“Pay attention,” Tessa warned with a laugh. “These guys’ll run you over with the equipment.”
Lucas was already waiting at the side stage. He leaned over and stuck a kiss on Sindy’s cheek. “You wowed them tonight, and me too. Get ready for insta-stardom.”
His lips on her cheek sent a shiver down her spine and her face flushed, making it feel a thousand degrees hotter even though they had escaped the blaring stage lights.
The crowd screamed when the lights came on to reveal twin drum sets on stage, drowning out Sindy’s feeble, “Thank you.”
Lucas’ lips were at Sindy’s ear again as he pointed to Mason and Jimmy. “Get ready to witness magic. These two together are unsurpassed.”
Jimmy and Mason both stood behind their kits, sticks raised in one hand. They faced the audience, then they faced each other. Mason’s million-dollar smile met Jimmy’s billion-dollar smile. Cameramen zoomed in to capture the exchange. One focused on Mason, the other on Jimmy, and Sindy wondered if they had been filming Prodigy, as well. If they had, she hadn’t noticed, but she was so awestruck, lost in the moment, they could have been right in her face and she wouldn’t have realized it.
Both drummers sat and shared a synchronized beat as they pounded on the drums and cymbals. After about 30 seconds, they stopped at the same time and started twirling their drumsticks. Jimmy threw one of his sticks in the air and caught it, while still spinning the other. Mason did the same, mimicking his father. They spun their stools to face one another, still spinning a stick in each hand, then tossed them to each other. Jimmy caught Mason’s sticks, and Mason caught Jimmy’s. Jimmy rattled off a few solo beats. Mason answered with a round on his toms and kicks to his double bass. They went back and forth a few times, until Mason stopped drumming and let Jimmy have the spotlight, literally.
White light encased Jimmy as he moved with speed and fury. There was no defined technique or recognizable pattern. Jimmy freely hit every piece of his drum kit, arms flying wildly as if he had eight of them. Both sticks hit his snare, then he spun 360 degrees on his stool and hit the snare again before pounding on his rack toms. He crashed his sticks down on his side cymbals a dozen times, then stood with his arms raised above his head and pointed his sticks at Mason. The crowd went nuts, shouting and yelling and stomping their feet. Sindy covered her ears and glanced at Lucas, who just smiled. “Wait. Just wait,” he said.
It was Mason’s turn, and the audience let loose with another caterwauling wail in recognition of the younger Wilder’s talent. Mason started off slowly, playing around with both bass pedals, lazily adding a round on his rack toms and striking the crash cymbal. Then his smile widened. He was done teasing the audience. Spontaneous beats burst from Mason’s fingertips and he channeled his passion onto his drum kit. He moved faster than the eye could follow. His sticks were invisible, his arms a blur of colorful tattoos. Muscles pulled at the sides of his neck, across his shoulders and his biceps flexed from the force he exuded. His feet moved independently and then simultaneously. His cymbals splashed sound into the air around him. A cow bell, that Sindy didn’t even know was there, was the recipient of an assault that lasted probably 10 seconds, which excited the crowd and caused them to surge forward with their fists punching the air.
“He’s amazing,” Tessa’s voice was somehow squeezed between the drumbeats. She was staring at Mason with a starry-eyed gaze, enamored by the guy’s incredible skill and carefree, effortless drumming style. Sindy turned back to Mason, with the same look of amazement. She’d seen him play dozens of times, but he never had the free spirited bounce on the stool or sparkle of light in his eyes that he had right now. Even his smile was more infectious, which seemed impossible. It was the stage and the audience that made him shine. Mason suddenly stopped, stood up, and tugged his shirt over his head, which made the arena fill with a wail of female screams. Sindy thought that was it, the end of the drum solo, but Mason sat back down and continued as if it were just a rest between beats. He seamlessly picked up with his out-of-control wild hits to his toms, the splash of his cymbals and the deep thump of his double bass.
