by Caisey Quinn
Trace nodded and shook his hand as well. “No problem, officer. Just doing your job.”
“Yeah, uh. About that.” The man coughed into his hand. Kylie felt her nerves winding up all over again. “So, my girlfriend is a big fan and I hate to ask but—”
Trace cut him off with warm laughter. “Sure, man. You got a pen?”
Relief washed over her as she watched Trace sign his name on the small pad of paper the cop handed him.
Once the officers left, Kylie looked up at Trace. “That could’ve been really bad. I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry? Kylie, the only person that could’ve been really bad for was you. You’re the one just starting out. An arrest record is not something that draws in labels.”
“Trace, you told me that Capital said any more trouble and they’d be done with you.”
He leaned forward, backing her up against the brick building and bracing one arm beside her head. She shivered when he placed his other hand on her waist. “Babe, there are other labels. I’d live. I’m just sorry I wasn’t there when you needed me.”
“I was looking for you,” she said, annoyed at how small her voice was.
He leaned down to kiss her on the head. “I’m here now.”
She wanted to ask about what the pap had said. Wanted to ask what the hell he was doing chatting it up with Gretchen instead of watching her show. More than any of that, she wanted to ask if they were going to talk about her saying she loved him and him not saying it back. But their relationship didn’t always allow for long, drawn out question and answer sessions. And thank the Powers That Be he wasn’t currently under arrest. So she stood on her tiptoes and pressed her mouth to his.
When the kiss ended, much too soon for her liking, Trace looked her in the eyes. “I know there’s been a lot going on and we have a lot to talk about. But I’ll see you next week in Nashville, okay? We’ll have dinner again and talk about…everything.”
“Trace, I checked your schedule. That’s a lot of extra driving—”
“Hey, stop that. There’s nothing that can keep me from being there. I’ll be at your last show, Kylie Lou. That’s a promise.”
“DO EYES deceive me, or is that Kylie I-break-into-private-rooms-in-bars Ryans?” The voice was male. And familiar.
She turned to see a dark-haired tatted-up guy with bright blue eyes walking towards her. One either side of him was two other guys she’d never seen before.
“Who’s that?” Mia asked from beside her.
“Dang, Ryans. You know all the hot boys,” Lily declared.
Kylie grinned when she recognized him. Chicago had been a bust. Hardly anyone had shown up to see them. To add insult to injury, she’d seen more than one website blasting the news of Trace’s near arrest today alone. A familiar face was exactly what she needed. “Steven Hero-For-a-Night Blythe. What the heck are you doing in Chicago?” Kylie squealed as she gave him a hug.
“He can be my hero for a night,” Lily mumbled under her breath. Kylie discreetly jammed an elbow into her ribs once Steven released her.
“You’re not the only one on tour, you know,” he said, stepping back from their hug. “ ‘Cept you got a sponsor and a cool bus, and we cram into my shitty van.”
Kylie laughed. “Y’all playin’ somewhere tonight? Can we come?”
Steven grinned. “We’re at Martyr’s tonight if you ladies want to catch the show. We’re heading there now.” He nodded up the strip. “But, um, maybe lose your stalkerazzi first.” He jerked his head to the other side of the street where a man in a black shirt was trying to look casual despite the giant camera hanging around his neck.
“Great.” Kylie rolled her eyes and made sure to turn her back to the creepo. “Sorry, I should have introduced y’all. Steven, this is Mia Montgomery and Lily Taite,” she said, gesturing to each of them.
“Hey. Steven Blythe,” he drawled, shaking each of their hands. Kylie didn’t miss the way his eyes lingered on Mia. Boy was such a player. But it was still nice to see someone she knew. Or sort of knew anyways. “This is Chris McGhenis. He’s our lead singer.” The tall, muscular blond guy stepped forward and nodded. “And my cousin, BJ. He plays the drums.” BJ was short and slender and had more piercings in his ears than Kylie did.
“Nice to meet y’all,” Kylie said, nodding at the other two before returning her attention to Steven. “Hey, what happened to the other guy? Ben something?”
