Trey got a phone call and excused himself to take it, and Jonas and Chase headed back to the lounge. O’Shea hung back with me, and I could tell he was hovering, but I wasn’t sure why. He finally sat down in one of the seats near the sound engineer’s cage and patted the seat next to me expectantly.
I sat down, looking up at the stage in silence.
“I talked to Kacie earlier, “ he said casually. “Sounds like things at The Waking Moon have been a little insane.”
“Insane doesn’t even cover it,” I said. “Kacie’s due a giant raise.”
“I’m sure she’ll be happy to hear that,” he said, grinning.
“I feel bad that she’s so swamped. Maybe I should hire someone else to help her.”
“I think she’s kind of loving it,” O’Shea said. “If she gets overwhelmed, she’ll let you know.” I nodded, realizing he was right. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’re the one feeling a little overwhelmed,” he added.
I sighed. “Am I that obvious?”
“Open book,” he said, bumping my knee with his fist. I looked at him and felt his brown puppy dog eyes boring into me. “Let me guess, you’re feeling conflicted about all this success?”
“Is this the part where you tell me I’m an ungrateful idiot, and I should just get over it?”
“Not at all,” he said, staring at the stage again as he spoke. “No one knows better than me that success doesn’t happen overnight. You can spend years perfecting your craft, but sometimes the recognition for it comes suddenly. There’s nothing you can do about that.”
“Your fans are showing up at The Waking Moon to buy pieces of art they probably can’t even afford,” I added. “It’s not that I’m ungrateful. I ... I just don’t know if the only reason I’m selling those pieces is because they’re eager to be a part of this whole whirlwind.”
“What if the fans aren’t buying your work because they want to be a piece of your story,” O’Shea began. “But because they want you to be a piece of theirs.” I was stunned into silence. I hadn’t considered that, but hearing it coming from O’Shea, it made a lot of sense. “As for everyone else,” he continued, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “The Rolling Stone article might shine a giant spotlight on your work that wasn’t there before, but it only exposes what you’ve been doing all along. It doesn’t change it. It’s easier for most people to judge someone in your position harshly than to support them. The fact that your art is selling fast is just a testament to your talent. It would be just as easy for people to discount your work, be jealous, and hate your success at every level.”
“When did you get to be so insightful?” I said, grinning at him.
“Hey, it’s not my fault you’re slow to notice.”
I chuckled and bumped his shoulder with mine. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Mention what?” I bit my lip and raised an eyebrow at him.
“This is why you and Trey work,” he said, laughing at me. “You two deserve each other.”
Chapter 28
Trey
I SENSED VAMPIRES NEARBY, but that was all I knew as I stepped out of the elevator into the hotel lobby the next morning.
Tytus was standing close to the front doors, and nodded toward two men seated on the fancy sofa not far from the concierge. Feeling very protective, I pretended to clumsily bump into Jonas so I could get in front of him as we exited the elevator. Jonas mumbled something about not being the only one who needed coffee to function this early in the morning and followed behind me sleepily. O’Shea was wide awake and messing with his phone as we walked, and Chase was already nursing a Mountain Dew from the vending machine upstairs and not paying attention to much else. The vampires were wearing dark sunglasses and suits like Emissary vamps do, like they’re trying to imitate agents in the Matrix, but I could see they didn’t have the Emissary logo sewed onto their breast pockets. One of them removed his sunglasses as we strolled by, meeting my gaze just long enough to let me know he’d seen me. I wanted to confront him. I wanted to throw him at the wall and demand an explanation for why they were following us. But it wasn’t just a scandal I was trying to avoid. These vampires weren’t fledglings, and they could almost certainly tear my head off without much effort. They sat with smug looks on their faces as I tried to casually usher my friends out of the hotel and into the waiting car out front.
“Change of plans,” I said to Tytus before I climbed in. “You’re not coming with us to the radio station. I want you to follow them.”
Tytus smiled slowly and gave a curt nod. “You got it, boss.”
I climbed into the car and watched Tytus standing on the curb as we pulled away. The guys and I had some radio promo to do this morning, but Aurora was still at the hotel. She was going to shop for supplies and make a blood run before meeting us at the venue later. I pulled my phone from my pocket and sent her a quick text.
Vamps in the hotel lobby. Tytus is going to track them when they leave. Be safe. It took her a little longer than usual to respond, so as an after-thought I added, And don’t do anything stupid. Please.
Buzzkill, she responded, adding a winky face afterward.
I sighed in relief. Let Tytus do what he’s good at. Maybe we’ll get some answers.
Okay. See you for lunch.