Jimmy watched his son, overflowing with pride and totally enthralled by Mason’s performance. Sindy glanced at Tessa, and then back at Jimmy. The two of them wore the same expression of wonderment, and Sindy imagined the same look was on her face, as well. Jimmy stood up and started clapping, then bowed at the waist toward his son with his arms outstretched in front of him. After another minute of Mason’s nonstop remarkable drumming, Jimmy waved his hand at Mason and started to leave the stage as if to say, I’m out. You don’t need me here anymore. Or, I’m not playing after that. But, Jimmy returned and stood next to his drum riser to watch the spellbinding showmanship and talent of Mason Wilder, along with the rest of the arena.
Playing with his dad on stage always left Lucas exhilarated. But the first time playing with Sindy, and playing together as a band, felt euphoric. It felt right, as if Sindy was the missing piece that propelled them one step further. He couldn’t imagine not having her in the band or in his life. His mind halted, as if he hit a wall, reminding him that she wasn’t in his life. Not the way he wanted her to be, and it left an ache in his chest.
He refused to let his bruised heart diminish this day and pushed his pain aside. He smiled as he watched Sindy, Tessa, and Mason laughing and hugging in the dressing room. “We did it!” he exclaimed, as he walked toward them.
Tessa was so excited she looked as if she was about to explode. “It was awesome!”
Mason slapped Lucas on the back. “Finally! I got to play Madison Square Garden with my family. I’ve played here more times than I can count, but it never felt this phenomenal. This real.”
Sindy looked shell-shocked. Her wide eyes held a dazed stare, and her cheeks were flushed a bright red that almost matched her hair.
“Are you OK, Sin?”
“I’m . . . I just . . .” Her hands went to her forehead. “I can’t believe I just played Madison Square Garden!”
“Believe it, hon. I didn’t want to tell you this, but there were some big name music journalists in the audience. I can’t wait for the reviews tomorrow.”
Her gaping mouth added to the disbelief displayed across her face. “Are you serious?”
“Shit yeah!” Mason slung one arm over Lucas’ shoulder and the other over Sindy’s. “We made history. Our first official show, guys!”
Tessa held up a bottle of Cristal that was sitting in an ice bucket on the credenza and a small notecard. “Look, it’s from Immortal Angel.”
Lucas took it from her and popped the cork, which hit the ceiling. The girls shrieked with laughter, and bubbly foam sprayed everyone before it rolled down the side of the bottle and onto the floor. Mason grabbed some glasses and passed them around as Lucas filled them.
“To Prodigy!” Mason raised his glass. “And all the success in the world!
“To Prodigy!” everyone repeated, holding up their glass to commemorate the toast. Hugs were shared along with happy laughter. The automatic hug Lucas gave Sindy, which started out as the same joyous hug he’d given his sister and his best friend, turned serious the moment their bodies touched. It ignited the passion that always fed between them and turned into a smoldering embrace.
“Thank you,” she whispered, still in his arms. “For teaching me everything and putting up with my defiant attitude and know-it-all remarks.”
He leaned back to look at her face, his hands still on her shoulders and hers still on his waist. He wanted to kiss her so badly. But, he restrained himself because they were working through this new phase of their relationship, and he respected that boundary. “I was happy to do it.” He gave her a crooked smile. “And your feisty attitude made it fun.”
He realized Tessa and Mason were quiet, which meant that they were listening to his conversation with Sindy. He nodded his head toward his sister and Mason without taking his eyes off this girl who had captivated him since the first moment he saw her
kicking at the sand on the beach. “These two never want to listen to my lessons on theory. It’s nice to have someone who’s interested.”
“I don’t need to read music.” Mason tugged on his ear. “I hear with this. Beats go from my ears to my hands and onto the drums. That’s all I need.” Mason downed his champagne. “Enough talk. Let’s go out and celebrate!”
After three hours in the bar drinking too many shots, Mason took a taxi Uptown while Sindy, Tessa, and Lucas took an Uber to Long Island. The three of them walked up the stairs, still laughing and making too much noise for the late hour. When they reached the second floor, Sindy heard loud music coming from the wing that Tessa and Lucas’ parents occupied, and she stopped and looked toward the sound.
