by Lyra Parish
My door swung open and the driver—whose teeth were perfectly straight—smiled at me.
"Ace insisted I bring you here."
"Really?"
He nodded. "Everything you need is at the counter."
I slipped out of the car, anxious and excited to see what awaited me. I walked inside and couldn't help admiring the tall ceilings and abstract paintings hanging on the wall. The counter was large and wrapped around the whole back wall. Whatever this place was, it was very fancy and I felt a bit out of place.
The woman smiled at me and asked for my driver's license.
"Elizabeth Riley. Welcome to Sashay. I'm Delores and I'll be your fashionista today. We sell one-of-a-kind designer dresses, but I think yours has already been chosen. I'll need you to try it on so we can make sure it fits."
"Wow, I'm speechless."
"Wait until you see what we've got in store for you," she said, smiling. The woman walked to the back and returned with an oversized box. My eyes widened as she opened it and handed me a floor length black silk dress with a white sash around the middle. It looked like a fairy tale dress that flared at the waist with a full skirt. I couldn't hold back the smile that filled my face.
"There's a dressing room in the corner. Try it on, then meet me over here on the pedestal."
"Thanks so much," I said with the dress tucked in my arms and walked to the room. Once inside, I couldn't wait to slip out of my clothes and put it on. I unzipped the back of the dress and put one foot in, then the other. I wiggled it up my body and tried to zip it but couldn't. I walked out, holding the dress up, and the woman rushed over to me.
"Let me help." She zipped up the dress and it fit like a glove.
"Thank you."
Delores led me over to the round, raised flooring. I stepped onto the platform and looked in the mirrors that surrounded the room. My smile only grew wider as I saw myself. How had he known this would fit so well? Ace had outdone himself.
"I am supposed to hand you this when you try it on," Delores said.
On the side was a note written in sloppy handwriting.
I opened it and couldn't read fast enough.
I let out a breath and placed the letter to my chest. I had to be living someone else’s life because this one was book perfect.
She made a few adjustments to the dress and unzipped me. I held the fluffy dress in my arms and handed it to her. With a smile, she placed it in a huge box and bag and handed it back.
"Do I need to pay for this?"
"Honey, it's all been taken care of. Enjoy your party. You're going to look great."
My face hurt from smiling so much. I walked outside and the driver opened the door for me. I leaned the back of my head against the seat and looked up. Passing buildings hovered above me while I relaxed and allowed everything that was happening to sink in. Sprinkles of sunshine sifted through the clouds and all I could think about was Ace. Just thinking about him put a huge smile on my face, and I poured another glass of champagne.
Truth be known, I don't think an ocean could keep us apart.
32
Ace
The venue seemed cold and dark, and smelled like an old hotel or library. It was built in the late 1800's and converted into an amphitheater in the 90's. It was small and quaint, perfect for recording the show for DVD for tonight. The summer tour would be forever remembered at this venue. It was the perfect night for my evil plan to take place.
I hadn't seen her since this morning and I found myself wanting to go to her, but I'd wait impatiently for her to return. The thought of her naked body pressed against mine, her ravenous lips, and the look in her eye was enough to bring me to my knees. There was a permanent smile pasted on my face, and she was the reason. My brothers were starting to worry about how happy I’d been lately, but it wasn't a secret. They each knew the cause.
"What are you dreaming about?" Nik said from side stage and met me in the center.
Nik's voice scared the shit out of me and I jumped. "Fuck! Announce yourself. Jesus Christ."
"As long as you don't shit your pants on the stage, we'll be okay," he laughed.
"Where is Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum?" I asked.
"They aren't back yet." He walked closer. "There was no shame on Elizabeth's face when she took the walk this morning."
I turned and looked at him and crossed my arms. "Interesting."
"Yeah, we were all there on the bus when she exited your room."
"What? What the hell?"
"I didn't know she was there. Send me a text or something so I know next time—shit! Not my fault," Nik said, crossing his arms.
"If you embarrassed her…" I threatened. I was sure she would have texted me if they would have, right?
"You'll what? Kick my ass? You don't have to worry about me; it's the other two that don't have a filter."
I started to laugh as Jex walked in and Rex was dressed exactly like him. Nik saw them and chuckled too. We exchanged a look and Jex turned and looked at Rex.
"Are you fucking kidding me? STOP. DOING. THAT," Jex said, pissed. He turned and looked at us, his nostrils flaring.
"He waits until I get dressed, sees what I'm wearing, then finds the exact shirt or one close. Next tour, I'm bunking with you, Nik."
Rex started laughing so hard he was practically choking.
"No fucking way. Nik is my bus partner. You get to deal with him," I said, pointing at Rex, who was slapping his leg and laughing.
"Next tour, you'll be on your own bus with your girlfriend," Nik said and I turned and looked at him.
"Hopefully you're right." I tucked my hands into my pockets.
"Let's do this fucking sound check," Jex said, shooting daggers at Rex.
We picked up our instruments and played through a few songs, checked the levels of our monitors, and allowed the audio engineers to mix to the room. I headed back to the bus and slept before I was meant to be in the green room to wait.
