by K E Osborn
Swallowing hard, I shake my head as I grab my berry water. Mental note—I need to buy some fucking beer. I miss home, but even being here in an empty stadium on my own, I like living this life. The life on the road, the life with a band, being free to experience the wide-open world, not the confines of a small town. It’s liberating. But I do wish Kiera could be here with me, because she would love this.
Being a big brother when your mom dies of cancer and your sister’s only eleven, and your dad skipped out on the family years earlier, meant I had to step up. I had to be Kiera’s guardian. Sure, we had Gran, but I was pretty much Kiera’s mom and dad from then on, and I would do anything for her.
Gran helped with the bills, paying what she could—Kiera’s schooling and such. She also helped me find my way through the courses I needed to become a lighting tech so I could bring some money in for the family—for the three of us. It’s hard being away from them though, all things considered.
Ligonier is a small town where gossip is a daily formality, and unfortunately for a while there, I was the talk of the town. It was never my intention to be the main focus, I never wanted to be in the spotlight, so when I found my childhood sweetheart, Lilah, in the backseat of my car with my best friend, Johnny, in a very compromising position—yeah, my life and my relationship were the talk of the fucking town. So leaving Ligonier, when I was offered a job with The Living Dead and going on tour full time, was an easy decision for me even though it meant leaving Kiera behind.
I’m going to like being on this tour with Luminous. It’s a long one, four months, and by then I should hopefully have a good start toward Kiera’s procedure.
EFFA
The VIP area is buzzing with life and activity. The dancefloor packed with our groupies, crew and a few stragglers we let in because we’re nice like that. The party’s in full swing, the bass of the heavy rock music thumping so loudly the walls are shaking with every beat. I can’t hear myself think as I take another long drink of my vodka and cranberry juice. The bitter hit making me smile as it slides down my throat cooling my dry gullet.
My head is still a little spaced out from the hit of weed in the Hummer on the ride over, but I’m evening out more now as I sit in the booth, people watching. This is what I love to do. Sure the party scene is fun, and I love to get in on the action, but people watching is a hobby of mine too. I like to sit and see how people interact with each other. Who’s hanging out with who? See if I can figure out what’s happening around me. I don’t really like surprises, and I like to try and keep a grip on everything that’s happening in my circle of people. And these are my people.
Casey is doing her usual, wasting her night on the groupies and roadies. She really is a wild child as she bends over snorting a line off the bare chest of one of our groupies. His name is Sebastian, and we picked him up on our last tour of Denmark. He’s stayed on as one of our groupies ever since. The thing about our groupies is they’re all male.
You’d think we’d have some females, but we don’t really have a use for them if you catch my drift. If you think of male rock bands and what the female groupies are there for? Well, yeah, male groupies are the same thing. They’re here for the love of the music, our music, for the love of us as women, and we love them right back for the service they can provide for us on the road.
Some might call that slutty, but hey if male rockers can do it, why the fuck can’t chicks?
Don’t be sexist.
None of us are in relationships. We’re young, healthy women, with raging hormones and we have needs, so our groupies fill those needs. Don’t judge. At least we’re always safe about it. And it’s not like we don’t know the men we’re having sex with. We know these guys, we know them all well, and so we’re safe and looked after, and that’s all that matters. It works for us, and sure, it might be frowned upon by some, sure we might seem like sluts, but it’s better than sleeping with strangers and doing the walk of shame in every city.
That’s how I see it anyway.
Casey pulls back up abruptly and almost trips over, as she wipes her nose falling back into her seat while Benny leans over and kisses her forcefully. All the while, Sebastian lays on the table still half naked covered in cocaine. Shaking my head, I let out a bemused chuckle as Tank walks into the room and I open my eyes wider as I search for that someone who might be next to him. If Tank is here, that means the lighting crew is finished, and maybe Mercs will be here too. Tank walks up to Andi as she sits at the bar looking forlorn, and he plops down next to her to carry on a conversation.
No Mercs.