“Don’t ask.” Tessa took Sindy’s arm. “Just keep walking.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Listen to her,” Lucas said. “My parents may be middle-aged and married forever, but they still love each other like they’re teenagers. We learned a long time ago that loud music from their wing means, ‘Do Not Disturb’.”
Sindy’s cheeks flushed red hot. The idea of Tommy Blade, Angel Garcia, and Jessi Blade in the same bed together sent a wave of erotic images through her head and made her body tingle.
“Good night, big brother,” Tessa said as she passed Lucas’ room.
Sindy stopped and smiled softly at Lucas. She wanted to say something, but her brain was too fuzzy from alcohol to think clearly. As she tried to find the right words to thank him for all he taught her, she got lost in his gaze. She could stare at him for hours, hypnotized by his good looks. Performing, followed by a night of drinking, left his blond hair tousled with soft waves. It gave him a wild, bad-boy edge that made her blood race. The sheen of intoxication covered his eyes, but she was the one who was tipsy.
“You did great tonight,” he said, his voice raspy and words slightly slurred. “I’m proud of you.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you, Lucas. I mean that, sincerely. This was the best night of my life.”
“Mine too.”
“Hurry up, Sin!” Tessa called as she rounded the bend in the hallway that led to her suite. “I have two slices of pizza in my fridge, and if you don’t hurry up, I’m going to eat them both.”
“I better go,” she said, reluctantly.
He leaned in and kissed her cheek – just a small peck – but it made her suck in a deep breath and sent a tingle across her skin.
She cupped his jaw in the palm of her hand so his lips remained on her cheek. She knew it was dangerous, but the alcohol clouded her better judgment for a few seconds. She dropped her hand, and he slowly leaned back taking those gorgeous soft lips away from her cheek.
“Goodnight.” She left him there and followed the hallway to Tessa’s room before things went too far. When she got to the turn, she looked back at him. She knew he’d still be there, watching her, and she smiled before disappearing from view.
Tessa was on the couch in her suite, slumped over to one side. “I drank too much.”
“Are you gonna be sick?” Sindy quickly grabbed the wastebasket and brought it to her friend.
“No. I’m going to bed. The pizza is on the counter. The sight of it made me queasy.”
Sindy took Tessa by the arm and made sure she got to her room without falling, where she face-planted onto the bed without bothering to wash up or change her clothes. The pizza on the counter, cold with coagulated cheese, tasted like the best thing in the world. Tessa’s gourmet palate didn’t know what it was missing. Sindy ate both slices.
As she sat on the couch, thinking about everything that happened tonight, the muffled sound of music filtered into the room from down the hall. Lucas was beckoning to her, and she felt the pull like a rope tethered to her waist. She fought it, though, and stayed glued to the sofa, afraid her feet would take her to him if she dared to get up.
She sat there, listening to Lucas’ music, for 25 minutes before she picked up her phone.
SINDY: Is your door open?
She stared at the text message and then backspaced over it, tossed the phone onto the coffee table, and went to sleep.
Sindy zipped up her duffle bag and placed it next to the door with the rest of her things. “I’m sorry my apartment took longer than expected, Tessa. I really appreciate you letting me stay here.”
“I was happy to have you here.” Tessa came out of her bedroom holding a garment bag which contained the outfit Sindy wore on stage when Prodigy performed with Immortal Angel, made by Jessi Blade and housed in Tessa’s spacious walk-in closet for safekeeping. “I’m gonna miss you. I feel like I have a sister for the first time in my life.”
“Me, too.” An only child, Sindy never experienced the kind of companionship she had with Tessa. They’d grown incredibly close in the short time they’d known each other, and, other than when Sindy worked at the diner, they’d spent most of their days and nights together. It had been an incredible month here at the mansion, and, although she hated leaving, she was also looking forward to finally getting her own place. She didn’t have much to take with her. Most of her clothes were here, which fit into three overnight bags, but the rest of her meager belongings were still at the storage unit. She grabbed the two duffle bags, while Tessa took the small suitcase and carried the garment bag.
