the whitest teeth I had ever seen. Maverick was a little bit shorter, but from the definition of his muscles under his shirt, I could tell how hard he worked for an awesome body. Colt was sweet looking with kind of a baby face, but when he smiled, I could see all of the sins he was proud of spreading across his face. Then there was Dane. He had jet black hair, was the only band member with visible tattoos covering both of his arms, and had the best smile I had ever laid eyes on.
I danced and swayed to their music for the whole set, never leaving my spot, not even for another drink. I really couldn’t believe how great they were, almost like New Found Glory meets Rage Against the Machine.
If that’s even possible.
I was in love.
“Encore! Encore!”
The roaring fans and I were in agreement that the show should go on.
But, like all good things, they freaking ended. Rodney said goodnight and apologized to the protesting fans, explaining that they had to make room for the next band to come on. As the guys started to break down, Dane mouthed to me to wait one second while holding his finger up and flashing that killer smile.
Oh yeah. Weak knees.
He
then turned to Maverick and pointed at me, mouthing something else. The next thing I knew, Maverick had jumped off the stage and was right next to me. He introduced himself by yelling into my ear and then helped me up onto the stage to join the band. I was so embarrassed because my dress was almost exposing my underwear the first time I was meeting Dane’s band members, but they didn’t seem to notice.
Dane grabbed my hand as I got to my feet and shouted, “You look freaking awesome, Fae! Thanks for showing up.”
I felt my cheeks burn red and yelled back, “This place is amazing! Thanks for inviting me.”
He motioned toward backstage. “Want a drink?”
I nodded and followed him away from the still screaming fans. Once inside the band’s dressing room—which was about the size of a closet—I really got nervous. Dane introduced me to everyone and they all seemed so nice. I was shocked. Most of the musicians I knew back home and from tour who were at almost-star-level like The Hysterics were jerks.
Tossing me a beer, Maverick queried, “So, Fae, right?”
I nodded.
“How’d you meet our boy here?” He clapped Dane on the shoulder.
Before I could go into the story, Dane noticed my nervousness and answered for me. “She’s my new boss.” Dane winked at me and I relaxed a little. “Well, kind of. I’m the new assistant editor at Raging Underground. I’ve only been in Chicago for a little while now.” Talking about myself was unsettling. I wasn’t used to being Fae Dunham yet, so I took a long swig of my beer and started to rave about how impressed I was with them, hoping I could find some courage in the bottom of the bottle and stop blushing. “When Dane told me that his band had a gig and he wanted me to come check it out, I had no idea it would be of this caliber. Seriously, you guys killed it out there.”
“You’re sweet,” Rodney pitched over my way while lightly picking at his Baby Taylor. “Dane, nice job bringing a chick around that doesn’t act like a bitch or a gushing groupie.”
Through a nervous chuckle, Dane leaned over and said into my ear, “Don’t mind him. Wanna go check out the next group? I heard they are pretty awesome.”
“Sure, that’d be great.”
Grabbing my hand, Dane led me out of the room as I waved goodbye to the others. They were all polite and told me to come back again. As we walked down the hall, a few girls eyed me with jealousy written all over their faces, some of them even cooing their hellos to Dane as sensually as possible. To my surprise, his grip on my hand got tighter and he pulled me into his side, ignoring the floozies. When we made our way to the bar, I ordered us a round of water. Dane’s eyes lit up with a twinge of curiosity as we drank our nonalcoholic beverages. I needed to keep my head about me and not let booze start making decisions for me. Staying sober was a safer course than risking betraying my inner Jiminy Cricket.
“Thanks for coming out. I didn’t think you would make it.” Dane’s voice was straining to be louder than the heavy metal on stage and the fans’ excited shrills.
“I really missed this type of stuff. I loved your kit, by the way!” My eyes met his and I realized I was getting dangerously close to blowing part of my cover.
No one can know I am a drummer.
I had to remind myself of this sometimes. It was like being a fish and trying to convince people I was a mermaid—it just didn’t make sense.
I cursed under my breath; thankfully, my mumbles got swallowed up by the crowded room.
“Oh yeah,” Dane chuckled. “She’s pretty great. You been around a lot of bands before?”
His mouth curled into an extremely sexy half smile as I fumbled for words, his gray eyes piercing mine.
