The Loneliest Tour (8 page)

“
Sending
pics?
”
Jett asked.

“
That
’
s none of your business,
”
Masie said and grabbed the
phone.

“
I
bet your boyfriend likes that.
”

Masie snorted.
“
Boyfriend. Right.
”

“
Where
are you headed now?
”

“
Downstairs.
That
’
s where the dancers go
to get changed.
”

“
Then?
”

“
I
guess out in the crowd. Or go home. Whatever works.
”

“
No,
don
’
t do that. Come with
me. We
’
ll go upstairs. Get
a drink and relax. Enjoy the show.
”

“
I
’
m kind of a mess.
”

Jett reached out and touched a
piece of Masie
’
s hair -
just
like the first night they met
- and he fixed it.
“
There. Now you look perfect.
”

Masie blushed.
“
Let me at least get changed.
”

“
Okay,
”
Jett said.
“
I won
’
t be here though. I kind have to go save the night
for all those people out there.
”

Masie laughed.
“
You don
’
t like Crutch Fail?
”

“
Well,
I see now that you
’
re a
dancer for them. So I won
’
t
say anything bad.
”

“
Oh,
that
’
s fine,
”
Masie said. She leaned and
whispered,
“
They really
suck. I know it. But it
’
s a
job. It covers my bills, you know?
”

“
I
get it,
”
Jett said.
“
You do what you have to do.
Promise me you
’
ll be up in
the VIP area, okay? Don
’
t
hang down there. I
’
m sure
you don
’
t want to deal with
Crutch Fail.
”

“
Ugh,
no. I think I
’
ve touched
Colin enough for one night.
”

The words ripped through Jett with
a fiery jealous feeling. He never got jealous and really didn
’
t like the feeling.

He stepped toward Masie,
envisioning just putting her up against the wall right in the stairwell. His
hand touched her waist for a split second and then he backed up. Christ, he
wanted to get to know her, not scare her away.

“
I
have to go,
”
Jett said.
“
Just wanted to see you again.
You
’
re a really good
dancer, sweetheart.
”

“
Yeah,
right,
”
Masie said.
“
They were nothing short of sex
moves out there. Of course you liked it.
”

Jett took Masie by the hand.
“
Seriously. I watched you almost
the whole time. You have talent.
”

“
Thanks.
”

Masie took the steps and stopped.
She looked back as Jett still stood there. He wasn
’
t going to move until she was out of sight. He wasn
’
t going to let a second go by
that he could spend looking at her.

“
For
the record,
”
Masie said.
“
I was sending the picture to a
friend. Not a guy either. Someone important to me.
”

“
Good
to know,
”
Jett said.
“
You could send it to me. I
wouldn
’
t mind having
something to look at.
”

Masie smirked.
“
I don
’
t have your number, big shot rockstar.
”

“
Oh,
you have my number, sweetheart.
”

Jett left it at that and turned. He
sucked in a breath and listened until the echoing footsteps of Masie was
finally gone.

At the top landing, Jett leaned
against the wall.

“
Shit,
”
he whispered.

The door opened and Harry appeared.
“
What the hell, Jett? We
’
re looking for you. It
’
s time to play.
”

Jett pushed from the wall.

Time to play.

(6)

Masie got changed and wished she
could take a shower. The band always promised that once the shows got bigger
they would be playing at arenas where everyone could shower. Or better yet -
they
’
d have a tour bus
where the dancers could shower with the band.

Yeah, right.

Masie would rather smell of sweat
than do anything with Colin without clothes on. Bad enough she had to dance up and
down him for thirty long, painful minutes.

The other girls were dressed,
cleaned up, and working through the floor to the bar. They had a little flock
of guys around them wanting to buy them drinks with the hopes of experiencing
their dance moves in private. Masie thought about just going out there. She
thought about going home, too.

But this was a Willow Son show. She
’
d never seen one before. It didn
’
t cost her anything.

Jett did invite me upstairs. I
should just go
…

Masie crept back to the steps. She
climbed them and opened the top door. A security guard stood there, arms
crossing, eyeing her.

“
Lost?
”
he asked.

“
No.
I was invited.
”

“
Yeah?
They all
…”

“
Hey,
she
’
s cool!
”
a voice yelled.

Masie looked and saw Colin charging
toward her.

No, no, no
…

“
What?
”
the security guard asked.

“
She
’
s with me. Come here, Masie,
come on.
”

Masie moved by the security guard
and Colin had an arm at the small of her back.

“
You
need a drink. You worked hard tonight.
”

“
I
’
m good,
”
Masie said.
“
I
just want to watch Willow Son.
”

“
Oh,
I get it. They
’
re better
than us?
”

“
I
didn
’
t say that,
”
Masie said.
“
I was
…”

“
There
’
s my girl!
”
another voice yelled.