Taking in a deep breath, I look over to Kristy, who’s in a booth with one of the groupies, getting a little hot and heavy. I’m sure they will be taking it to the bathroom soon, or if she’s really in the mood for a wild night, back to the hotel for an all-nighter. In another booth, Luke and Alana are looking deep in conversation. They talk a lot. They discuss our PR. So they spend more time together than the rest of us. Alana’s not that big of a partier, so she tends to spend the after parties with Luke talking shop.
They’re boring.
My stomach sinks when I scope the entire room—there’s definitely no sign of Mercs. He obviously isn’t coming. So I stand up and walk over to Andi and Tank by the bar.
“…so… I said… you’re a fucking reptile and she told me to get fucked,” Tank yells making Andi laugh as I approach.
“No wonder, Tank, that’s the worst comeback in history, you idiot,” Andi replies rolling her eyes. I sit down next to Andi catching Tank’s attention.
“Oh, hey Effa, I was telling Andi before how great the show was tonight,” Tank states.
“Absolutely. It was good to have Mercs on board. He made it perfect…” I pause for a second. “Is he coming tonight?” I ask finding the right way to work him in without it seeming too obvious.
He shakes his head and takes a sip of his beer before answering, “Nah. Guy seems… private. He wanted to stay at the stadium. Not even sure he’s staying at the same hotel as us, to be honest. Wouldn’t be surprised if he was crashing on the sofa, he seems the type.”
I let out a small huff. “Wow! I wonder why he would do that?”
He shrugs. “People are a mysterious beast, Effa. I mean check you out, you’re a freak,” he teases, his bright smile laced with sarcasm.
Andi punches him in the arm making him grin wider.
With a giggle, I smile, “Thank you so much. I appreciate the compliment.”
He snorts out a laugh while shaking his head. “See, only a freak would take that as a compliment. But, that’s why we love you…” he smirks, “… because of your freakery. We need to loosen Mercs up. Have him come to the after parties and get him to at least sleep at the hotels. He needs to be one of us.”
Nodding, I purse my lips. “He will be. Leave it to me. I have a way of making people love us.”
“You sure do. Right, I need another beer and to let loose. Andi, my love, you wanna party with me tonight?” Tank asks, and I chuckle.
“Wow! You’re such a romantic, Tank. How could a girl refuse?” Andi chuckles as I stand up, down the rest of my drink, place the empty back on the bar, and walk off to find Raoul our head of security.
He’s waiting by the top of the stairs, as I should have guessed, along with his second in charge, Cooper. Dressed in their all-black attire, cross-armed and stern faces, I smirk hating that they can’t join in on the fun. I feel for them.
Walking up to Raoul, his onyx eyes look me over as his eyebrows crease even further than normal. His stern face always hard and tense. For a grumpy man, he sure is good looking with his defined, stubble-covered jaw and thick black hair. The French national is a walking sex magnet with those muscular arms, and I’m sure he has a rocking body beneath that security suit he always wears. But alas, he’s one of the crew none of us have ever had the pleasure of bedding. He takes his job a little too seriously, but that’s a good thing because we’ve never had any incidences since he’
s been on board. He’s terrific at his job, and we wouldn’t trust anyone else with our safety. That’s why I’m heading to him now.
He looks at me and raises his brow like he’s curious as to why I’m approaching him. So I spit it out straight away. “Raoul, would you take me back to the stadium? I’m sure Cooper and the others can watch everyone, right?” I ask and Raoul tenses his shoulders and looks to Cooper.
“Effa, you know I’ll take you anywhere you want to go. But leaving everyone with only six security makes me uneasy.”
Slumping my shoulders, I nod. “Can you call in more? I really need to go back there tonight, Raoul.”
He groans looking to Cooper who grins at me. He’s not as dramatic as Raoul.
“Raoul, go. I got this. And if I need backup I know who to call. You’re always talking about putting more trust in me, well, here’s your chance. Let me prove I can take on an after party on my own. You take care of the most important part of Luminous and I’ll take care of everyone else,” Cooper pleads my case. I squirm a little at his words, as I’m not entirely comfortable when people say I’m the most important part of the band. Yes, I’m the lead singer and I write the songs, but it’s a group effort. If one part of the band fails the whole band fails, not just me. But I know a lot of people think the way Cooper does, and it irks me.