Me: Tell me when Elizabeth heads this way.
Jenny: Deal. You're evil.
Me: I know what I want.
I got my text, waiting until I heard footsteps then opened the door quickly and pulled her inside and shut it. She looked at me with wide eyes and I kissed the shit out of her. She gasped and set down her camera bag. With a side smile, I laid her down on the leather sofa, my body weight pinning her to the couch. Her hair surrounded her face and her breathing increased.
"Now this is something I never want to forget. You exactly like this," I said as I bent down and kissed her. She looked so pretty and perfect.
"Take a picture, it’ll last longer," she said, leaning up to kiss me.
I pulled my iPhone from my pocket and snapped a picture of her. "Good idea."
I nibbled her ear and made my way to her lips.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Almost time. Are you ready?" Nik said on the other side of the door.
"Yeah. Finishing up something really quick, then I'll be there." I trailed kisses along her neck. She leaned into my touch with eyes closed.
"I can't stop thinking about you," I whispered.
She leaned up and kissed me again. "You're driving me crazy."
"You're making this hard," I said. She glanced down my body and I adjusted myself. "That too."
A few more moments passed and I heard the door click open slowly. I didn't move or budge. I didn't care. Her body went stiff under me. I looked over my shoulder at Nik and he placed his hands on his hips and shook his head.
"We've gotta go. Seriously. You can do this later." He winked at Elizabeth.
I looked down at her, admired the blue of her eyes as we exchanged a silent conversation.
"Later," I whispered and she licked her lips and nodded.
Carefully, I lifted myself from the couch and mirrored how Nik was standing.
"Sorry," he said to Elizabeth and walked over to me, grabbed my shirt, and pulled me out the door.
"I'll return him to you later, E
lizabeth."
I couldn't stop laughing at his motherly act. Jex and Rex waited for us and when we arrived the four of us huddled. As our entrance music played, the stage lights faded to black. The special effects would be outrageous tonight since they were recording the show. Lasers, green screens, and a light show was programmed to each beat of every song.
"Are you ready to fucking rock this?" Jex asked.
"Hell yeah," I said, knowing what the set list held.
33
Elizabeth
I walked to the venue and received a call from my mom.
"Your dad is being released." She sounded much happier than the last time we’d talked.
I wanted to scream out in happiness. "I'm so relieved! That's so awesome. Can I talk to him?"
"He's sleeping at the moment. But I'll send your love and I'll call you if anything changes."
"Thanks, Mom. I love you. I gotta go."
"Love you too, bye."
A bounce formed in my step and I couldn't help but feel comforted by the good news. My dad was okay. Everything would be okay.
The soft glow of the stage lights lit the dark venue. As soon as the lights flashed on and the first beat of the first song played out, Ace found me in the crowd and his eyes locked with mine. I was getting my own personal show. It was like no one else was around until he said my name over the microphone and I could hear the shuffling of bodies. At first I thought I was imagining it all, then I went into denial, then he described what I was wearing and pointed me out. People turned and looked at me while others cheered me on, but I could feel the shell harden around me. If I were a turtle, this is when I would have gone into hiding but there was no hiding when your face is being displayed over the big screens used to enhance viewing for those in the nosebleed sections. No, there was no hiding.
"Elizabeth, come on," he said.
I swallowed and forced myself to take a few steps forward and all I could focus on was the smoke hovering above the crowd and the way the lights shone over them. I turned and looked at Jenny in the sound booth. She was happily shooing me forward with both hands.
"El-iz-a-beth! El-iz-a-beth! El-iz-a-beth," the crowd chanted to the rhythm of my increasing heart rate. I had to tell myself one foot after the other around the pit of people, over the railing, past security, and up on the stage. The lights shone in my eyes and blocked out most of the crowd. As they circled around, I could catch hints of the 10,000 people who were in the room.
Ace leaned into me with his face toward the back of the stage. "See, it's not that bad."
"It is that bad," I whispered.
Romeo came out with my guitar in hand, tuned and ready to go. I stood there frozen with the neck tightly in my grasp. A microphone was strung out from the right side of the stage and placed directly in front of me. I made eye contact with Romeo and he handed me a guitar cable. I plugged it into the bottom of my guitar. A pop buzz hum broadcasted out into the auditorium. Ace stood there, not allowing his smile to fade. I might not ever forgive him for this.
"This is Elizabeth Riley. One of her dreams was to become a musician, among other things. The only problem is big crowds scare the shit out of her. This isn't a sick joke. I think she has what it takes."
He walked across the stage where he could actually see the crowd.
"So behave out there," he said, and the crowd went wild when he strapped on his electric guitar. He turned and looked at Nik, then his eyes followed Rex and Jex. He gently counted 1… 2 … 3… and they all started playing the beginning of “Can't Help Falling in Love.” For a moment I was taken aback. I forgot the words. My guitar felt heavy across my body. The beat was slow and steady and they played the intro over and over until I started. There was no way I was getting out of this. I sucked in a deep breath, closed my eyes, strummed the guitar, and stepped up to the microphone.