Masie never felt so popular.

Ian approached, trying to look good
in an expensive suit. Masie wiggled away from Colin.

“
I
hate this guy,
”
Colin
growled.
“
Have fucking fun
tonight.
”

Colin left and Ian was there to
take his place.

Masie had no choice but to hug Ian.
It was just their standard greeting. He plastered a wet kiss on her cheek and
Masie backed away.

“
I
’
m all yucky still,
”
she said.
“
I just came up to see the band.
I mean, Willow Son, not Clutch Fail. I was on stage with them.
”

“
Don
’
t sweat that, girl. It
’
s all good. Come on, let me get
you a drink.
”

Masie hated walking with Ian. She
hated that he touched her lower back. Then again, at least it kept everyone
else away from her.

They sat at a two person table
right next to the railing. It was reserved specifically for Ian.

Masie rolled her eyes when she saw
the little sign with his name on it. Most certainly Ian didn
’
t pay for the table. It was a
total hook up from Portis.

Ian hurried away to get drinks and
Masie peered over the railing down at the stage. Her heart started to race.

Willow Son.

The second Ian returned with
drinks, all the lights went off in the venue.

Perfect timing.

Everyone in the place started to
scream. The sound went straight through Masie
’
s
ears. It was so piercing it hurt everywhere. But she couldn
’
t stop looking and waiting.

The band walked on stage without a
curtain, without anything fancy. It was completely basic and stripped down.
Even more of a shock, the band was holding five acoustic guitars. They each
walked to a barstool - even the drummer - and just sat there.

The crowd was going wild.

Lights shined on each of the guys
and they all waved.

It kept the people screaming and
cheering for Willow Son.

Then started a chant
…
“
We love Jett! We love Jett! We love Jett!
”

Masie watched as Jett stood from
the barstool and waved with both hands.

He sat back down and Colby leaned
forward.
“
Wow. Are you here
to see someone?
”

The crowd cheered louder again.

“
I
think they want to hear some music,
”
Van said.

“
No,
”
Colby said.
“
They want to see Jett!
”

The
“
We love Jett!
”
chants began again.

Finally, Jett leaned forward to his
mic.
“
I don
’
t even know what to say right
now.
”

His voice was sexy coming through
the speakers.

He strummed a chord on his guitar.

“
I
’
m not going to say anything. I
’
m going to just fucking play
guitar and be a rockstar. Is that okay with you?
”

The crowd cheered.

Masie even raised her hands and
started to clap. She cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled.

“
I
think they
’
re ready,
”
Ryker said.

“
Ask
them,
”
Van said.

Colby leaned forward.
“
Are you ready?
”

The people cheered.

“
No,
”
Colby said.
“
I
’
ll
try again. Are you fucking ready?
”

The place got louder. The crowd on
the floor started to move. They were shifting, already trying to get closer to
the stage.

“
So
are we,
”
Colby said.

All the lights went out.

A guitar started to play. A light
hit Jett first. Then a light hit Ryker. He started to play a lead part. In a
matter of a minute, there were five lights back on the stage and all five guys
in Willow Son were playing.

Colby started to sing and the show
officially started.

Masie couldn
’
t take her eyes off it.

Even stripped down with only
acoustic guitars, Willow Son was so much better than Crutch Fail.

They played three songs acoustic
and then all got their electric instruments. When that kicked in, it was like
walking the hall of the recording studio when Masie caught Jett jamming out.
The feeling deep inside her body. The rumble of the bass. The thunder booms of
the drums. The electric screams of the guitars. Colby
’
s amazing voice.

She was so lost in the show, she
barely touched her drink. And when Ian touched her back, she jumped. She looked
at him and he was pointing for the door.

Her first thought was Portis. Maybe
she
’
d get to meet him. She
hated to ditch the concert but she had to. Just in case.

She followed Ian back to the
corridor. Willow Son
’
s kick
ass music pushed through the thick walls, but it was low enough that she and
Ian could talk.

“
Hey,
girl, you okay?
”
Ian asked.

Stop calling me girl. I
’
m not your girl, dude.

“
I
’
m fine. I
’
m enjoying the show.
”

“
I
wanted to talk to you. I have to fly out tonight. Like right now.
”

“
You
do? Why?
”

“
My
brother. Something with an old house of his. He needs my help. You can fly with
me. Portis gave me a credit card. I can grab you a ticket.
”

“
I
can
’
t do that. I have
practice. I don
’
t know what
the schedule is like for the band.
”

“
It
’
s only for a couple days. Portis
won
’
t mind.
”

“
You
know I can
’
t do that, Ian.
”