“Okay fine, but the minute you need me—”
“I’ll call,” Cooper interrupts Raoul.
Raoul looks to me, letting out a heavy sigh. “Are you ready to go?”
Bobbing up on my toes, I nod. “Yep.”
Chapter Five
EFFA
It’s so eerie here this time of night. Everything’s dark and deserted. There’s no sound now. The life that thrived here earlier this evening is long gone, replaced only by the banging of a door in a weird breeze. I’m not sure if Mercs is even here.
I’m beginning to feel a little like an idiot for coming back when I could have had a great night at the after party. Maybe there was something peculiar in that joint that made my thinking patterns go haywire.
“Effa, is there a reason we’re walking around the stadium in the pitch black by flashlight?” Raoul asks in a hushed tone.
Swallowing hard, I gnaw on my bottom lip and look up at him hoping his night vision is exceptional if there’s anything lurking in here because it’s certainly making my skin tingle. We round the corner, and we both stop as I notice the crew room light is on.
“Wait there. No one should be here,” Raoul demands in a deep aggravated tone.
“Raoul, I think it’s—”
But it’s too late, he’s taken off down the hall, pepper spray at the ready as I tense up.
Trying to keep my footsteps light, I run off down the hall behind him, but the clunk of my thigh high platform boots are making it impossible to keep quiet.
“Put your hands up,” Raoul calls out as he rounds the doorway, and I hear an “oomph” sound.
“What the fuck!” Mercs’ deep-toned voice calls out, and I race harder and faster running into the crew room to see Raoul behind Mercs, bending his arm behind his back and pinning him to a bench.
“Raoul, stop!” I yell.
He looks to me as Mercs turns his head slightly, which is firmly planted on the bench. His eyes bug out of his head as he takes me in and he lets out a massive huff.
“What are you doing here?” Raoul asks, and I wince, as he yanks on Mercs’ arm a little higher making him screw up his face.
“I’m staying here instead of the hotel. Geez…” He lets out a long groan. “Effa, will you get your goon off me?” Mercs calls out.
I rush up to them and rest my hand on Raoul’s arm. “Raoul, it’s okay. This is Mercs. The new Lighting Director.”
Raoul drops Mercs suddenly, his body slumping onto the bench as he rights himself and stands up sluggishly. “Shit, sorry. I thought you were a crazed fan sitting in wait or something…” He scrubs his hand through his hair. “Can’t be too careful with my girls.”
I half-smile as Mercs rubs his shoulder and nods. “Nah. It’s okay, man. I understand. Why are you here?” he asks.
Raoul looks at me obviously wondering the same thing.
My lips turn up into a bright smile. “Well, that’s the thing, we’re here for you actually.”
“We are?” Raoul asks.
“You are?” Mercs questions at the same time.
“Yep. Tank said you might be here, and I didn’t want you to miss out on all the fun, or be on your own. So I wanted to see if you’d come back to the party with me?”
His lip turns up as he swivels his body away from me and walks over to the sofa taking a seat. “Nah, but thanks for the offer. I’m not really the party type.”
Throwing my hip out to the side, I huff. “Okay, well then, at least come back to the hotel. Let me get you a room, a comfy bed, somewhere nice to sleep?”
Mercs looks around the crew room and shakes his head. “This suits me fine.”
Pursing my lips, I walk over to the sofa and take a seat next to him, the cushions dip and bow beneath me, and I can tell the sofa is not the most comfortable in the world. He’s going to have a hell of a stiff neck in the morning sleeping on this.
He looks at me, his brows furrowed assessing me. “Why are you sitting down? Shouldn’t you be getting back?”
Shaking my head as I lean back into the sofa, I take a deep breath and cross my leg over the other getting comfortable. Well, as comfy as I can on this monstrosity of a sofa. I tilt my head. “I’m my own person, and I say… who needs an after party in the VIP room? Let’s have one here.”
