I always liked Lexi, but the more time Milo had to spend on the road, the more they grew apart. Lexi started to resent the band. She was never nasty and would never ask him to leave. She’d break her own heart before she tried to kill his dream.
“She’s doing really well,” he says, sounding genuinely happy. “She’s opened her own boutique where she sells her designs. I guess all that sketching has paid off.”
“That’s great, man. Are you going to meet up with her?”
He shakes his head, and his jaw clenches. “She’s with someone.”
Damn. “I’m sorry.”
He shrugs, but his eyes wince with hurt. “I let her go. I can’t be pissed when she’s found someone who wouldn’t.”
“Did she say she doesn’t want to meet?”
“No, she wants to get coffee.”
“You should.”
“No, I don’t mind talking to her on Facebook occasionally, but I’m done with her. We ended a long time ago, and I’m looking to the future. Lexi is the past.”
She doesn’t sound very in the past.
“All right.” I pour whiskey in my glass and hand it over.
He doesn’t want to talk, and that’s fine. He knows where I am.
He takes the glass and downs the amber liquid. “Cheers.”
Texas and Cooper come back in minutes later. They both look like they went to do coke, not look at a stage.
Tex bounces on her toes and shoves her phone in my face. “Look how awesome it is! I can’t wait!”
Milo puts the empty glass on the table.
“Come on, let’s fuck shit up and then get laid,” I say. Coping mechanism.
Texas spins around and jumps on Milo’s back. He laughs and grips her calves.
Fuck, I love seeing her like this. But I wish her legs were wrapped around me.
At least Milo is smiling again though.
Mark, Jimmy, and Will are legends. I stand backstage, watching them from the wing. Mark’s stage presence is undeniable. They finish up on one of their most popular songs, and it’ll soon be our turn.
I can’t believe we’re about to start our opening show of our world tour. It’s still so surreal. There couldn’t have been a better place to start than Paris. The love and support we’ve received from our French fans is mind-blowing. The date sold out within hours, so we had to add a second show.
I’m buzzing so hard that you’d think I’d been on a cocaine binge. Milo and Coop are standing closer to the edge of the stage with beers, enjoying the show, but I’m a little farther back with Tex.
Mark’s voice carries through the entire stadium, owning it. If I get to be half as good as him, I’ll consider my career a huge success.
Tex takes my beer from my hand and helps herself to a sip before handing it back.
“Thanks,” I mutter.
Smiling brightly, she replies, “You’re welcome. Are you nervous?”
“A bit. This is what I’m good at, and I know I’ll fucking rock, but I don’t want to mess this up.”
“You’ve never messed up a set before, and you’ve done tons of shows.”
“I know, but I don’t want to let the guys down. Tonight is kind of a big deal.”
“You need to calm down. You’ve gone white,” she says, placing her hand on my forehead.
I have?
“Don’t puke—at least, not until after the show.”
“Thanks. That’s helpful.”
She laughs and puts a stray stand of hair behind her ear. “All right, just pretend this isn’t your tour. You’re supporting Enigma. By the way, do you think that band name is lame, too?”
I chuckle. “You’re a terrible daughter.”
With a shrug, she wraps her arms around my waist. Milo is suddenly finding this more interesting than watching Enigma. I don’t care right now.
“You’re going to be fine, Kitt. You’ve got the sexiest, most incredible voice I’ve ever heard, and you rock the guitar. You guys are my favourite band. Stop worrying, okay?”
I pull her against my chest and hold her close. She’s the only girl I feel comfortable enough to do this with. The rest of them want something. Tex doesn’t care about the fame, what I do, or how much money I have. She just wants me, and that makes resisting her ten times harder.
“You think I have a sexy voice?”
“Don’t let it get to your head, rock star. Everyone knows you do. Your voice is kinda rough, and when you sing, you sound…”
Laughing, I offer, “Filthy?”
“Yeah,” she replies, looking up at me. “Massive ego thing to name your band after your sound, by the way.”
“Not really. It’s my band.”
“You could’ve had anything.”
“You don’t like Filthy Sound?”
She shakes her head and squeezes my middle. “No, I do.”
“What would you have called us?”
Giggling, she pulls away and stands straight. “It changes often, depending on my mood and how idiotic you’re all acting.”
“Wow. So, only bad things, huh?”
“Pretty much. Hey, they’re almost finished with the last song. Are you ready to rock, Daniels?”
“Fuckin’ right I am, Knight. You’ll be watching?”
“Of course! Sing my favourite loudest.”
I drop my arms and bow, which makes her laugh. “Anything for my number one fan.”