Chase was drumming his now empty Mountain Dew bottle on his knee. He was so content, with nothing more to worry about than the little acoustic set we were doing at the radio station. Today I’d have to push the mystery vamps out of my mind and focus on that. Tytus was on top of things. He’d be in touch if he learned anything. As long as Aurora didn’t decide to take matters into her own hands, things would be okay. The radio promo went exactly as planned. We played “You Only Live Twice” and they broadcast it live over the air. After that we played “Midnight Poison” and “Filtered Ache” for everyone at the station and they put it up on their website for the listeners. We had a great time, especially since radio promo always just felt like a glorified excuse to make music and goof off with my brothers. I tried not to look too anxious to get my phone out when we’d finished up and loaded into the car again. No news from Tytus. I hoped that was a good thing, but couldn’t help the sinking feeling in my stomach. I called Aurora and felt my nerves ease up a bit when she answered on the second ring.
“Hey,” she said. “How was the station?”
“Good,” I answered. “Find the paints you needed?”
“I’m still browsing,” she said. “I think I could fill a second bus up with supplies if I tried.”
“Say the word,” I said to her, knowing she’d hear my smile.
“Have you heard from Ty?” she asked.
“No. You?”
“Not yet. I’ll give him a call when I’m done here. Will that make you feel better?”
“Yeah,” I admitted. It would be easier for her to have that conversation since I was packed in the back of an Escalade with Jonas, Chase, O’Shea and Neon. I happened to glance out the window just then as we were approaching a Toys “R” Us store. “I think we’re going to do a little shopping, too,” I said. “Keep me posted. Love you.”
“All right. Love you, too,” she said. “Go have fun with the guys. See you soon.”
Hey,” I said to the driver as I pocketed my phone. “Pull in here.”
A couple of the store employees definitely recognized us as we walked into the store with a little too much energy, but no one was brave enough to say anything. Jonas recorded video with his iPad as we combed the aisles, pulling random toys down from the shelves to try out. We hadn’t been inside for all of five minutes when I heard Neon’s thoughts as he realized he should probably go warn the store manager that we were here and assure him that we wouldn’t destroy anything.
“I feel like blowing some cash today,” I announced, loud enough for him to hear me.
“Me, too!” O’Shea echoed from the next aisle over. That ought to make the manager feel
better about a group of grown men riding scooters through the aisles. Chase was dribbling a dodge ball when I came around a corner and he decided to chuck it at me as hard as he could. I ducked just in time to let it sail over my head, but Jonas, who was behind me, wasn’t so lucky. It smacked him dead-center in the back. We heard the thwack on contact, and he let out a strangled sound as the air was knocked out of him.
Chase was laughing too hard to apologize sincerely, but he tried.
Jonas was moaning, but smiling despite himself. “You could have taken my head off,” he complained.
“He nearly did take mine off,” I said. “Gotta be quick.”
Jonas was pulling his shirt up in the back and craning his head around to try and see the damage. A giant red circle filled the entire middle of his back. The sight of it just put Chase into a fit of hysterical laughter.
“I ... I’m sorry,” he managed when he could get air.
“Document this abuse,” Jonas said, halfheartedly giving Chase the evil eye. He handed me his iPad so I could video the evidence. That somehow segued into an RC Car race across the store. My vamp skills were useless to me and O’Shea won that one. Before long we each had a basket filled to the brim with everything from little scooters to gas-powered skateboards and video games. Oh, and a supply of Legos that would make any young boy green with envy. The store manager was cool, and even asked that we take some pictures with him in front of all of our purchases for them to blow up and hang on the walls. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had so much fun shopping.
Poor Neon had to find another car to haul all of our stuff to the venue. “Where are you guys going to put all your stuff?” I said to the guys once we were headed back.
“I’m sleeping with my gas-powered skateboard at night,” Chase said, with an all-too-convincing poker face.
“On our Toys “R” Us Bus,” Jonas added matter-of-factly. “Duh.” He was already uploading the footage of our spending spree to the Fan Club. I’d missed a text from Aurora while we were in the store, so I opened it up to read it then.
Tytus tracked them to their hotel. He’s keeping an eye on them there for now.
Good to know, I responded. And about that second bus, you might believe me when you see the supplies I just picked up.
Do I even want to know? she typed back.
You knew what you were getting into when you married me, I replied with a smiley face.
When we pulled up to the venue they had lunch waiting inside for us. I hung around until Aurora arrived, and we went in together to eat with everyone. I drank three Mountain Dews, just to show Chase up, and finished off a giant sandwich. Aurora had a chicken salad and some Root Beer. Before we’d even finished eating, Jonas was driving his new RC Car around and smashing into all of our feet. He’d insisted on keeping it on him rather than send it with the rest of the stuff in the other car.
“Is this what you meant when you said you bought supplies?” Aurora said as she raised her feet so Jonas’s car could zoom under her chair.
I shrugged innocently. “Maybe.”
“I’m sorry,” she mouthed to Neon, making him laugh and shake his head.
“Hey, they pay me well,” he added.
“They better,” she said with a grin. Then she watched Jonas’s car as it zoomed around the room.
“I hope you got one for me,” she said to me after a moment, her green eyes lighting up mischievously.
“Oh, trust me. There’s no shortage of fun waiting for us on the bus,” I promised. “I even got you a scooter.”