Fuck, he’s so damn hot.
“I dabbled in a little bit of music journalism in college. Payton wouldn’t hire just anyone, would he?”
Dane shook his head, tightly pulling me into him. He pressed my back up against his chest, moving to the music. We danced right next to the bar for the rest of the band’s set. The other members of The Hysterics had joined us and ordered a few more drinks while we enjoyed the fast-paced rhythm and near screaming of the lead singer.
Eventually, Dane and I found ourselves alone again at the beginning of another band’s second song. The rest of his bandmates had trickled off into the shadows with some wannabe groupies. I was relieved when the song started calming down into a ballad and Dane took me into his strong, tattooed arms again. We slow danced and his lips brushed my ear ever so softly, sending chills up my spine.
He breathed gently into my neck, “Do you want to get out of here?”
I playfully shook my head as he kissed my neck once. I was enjoying myself, but this was enough playtime outside my comfort zone for one night.
I pulled away from him, just enough to look into his smoldering steel eyes. “You should ask me out on a real date before you think I am going to ‘get out of here with you,’ Romeo,” I said, making air quotes and grinning.
He nodded, smiled. After grabbing my trench coat, he escorted me out of the packed club. My inner Jiminy was screaming at me to stop playing with fire again, but I was a moth drawn to a flaming hot drummer.
We waited on the curb for a taxi to drive by and he hailed one for me. Before releasing my hand, he rested his cheek on mine. “I’ll see you at work tomorrow. How about drinks after with the guys? They seemed to want you to come around again soon.”
I nodded, giggling a little, feeling his stubble graze my face. “That’s still not a date,” I teased, whispering in his ear.
He tightened his grip around my waist, getting his lips within half an inch of mine. “I know. How about dinner after we meet up with the guys?”
Without waiting for my answer, he pressed his lips to mine, and I was stunned. I gently pushed Dane away, making sure to keep sweet eye contact with him.
“It’s a date then.” I smirked, a little breathless from our kiss. “See you at work, drummer boy.”
With that, I was in the cab, speeding away to a sleepless night, too excited about what the Windy City was going to have in store for me after all.
Dane
Even though the lights were nearly off, I could feel the energy of the deafening horde growing with anticipation. I reached down to find my fresh pair of sticks, firmly grasping them in my right hand. The smooth, black paint on the wood was sleek and intoxicating as I twirled them in my fingers.
Fuck yeah. This is going to be a good night.
Sweat was already starting to form on my brow as the adrenaline coursed through my veins. My breath started to quicken and my heart felt like it was going to explode out of my chest. Even though I had been on stage with these guys every weekend for years, each gig sent an overwhelming feeling rushing over me, reminding me why I truly loved what I did.
The lights started to brighten and the spotlight lit up Rodney’s face. All of the booze-fueled fans screeched as Rodney started his usual introduction.
“Ladies, ladies, calm down. We’re The Hysterics, and we’re here for you. Please be so kind as to welcome my awesome bandmates. We have Dane on the drums.”
I heard my cue and let a stick twirl in the light above my head before stomping out the bass rhythm for the remainder of the band to be introduced. The crowd erupted and we dove right into the newest tune I’d written.
Rodney’s voice was smooth and lustful, unknowing of the truth that burned bright in the words that dripped from his lips like honey on a hot summer’s day. My mind flashed to the tattoo on my shoulder: two small fireflies, one protecting the other. My heart stopped and my breath caught as she crossed my mind and everything around me stopped for a brief moment.
It's a dull kind of pain that just sits in my heart and weighs me down
And you're the only one who can fix it
It burns and erupts at the worst times
Stinging old wounds that have already been licked clean
Right when headway is made, the darkness crashes again
Closing in on my starlight
Little flicks of magic extinguished one by one
The firefly's lifespan gets tested over and over
Thankfully, she is inked into existence for all eternity
Once the set was over, I started to pack up the equipment and Mav helped me get Fae up on the stage. She seemed pretty happy with the show and comfortable with the guys, which surprised them all. Maybe it was that she was new to the city, but most girls from around here got a little unnecessarily star struck around us. Fae was calm while complimenting us on our set. She used biz words like they were common, but I shrugged them off until I was standing next to her at the bar.