Mercs’ breath catches slightly as he looks me up and down and I realize how that sounded.
I let out a small laugh and shake my head, putting my hands up in surrender. “Hold on, cowboy. I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant that I’m not going to let you spend a night here on your own. If you’re not going back to the hotel, then I’m staying here with you.”
He jolts his head back in apparent shock. “What? Why?”
“Because I’m freaking nice, that’s why.” I beam a smile and he looks to Raoul who’s still standing by the bench.
“Okay, well… thank you? I guess,” he adds not sounding too convinced.
“You’re welcome.”
“I’ll be in the green room if you need me, okay?” Raoul asks.
“Thanks, Raoul, I appreciate this.”
He nods, turning and walking out of the crew room and heading next door to my standard room. As he leaves pressure fills the air. Tension, but not an awkward one, more a type that makes the room feel like everything’s squeezing against me, tightening and enveloping my body, wrapping it up in an emotion I haven’t felt before. I just can’t pinpoint what that emotion is.
Swallowing hard, I turn and finally look at Mercs whose face is taut like he’s feeling some kind of pressure too.
Strange that we’re both feeling it?
“So…” he murmurs, making me smile as I can’t help but look down at his lips. His tongue darts out licking his bottom lip breaking me from my staring, and I look up to his eyes to see them glistening. Like he’s taking pleasure in me gazing at him. “What’s it like being Effervescent, one of the world’s biggest rock stars?” he asks with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
I raise my brow and sit up taller. “Are you mocking me?” I ask crossing my arms over my chest.
He grins. “No. Honestly, I’m a little in awe of you. You’re so… um… tiny, and that voice coming out of you? It’s shocking… but sexy too, if I’m being honest.”
“You think I’m sexy?”
He grins. “I said your voice is sexy—”
“Oh, so I’m not sexy?”
He grits his teeth and tries to hide his smile. “Fuck! I’m in a lose-lose here, aren’t I?”
“Well, that depends. If you admit to thinking I’m sexy, I could tell you something in return.”
The vibe in the air shifts and it vibrate
s with an electrical charge, pulsing and surging between us making my skin prickle with goosebumps.
He looks into my eyes and his dark blues shine back at me, igniting a fire in my stomach, twisting and turning, sending nervousness through me.
He nods once as our breathing escalates. “Tell me what exactly?”
I reach out placing my hand on his knee. A thrum radiates through my fingertips as I squeeze lightly. “I think you’re sexy as hell, too.”
A slow smile creeps up on his face, and his Adam’s apple bobs up and down with his heavy swallow. “You’re not a shy kinda girl, are you, Effa?”
I shrug. “Where’s the fun in that?”
“You looked great on stage tonight. I found it hard to focus. You were made to be on a stage glittered with lights.”
Smiling, I sink in slightly getting more comfortable on the sofa but leaving my hand on his knee. “Performing comes naturally for me. I was a born entertainer. The singing, though… getting that right. That took a lot of work and a whole pile of vocal coaching. But I had an awesome teacher, and she made me who I am.”
He smiles genuinely and nods finally relaxing on the sofa, the electricity seeming to ebb slightly between us and bubbling to a more relaxed state. “Who was she?”
“Olivia Scott. Well, we call her Livvy. She’s Alana’s mother, and once Livvy became my vocal coach, her and my father became very close. They ended up having a long time affair behind my mother’s back, and my dad left my mother for Livvy. So my mum up and left Nimbin never to be seen or heard of again...” I pause for a second or two before continuing, “I was ten.”
He winces, and my stomach churns feeling the memories flooding back of finding her note on the kitchen bench. I shake my head trying to rid the memory and continue, “Anyway, my dad and Livvy got married and bam… instant family. Me, Dad, Livvy and Alana. One big happy family…”
He gives me a half-smile but says nothing.
“It was rough for a little while, but soon Alana and I figured out we were better off being friends rather than enemies, thanks to the help of my best friend, Kristy.”