She raised an eyebrow, and I could tell I’d piqued her interest. “Really?”
“Would I lie?” I said.
“Hey everyone,” Jonas called out, getting our attention. His phone had gone off a few minutes ago and he’d been talking while he drove his little car around, but none of us had been paying any attention.
“What’s up?” I asked him.
“The results are in for the Lego voting. The fans have chosen the winner.” He turned to Chase and said, “Drumroll, please.” Chase drummed on the nearest table for a moment and then paused for Jonas to make the announcement. “And the winner is ... Aurora. By a landslide.”
Aurora grinned and the rest of the guys shook their heads at her, but they were smiling. None of us were surprised after seeing her perfect replica of our stage.
“Thank you,” she said, taking a bow. “I’m here all week.”
“Tell me I at least beat out Trey,” O’Shea pleaded. “I have fifty bucks on that.”
“Chase’s drum set came in second place,” Jonas continued, which made Chase glow with pride. “My mixing board placed third, and O’Shea’s surfboard took fourth. That means Trey’s came in last.”
Aurora gave me a sympathetic smile and said, “You can’t win ‘em all.”
“Technically, I win by association,” I said, for O’Shea’s benefit. “We are married after all. What’s mine is yours, and what’s yours is mine.”
“Nice try,” O’Shea said, playfully slugging me on the shoulder. “You owe me fifty.”
Chapter 29
Aurora
THE NEXT DAY BROUGHT with it another flight to Florida. I was meeting Kacie at The Waking Moon to go over everything I had to sort out during my short trip back. What I didn’t expect as I rounded the corner was to see Trey, Jonas, O’Shea’s and Chase’s faces staring back at me from giant cardboard cutouts in the front window. I laughed out loud and then went around to the back, opening the door.
“Kace?” I called, knowing she was somewhere inside.
“Here!” she answered as she made her way back to meet me. She hugged me and said, “Welcome back.”
“Thanks,” I said. “Tell me the Catalyst cutouts are just part of the welcome party.”
“They’re great, aren’t they?” she asked, grinning.
“Sure,” I said, smiling back. “I’m just not sure they belong in my gallery.”
“Oh, come on.”
“I’m learning to love the fact that Catalyst fans are coming in to The Waking Moon, but I don’t want to blatantly use the guys to draw attention to my work. The magazine spread and the media have done enough of that already.”
“Yeah, okay.” Kacie pouted for a second, but then led the way to the window up front to help me take them down. I lifted the cardboard O’Shea from the window and held it out in front of me, doing my best O’Shea voice. “Take me home, Kacie.”
She laughed and said, “Okay. You talked me into it. Just don’t tell O’Shea.”
“Remind me to tell you about the time Trey saw a Catalyst poster in my room,” I said, laughing.
“A giant cardboard cutout might just trump a poster,” she added. She had a point. “I’d love to be able to watch O’Shea perform every night.” The show I got to watch in Orlando when the tour started was amazing, but being there on tour.... I can only imagine.
I heard everything she wasn’t saying, and I realized that I had the power to make that happen for her. Her feelings for O’Shea were no less real than mine for Trey. In fact, things had started to get pretty serious between them before the tour had started, and O’Shea had been whisked away. Unlike me, Kacie had been left behind. It really wasn’t fair to her, but that was something I could help out with.
“I’ll tell you what,” I said. “Let’s catch up on some work tonight and get that charity auction checked off the list for tomorrow and then I’ll fly you back out with me tomorrow night.”
Kacie’s eyes got so wide I thought they might pop out of her head. “Are you serious?” she demanded, her voice rising in pitch in that typical way girls’ voices do.
“Why not? I don’t think closing up shop for a few days will do too much damage. Besides, it’ll be worth it just to see the look on O’Shea’s face when he sees I’ve brought you along. You can surprise him.”
“Where do we start?” Kacie exclaimed, hugging the cardboard O’Shea cutout. We took the rest of the cutouts to the back r
oom, but not before Kacie took a shot of me pretending to kiss the Trey cutout so I could send it to him. His response came only a few minutes later, and included a picture of him pretending to kiss the shot of me painting from the Rolling Stone article.
“You two and your famous faces,” Kacie teased as she took my phone to see Trey’s message.
“Ha ha,” I quipped. “What time is the charity auction tomorrow?” I asked.
“One,” she said.
“Do you know what you’re going to wear?”
“You mean I’m coming with you?”
“You didn’t think I was going to leave you behind?” I grinned at her and her whole face lit up. Then it fell just as suddenly.
“I don’t own anything to wear to a place like that.”
“Well, I’m not going alone. Guess we’d better give ourselves a few hours in the morning to go shopping,” I said.
There was that hyper smile of hers again. Kacie and I worked until ten and then I sent her home, insisting that tomorrow was going to be a big day. The prospect of seeing O’Shea tomorrow had her so excited that she didn’t argue, but thanked me and headed out the door. I went up into the loft and considered having a drink, but then I decided to send Mark a quick text first.
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