Ace looked at me and mouthed, "You can do it."
I couldn't believe the sound of my voice through the microphone. The crowd didn't matter. When my eyes were closed, it was only my guitar and me. It was all that mattered. I hit the high notes in perfect pitch and knew my dad would have been proud. I hadn't performed like this since high school. I continued to squeeze my eyes tight, taking in deep breathes between verses, begging my nerves to give up as I gave in to the music. After the second chorus, I thought my body would relax and my nerves slowly dissipate, but they didn't.
When I opened my eyes, everyone came into view in full force. I turned and looked at Ace as he strummed along with me. The smile on his face hadn't left and his expression said everything he couldn't. I knew he was proud of me. The song ended and the crowd went crazy. Chills ran up my arms and legs and filled my entire body. My legs began to tremble and realization of what had just happened came to the forefront.
"Ladies and Gentleman, the beautiful Elizabeth Riley. Isn't she talented?" The screams filled the room and the lights flashed over the heads of people. My heart dropped when I noticed the cameras floating around on the jib across the audience, past the stage, focused on Ace and me. My mouth dropped open and my eyes widened because I had completely forgotten about the recording. The performance could be watched over and over again. My nerves had returned but packed a punch. My stomach went queasy and I wanted to throw up, but it wouldn't make for good television. I took off my guitar and walked offstage. The lights, the sounds, the zooming cameras—they were all so overwhelming. I leaned against the wall, my heart beating so fast I thought it would eject from my chest.
Romeo handed me a bottle of water and I chugged it, hoping it would remove the dryness from my throat. I needed fresh air to help me calm the surge of adrenaline that hadn’t left me yet. Once outside, my head pounded. Bus number six was calling me forward. After I took some aspirin, I changed clothes and climbed into bed and closed my eyes but I couldn't sleep. Feet shuffled around and my curtain was pulled open.
"We're going out for drinks and you're coming. Holy shit, Elizabeth! Why didn't you tell any of us you could play and sing?" Jenny asked.
"My head is killing me."
She grabbed my hand and yanked on my arm.
"I'll give you ten minutes, and then I'll be back to get you. Headache or not, you're joining us."
I groaned and slipped on a skirt and scoop neck top, but I'd rather sleep. Jenny grabbed my hand and led me off the bus.
"This is going to be so much fun."
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see," she said.
I sighed with a smile on my face and I looked over at her.
"Sooo . . . you and Ace? Yeah?" She wiggled her eyebrows at me.
"He's everything a girl could wish for and more. And the sex…" I winked at her.
"I'm happy for you, but I think I threw up in my mouth a little." She laughed and elbowed me as we walked toward the black SUV with tinted windows.
"After you," she said and opened the door.
Ace sat there with a smile. His expression was full lust and want. I swallowed trying to catch my breath. I had not expected to see him waiting there for me. I turned and looked at a beaming Jenny.
"I'll meet you there," she said, waving at us as she walked away.
Ace held out his hand and I slid over the leather seat beside him and shut the door. The driver pressed on the accelerator and we zoomed down the street.
"Hi, beautiful."
My heart fluttered.
"I should be mad at you right now." Even if I wanted to be I couldn't, not with him so close.
He tilted his head at me as a cute little smirk played across his lips. "You can't be mad at me."
I playfully crossed my arms and tried to straighten my face. "I can."
When I turned my head to look at him, he grabbed my chin between his fingers and gently kissed me. It was like a breath of fresh air and as I exhaled, my soul left me.
"I'll kiss away your anger."
"What if it doesn't work?"
"Then I'll fuck it away."
Heat rushed
through me, flooding every inch of my body. Thankfully it was dark because I know pinkness hit my cheeks as I thought back to this morning and last night. A part of me wanted to press pause so I could spend all of my time with him. I exhaled slowly, trying to take control of my emotions and he noticed.
"You're so cute. Especially when you're mad."
I shook my head with a smile, regaining control. I flashed my eyes towards him.
"Promise me no more large crowds. They make me nervous."
He leaned in, the plumpness of his lips traced the outside of my ear.
Oh. My. God.
Ace Hathway had moves.
"No can do, babe."
The SUV came to a stop outside of a little jazz bar. Quarter notes hung outside the building, but the place didn't have a name. The driver kept his face forward as we hesitated to get out.
His nose brushed against my cheek and he pinched the skin of my neck between his teeth and pulled.
"I like that," I growled, allowing the sensation of the pleasure mixed with pain to stream though me. I turned my body toward him. When our lips met again, everything around us vanished and time stood still. Together we were two people enjoying kissing and being together; he wasn’t Ace Hathway, famous musician, and I wasn't Elizabeth Riley, the journalist. There was no hiding and it felt right.
We broke apart when the door swung open. Rex stood there with a huge smile.
"Comeeeee on, lovebirds. We have shots to take."
Jex grabbed my hand and stood there holding it, facing Ace with a grin stretched ear to ear. They loved agitating him and I couldn't hold back my laughter.
"Loosen up a little, geez," Jex said, winking at me and slapping Ace on the back.