Steven pulled a face and gave a slight shake of his head. “Decided life on the road wasn’t for him, crazy bastard got married. So my man Chris took his place.”
“Ah, gotcha.” Out of the corner of her eye Kylie saw the photographer crossing the street, coming closer to them. “Let’s go before this guy gets any more photos of us.”
“Yeah, I’d rather your boyfriend not punch me again.” Steven laughed, but his tone was serious.
“Sorry about that.” Kylie sighed. “I’m not sure he’d really care much anymore. He’s got his hands full at the moment.”
Steven side-eyed her as they walked. “Yeah, I heard he was on tour with Gretchen Gibson. She’s a piece of work.”
“More like a piece of trash,” Mia muttered.
Kylie glanced over to where Mia was. Were they on the same side about something for once? Or did Mia just hate everyone equally?
Lily was behind them, chatting up BJ and Chris like they’d asked for her life story.
“It’s not just her. The whole dating while on the road on separate tours thing is just…hard.”
“I bet,” Steven said, nodding like he understood. “I mean, that’s kind of why I don’t date. I know I can’t be anyone’s boyfriend right now. Hell, I barely know what zipcode I’m going to be in from one day to the next.”
“Finally, someone speaks sense,” Mia said, shooting a pointed look at Kylie. As much as Kylie hated to admit it, she was probably right. But what she had with Trace was…different. She couldn’t explain it. But doing all of this without having him to share it with would seem strange. Every goal she reached would be an empty victory if he wasn’t there cheering her on. Believing in her. Supporting her. Maybe even loving her. One day. A girl could dream.
“I try,” Steven said as he stopped walking. “Okay, here we are. Y’all don’t have to pay the cover. I’ll just tell them you’re with us. Here.” He handed Mia the guitar case he’d been carrying. “Now you’re roadies.”
“Ugh,” Mia groaned under the weight and shoved the case back at him. “I’d rather pay the cover.”
Steven laughed, his bright eyes gleaming. “I’ll take care of it. Guys should always pay on the first date anyways.”
“This definitely isn’t a date,” Mia informed him, reaching into her pocket for what Kylie presumed was money.
Steven smirked at her just before he nodded at the man at the door. Mia glared back. They were all permitted inside without paying the cover.
Once they’d found a seat and the guys had taken the stage, Kylie arched a brow at Mia. “So, what do you think of Steven?” Judging from the heated exchange she’d just witnessed, she’d be willing to bet there was a mutual attraction forming.
Mia lowered herself into the seat between her and Lily. “Seems about as arrogant and obnoxious as the rest of ‘.” She ordered a beer and sighed. “Tattoos are kind of hot though.”
“Agreed,” Lily piped up with a sigh. “And how sexy are the other two? I could write a whole album about the drummer’s eyes.”
Mia snorted in perfect time with Kylie’s eye roll. “Jesus, Lily. You just made me throw up in my mouth.”
Kylie was still smiling at Mia’s comment as she ordered Cokes for her and Lily.
Hero for a Night began rocking out a Johnny Cash cover. Shitty mood or not, Kylie barely fought the urge to jump up and dance. “They’re great, right?” she said, nodding her head to the beat.
“They’re okay.” Mia took her beer from the waitress, practically downed it in one swallow, and signaled for another.
<
br /> “Dude, maybe slow down a bit. For someone not into Steven, he sure does seem to be getting you all hot and bothered.”
Mia shot her a dirty look but said nothing as the band played on. The next song was catchy but in an odd way. The lyrics were familiar, but they were playing them at a slower pace than she was used to. “Is this a rap song?” she asked the two girls at her table.
Lily nodded. “It’s Bruno Mars. They just country-fied it.”
Kylie watched as the crowd began filling the area in front of the band. Damn, they were really good. If they weren’t signed, how in the world did she stand a chance? She sipped her drink and tried not to worry about it. But a nagging thought kept returning. Was Mia right? Was the only reason she was getting any attention or respect in the industry because of Trace?
Steven stepped up to one of the mics and his words interrupted her. “We’d like to play something new we’ve been working on. Hope y’all enjoy it.”
