Rock All Night

75




Twenty-four hours later, we were in San Francisco. Technically the concert was at the San Jose HP Pavilion, but close enough.

Shanna’s flight didn’t get in until later in the day, so we didn’t see her until right before the show. We were all hanging out in the ready room, eating filet mignon and Big Macs, when one of the security guys popped his head in.

“Hey, Mr. Kane, there’s a woman out here says you flew her in from New York?”

“Shanna, is that you?” Derek shouted.

“Hell yeah!” echoed around the corner.

She came in the room like a giant ball of energy, shrieking happily as she jumped into Derek’s arms. He twirled her around, and she laid a big kiss on his cheek.

“Careful, somebody’ll get jealous,” he said, and shot me a little smirk.

He was right. Even though I knew it was harmless, the green-eyed monster still dug its claws in me pretty good.

She was dressed in typical Shanna fashion – meaning, hot to trot. She wore skin-tight Daisy Dukes that hugged her ass, cute little brown boots, and a backless 70’s-style halter top that tied around the neck – and managed to show off plenty of sideboob. She looked great.

Riley was certainly taking an interest from across the room.

“There she is! My slutty little journalist!” Shanna laughed as she ran over and nearly bowled me over with a hug. “Let me take a look at you – daaaaamn, girl, hot rock star sex agrees with you!”

I blushed and laughed it off. “Glad you could make it.”

“First class, too!” she marveled, and turned back to Derek. “I really, really, really appreciate it – that was awesome.”

“My pleasure.”

“All the champagne I wanted – damn, I am SO wasted.”

Derek laughed. “Ah, Shanna… how I’ve missed you.”

“Hey – fly me out for every damn show!”

At this point Ryan walked up. “Hey, Shanna.”

“Oh my GOD!” she gasped, and fanned her hand in front of her face like the temperature had suddenly risen dramatically. “Holy shit, Ryan, you got hot!”

He just laughed. “And you’re beautiful as always.”

She stood up on her tiptoes and looped her arms around his neck. “Tell me more!”

He leaned down and hugged her, and she kissed the side of his face, too.

Strangely enough, I felt a tiny prickle of jealousy when she did that, too.

What’s WITH me, anyway?

Riley appeared at my elbow. “Who’s your friend, Blondie?”

“Riley, this is Shanna, my college roommate. Shanna, if you can tear yourself away from the boys for a second, this is Riley.”

“Hey,” Riley said, all suave and cool, and stuck out her hand.

“Oh, you can do better than that,” Shanna said, and POW! laid a kiss right on Riley’s mouth.

I’ve never seen anybody’s eyes pop so far out of their head as Riley’s did – from utter shock, I’m sure.

Every guy in the room either wolf-whistled or roared with laughter.

I just cringed, imagining what Riley’s mouth tasted like. Probably an ashtray drowned in Jack Daniels.

When Shanna released Riley, the little drummer girl stumbled back – then stared at me, wide-eyed.

“I like your friend,” she said with a growing smile.

“This is Killian,” Derek said, putting his arm around the guitarist, who gave a wave and a shy little smile.

“Oh my God, you are brilliant,” she enthused. Then she sniffed the air. “And you have good taste in pot. What is that, Strawberry Cough?”

Of course Shanna was an expert in weed. Of course she was.

Killian looked taken aback. “You know your herb, luv.”

“Hell yeah I do! Mind if I…?”

“Be my guest,” Killian said, and passed her the joint. “Always nice to meet a fellow connoisseur.”

Shanna took a hit, then held it in. She passed the joint back to Killian, gave a thumbs up, then coughed out a cloud of smoke.

The rest of the room laughed. Derek slapped her on the back lightly. “You all right, there?”

“God DAMN that’s good,” she wheezed with a smile.

Shanna was an immediate hit with the band.