Once in the hallway, Sindy paused to look back at the room that had been her sanctuary and a sense of loss made her sigh. She’d miss the sofa with the fragrant pillow and soft blanket that she clung to some nights. “Bye couch.”
Lucas and Mason were waiting out front with a pick-up truck that would take Sindy’s things from the storage unit to her new apartment. They followed her to the self-storage place and into the alleyway that led to the unit she rented. Walking down the cold narrow corridor caused an array of horrible memories to wash over Sindy. The desperation she’d felt when she was forced to live here came back and drowned her, causing her cheeks to burn with embarrassment.
She rolled up the metal door, and the sight of the air mattress hit her like a brick to her gut. She didn’t know why she didn’t deflate it. She’d been back and forth several times in order to pick up clothing and could have easily let the air out of it. So much had changed since she left this place. Looking back, she felt as if it were a different person who lived in this unit. She remembered thinking it was sufficient at the time. Comfortable. She had been thankful for the four walls and the roof above her head. Then she remembered the daily trips to the gym after a 12-hour shift at the diner so she could shower, and then retiring to this 10-by-10 area where she needed to relieve herself in a bucket if she was too tired to drive to the 7-Eleven to use the bathroom. It was hard to believe that she went from living like that to living in a mansion.
The flurry of activity around her made her realize that everyone was picking up items and bringing them to the truck, and she was standing there staring at the mattress.
“Hey.” Lucas held the floor lamp in his hand. “Didn’t you threaten to hit me over the head with this?”
She burst out laughing and took the lamp from his hand. “I did no such thing.” She appreciated that he made her forget about how pathetic her life had been and lightened her mood.
It didn’t take long to load the truck, and an hour later they were at her new apartment. She slid the key into the lock, turned the knob and let the door swing open. Home. It was nothing compared to where Tessa and Lucas lived, and she could only imagine what Mason’s posh Manhattan apartment looked like, but this was her home and it was perfect.
Mason and Lucas brushed past her carrying the kitchen table. She didn’t realize how cumbersome it was moving furniture and boxes up to her second floor apartment and felt bad that Mason and Lucas were doing physical labor. “I’m sorry. I should have hired movers.”
“We got it,” Mason called over his shoulder.
Tessa walked in carrying an end table and placed it in the living room next to where the new cou
ch would go once it was delivered tomorrow.
“Tessa, what are you doing? Leave the heavy stuff for the guys.”
“Nonsense. I can carry furniture. I don’t need a man to do every little thing for me. Neither do you.” She gave Sindy a playful slap on the shoulder. “Get moving. There’s a baker’s rack I need a hand with.”
It didn’t take long to fill Sindy’s apartment with the scarce furnishings and boxes of personal stuff, and she stood back to take in her new place. “Home sweet home. I can’t wait until my new furniture comes tomorrow. I’m going to have a real bed!”
“Now I feel bad,” Tessa said. “I would have slept on the couch.”
“I would never ask you to give up your bed, Tessa.”
“I should have offered. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. It must have been so uncomfortable! Your back must be killing you between sleeping on that blow up mattress then on my couch.”
Sindy locked eyes with Lucas, both remembering how she fussed over his soft pillow-top mattress, and how she joked that it was the reason she couldn’t stay out of his bed. She missed him. As she stared at him, she saw the longing that tugged at her heart reflected back at her in his soulful eyes. This was for the best, she reminded herself. He hadn’t texted her for a middle-of-the-night visit or tried to steal a kiss when they were alone since the night she told him they needed to stop sleeping together. He seemed to be OK with being apart, which made her sadder. She wondered if he had kept pressuring her to pursue a relationship if she would have given in and told him they could deal with the fallout later if it didn’t work out. She never connected with anyone the way she connected with Lucas and missed the way they interacted. She was just being remorseful, she told herself. Fallout would be messy, and, she knew it would be inevitable. She had made the right decision and once again sealed off her heart, although a little voice in the back of her head kept telling her to reconsider.
LUCAS BLADE: Radical Rock Stars: Next Generation Duet Book 1 Page 21