The drums tingled to life and Chris’s hypnotic voice began singing about the pain of losing the prettiest girl in the world.
Kylie was mesmerized. She couldn’t wait to tell Trace how good they were. Maybe he had some connections and could hook them up with a manager and maybe even his label. Or maybe not. His label sounded kind of shady the more she learned about it.
Mia ordered another beer and Kylie kicked her under the table. “You order one more and we’ll be carrying you out of here. Or we could get Steven to do it.”
“Shut it, Oklahoma.” Mia leaned forward and her dark green eyes met Kylie’s. “Seriously though. Did you and him ever hook up?”
Kylie leaned back to look at her. “Steven? No. We actually only hung out once and I had too much to drink. He helped me to a bathroom and Trace got the wrong idea.”
“Ah.” Mia kept her face blank, but Kylie thought she saw relief in her eyes.
“You think he’s cuuuuttee,” she sing-songed. “You want to kiiisss him, and looovvee him, and maaarrrry him.”
Mia scoffed. “You’ve been hanging out with Lily too long.”
The girl turned from the stage at the sound of her name. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Kylie barely stifled a laugh at Lily’s pouty expression.
When the song ended, Mia began heckling the band. “Play something that doesn’t suck,” she shouted, lifting her beer.
“Mia!” Kylie hissed at her.
Surprisingly, Steven was grinning. He stepped back up to the mic beside the lead singer. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have a special treat for you this evening.”
A sinking feeling hit Kylie’s stomach so hard she gripped the table.
“Mia Montgomery, our very own American Idol, is in the crowd tonight. Let’s see if we can get her up here. Shall we? Come on up here, Mia. Pretty please?”
Whistles and cheers filled the darkened room. Kylie and Lily stared at Mia. The blood had drained from her face but she grinned. She finished off her most recent bottle of beer and stood. Kylie was nearly overcome with déjà vu. Damn musicians.
“Lucky girl,” Lily muttered. But Kylie knew the truth. She knew Mia’s heart was likely pounding a mile a minute and that she was probably secretly terrified of making a complete ass of herself. She’d been there.
Once Mia reached the stage, Chris reached out and helped her up. He gave her a big smile but shook his head at Steven. “This one’s for you, Mia,” Steven said into the mic. When the opening chords of Jet’s Cold Hard Bitch began playing, Kylie covered her mouth with her hand. Steven Blythe must have balls of steel. Or at least she hoped he did. Because Mia was probably going to kick him in them.
Much to her surprise, Mia sang right into the mic along with him. And then she began doing an extremely sexy dance that involved grinding all over Chris. Which Steven’s face said he didn’t like one damn bit.
“Let’s go,” Lily said, standing and holding her hand out to Kylie. “Come on. It’ll be fun.”
Kylie followed her and they joined the band on stage. She imitated Mia’s sexy moves on Steven—poor guy needed some TLC since Mia was hurting his feelings. Lily was head-banging with the drummer, and the whole thing was getting the crowd really riled up.
When it was over, Steven gave Kylie a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks, Ryans,” he murmured in her ear. “I owe you one.” She smiled and the girls hopped off the stage.
The band jumped right into another song as they returned to their seats. “Seriously, they are freaking amazing.” Lily’s eyes were shining as she shouted over the music.
“Yeah, they are really good,” Kylie agreed.
“They’re all right.”
Kylie smirked over at Mia. “Is this how you get when you like a guy? ‘Cause I gotta say, it’s not nearly as deceiving as you probably think it is.”
Mia’s eyes narrowed. “Looked like he was more interested in you than me, Oklahoma.”
Kylie nearly choked on her Coke. “Are you serious? That whole thing was for you. To get you up there. Someone’s got a crush.”
“I do not,” Mia argued. But her face turned red enough to be noticeable.
Kylie raised a brow. “Yeah, I was talking about him. But methinks you doth protest too much, my friend.”
Mia snorted. “Oh hell. Redneck quoting Shakespeare. The apocalypse is upon us.”
“Funny. And you can kiss my redneck ass, by the way.” Kylie held her glass up and tipped it in her direction. “You know, I actually don’t hate either of you nearly as much as I thought I would.”
Lily’s light eyes went wide as she tore them from the stage. “You thought you were going to h-hate us?”
Mia snickered. “She’s a bitch, Lily. She can’t help it. She has no filter. She just says whatever the hell comes into that head of hers.”
Back to the Kylie Ryans Hatefest. Kylie winked at Lily. “I yam what I yam.” She’d decided she was officially done letting Mia get to her.
“Is it weird that you two might be the only friends I have?” Lily asked. Kylie felt her mouth drop open. Were they friends?
“Yeah, I’m not exactly drowning in them myself,” Mia said softly.
Shocker, Kylie thought but didn’t say.
“Me either,” Lily added quietly. “Not real ones anyways. Just the ones that want me to buy them stuff and invite them to parties.”
“Well, you don’t have to buy us shit,” Mia informed her. “But the party invites…”
“THANK YOU, Columbus! Y’all are beautiful!” Trace shouted as he walked off stage with his band and a few security guys.
“Hey, you meeting with Dr. Reynolds tonight?” Mike asked as they headed towards the bus.
“Hadn’t planned on it. Why, you having a hard time, man?” Trace stopped walking, letting Danny go on ahead of them. He’d been so caught up in Gretchen’s mess during the tour that he’d barely had time to check in with Mike. He was three years sober but knew guys who’d fallen off after much longer than that.
“Nah, I’m good actually. Uh. Shit. Not to get all gay on you or anything, but I’m kind of worried about you.”
“Me? Why?” Trace cleared his throat. Yeah, he’d had a few drinks here and there. He’d even blacked out a few nights, but for the most part he had it under control. At least that was what he kept telling himself.
Mike ran a hand through his long hair. “You just seem…wound up lately. Like any little thing is going to set you off. This can’t be easy, dealing with Gretchen’s bullshit and the label, and—”
Trace held a hand up. “Dude. Relax. I’m fine.” He just needed to get laid. And the only girl who could give him what he needed was touring all over the country at the moment. So was he for that matter.
Mike glanced from side to side before he spoke again. “Tray, you know I mind my own business, right?”
Trace nodded. He knew he was lucky that the guys in his band had not only stuck with him but had kept their mouths shut about some of the hell he’d put them through.
“O
kay, so I’m just gonna lay it all out there. I know where you are, man. You’re at that place where you know you shouldn’t want a drink but you do. Where it’s all you can think about sometimes and giving in to the urge is a hell of a lot easier than fighting it.”
Trace clenched his jaw. This would be a great time for Mike to go back to minding his own damn business.
“If you get online anytime soon for any reason at all, you’re gonna see something that shoves you right over the fucking edge. I don’t want that. The guys don’t want that. I know Gretchen’s got alcohol on that bu—”
“What the hell are you talking about, man?”
He watched as his bass player took a deep breath. “Danny and some of the guys keep tabs on your girl. Not to be shady or anything. She was just a tough chick and we’re all happy to see her doing well for herself, you know?”
Trace noticed some dark silhouettes coming towards them. Roadies. “Shh.” He nodded and told them thanks as they began loading equipment on the surrounding trucks. Once they were out of earshot, he turned back to Mike. “I have no idea where you’re going with this. Did something happen to Kylie? Is she okay?”
He knew she was in Chicago tonight. Not the safest city on the planet. He’d made her promise not to go walking off and sightseeing alone. Not that she would necessarily listen.
“Yeah, man. She’s fine. But ever since y’all went public there’s been some shit going around. You know how it is. Frankly, none of us really pay any attention to any of it. But I know you. And I know you’re already holding on to your sobriety with an inch of your life.” Mike dropped his shoulders and held his hands up. “Naw, screw it. I know you’re still drinking. I can fucking smell it on you right now. You need to stay off the damned Internet. For a while at least.”
Well now he was just getting pissed off. This was bullshit and he really wasn’t in the mood. “It’s probably nothing, just like the promo shots of me and Gretchen were nothing. I’ll check it out and give her a call to clear things up if need be.”
“Okay. I hope you’re right. Can I come hang with you on the bus for a while?”