The Luminous Rock Series Box Set

by K E Osborn

  “Ah… yeah, sure. We could, ah… swing that. Right guys?” Nix replies coolly, his voice smooth and dry like he’s trying to play it calm and collected.

  “Luke, do you think maybe we should have discussed this?” Effa mutters, glaring at him and he looks to me for my cue.

  I spin facing her. “Babe, Nix and the guys are the best bunch of guys I know. Working with them will be a breeze. I know you’ve got reservations about working with another all-male band after Swift Division, but trust me… I know these guys, and they’re nothing like Jett and those assholes.”

  “Aww, thanks man,” Rory quips with the lopsided smile he’s known for. “Wait, Swift Division are assholes? Hang on… yeah, I think I can see that.” He nods his head looking at Jesse who nods too, and the girls look at each other and raise their brows.

  Effa takes a deep breath looking at Luke, who swallows hard tilting his head in a gesture of compliance. Effa rolls her eyes and nods. “Okay, fine. But only because Mercs is vouching for them and not because of you, Luke, and only if the other girls agree.”

  Alana, Kristy, Casey, and Andi all shrug and nod as they look to Effa who smiles. “It’s settled then. Fort Affliction, would you like to complete the tour with us?”

  I glance to Luke, and he tries to hide his smile as he winks at me. Making Effa think this was her idea was the plan, and she played right into Luke’s hands.

  Rory chuckles nudging Nix again.

  I know how excited these guys are right now.

  “What would the play time be before your set?” Nix asks.

  Rory glares at him like he’s being a jackass. But I know Nix, he’s trying to make it seem like he’s asking the right questions for his band. And he is.

  “Forty-five minutes. Mercs will organize the lighting effects for you. We have a good crew supporting us, and they can organize all your stuff. If that’s acceptable to you, Nix?” Luke replies and Nix purses his lips and nods.

  “Sounds fair, and ah… what would be the remuneration for the band?” Nix asks.

  Rory, Brooks, and Jesse all look at each other like they might be worried Nix is taking this a bit too far. But he’s not, he’s asking the right questions.

  Luke smiles as does Effa. “Are you the one who looks after the interests of your band, Nix?” Effa asks, and he nods.

  “Yeah, someone has to keep these guys in line. You know, look out for the way to keep moving us forward,” he replies.

  Luke smiles wide hooking his arm out and wrapping it around Nix’s shoulders pulling him in next to him. “Let’s go have a chat… we can talk numbers and contracts,” Luke offers, looking to all of the four guys.

  “Have fun,” Effa calls out to Nix, his stern-faced façade suddenly looking a little shaken as he turns with the other guys to walk away. Rory looks back to me furrowing his brows and simply nods, then walks off with Luke and the rest of the band.

  I guess that was his way of reminding me I need to do something about my debt with Hex sooner rather than later. I should talk to Effa about it, but fuck this shit’s embarrassing. Yes, I only used the gambling app once, and it was only to try and win some money for Kiera’s procedure, but the thought of telling Effa I owe money to a bookie… it’s damn degrading. Demeaning. Fucking humiliating and soul-crushing.

  I know she’ll give me the out, but asking her for more money right now after everything she is doing for Kiera. Fuck! I may as well hand her my balls in a paper bag.

  I should be providing for her, and instead, she’s the one taking care of all of my financial needs. There must be a way to sort this shit out on my own, but I have no idea how.

  For tonight, I’m going to place it on the back burner and think about it later. Tonight we celebrate the girls having a new opening band.

  I pivot to face Effa and the girls. “So, you have an opening band for your tour.”

  Effa smirks. “And why do I feel like you had a hand in all of this?”

  Chuckling, I shrug. “Don’t worry, you girls will get along with them just fine. This partnership will be epic.”

  Effa leans in cuddling into my side and hums under her breath. “It better be, or it’s you we’re coming after, Mercs.”

  Laughing, I nod. “Noted.”

  Kristy turns to me and raises her brow. “Are they… single?”

  Andi and Casey snort as they close into her sides, blocking her in like a sandwich. “I have no idea, last time I checked they were.”

  “You’re so transparent, Kristy. The lust is oozing off you in tidal waves,” Andi chimes, smiling wide as Casey sniffs the air dramatically.

  “I think I can smell your desperation.”

  Kristy rolls her eyes and shoves the two girls holding her. “Shut up!”

  “Who will she bed first?” Her eyes go up to the ceiling in thought. “Rory. My bet’s on Rory,” Casey jests.

  “Fuck no! She’s more of a Nix girl. I’m right, aren’t I?” Andi teases.

  Kristy breaks free and pushes past us all walking off in a huff.

  “Kris! Kris, come back, they’re just being dicks,” Effa calls out. “Guys, say sorry.”

  “I’m more of a Brooks girl actually,” Kristy calls out throwing her hand in the air and flipping us all the bird.

  I grin as Effa slants her hip and chuckles.

  Alana steps up to us and sighs. “Do you think Luke will do them a good deal?”

  Effa shrugs. “Well, they’re an unknown band unlike Swift Division, so I can’t imagine it will be the same deal they got, but you never know, he might be feeling generous.”

  Alana chews on her bottom lip. “I just hope he comes back in a good mood.”

  Effa screws up her face. “Who? Luke?”

  Alana nods and walks off. I glance at Effa who’s watching Alana walk away, and she’s almost sulking.

  “What the hell was that?” she asks, and I raise my brow in question. “You saw that? Her concern for Luke is weird. That’s not just me, right?”

  Letting out a small laugh, I shake my head. “Effa, if there’s one thing I know about Alana, it’s that she cares about everyone equally. So her being concerned about Luke doesn’t surprise me. If someone like Andi was concerned about Luke, then I’d be shocked… but Alana? Not so much. She loves everyone equally. You’re overthinking. Let’s just enjoy the rest of the night, ‘cause tomorrow shit gets serious again.”

  She sighs and nods. “Yeah, sorry. Let’s go have another drink.”

  I grab her hand and lead her back to the booth where her dad is sitting watching us. I give him a grin, and he nods to me as I look to Effa. She’s smiling as we slide into the booth. She looks so fucking beautiful, so fucking perfect and everything feels right—her being here, in my hometown. Tonight being filled with music, and Effa being a part of it all, makes everything feel like the world’s spinning on the right axis. Looking at her I know that no matter what, she means everything to me. No matter what, I would do anything for her. She is my everything, and so I make a decision.

  Standing up, Effa looks at me, and I smile down at her. “I’m just gonna go chat with Donny for a bit. Try to make a good impression,” I tell her with a smirk.

  “Good luck,” she encourages, and I lean down kissing her cheek then turn heading for her father.

  He’s watching me like he knew I would come for him. I take a seat next to him, and he looks me up and down. “Hey, kid.”

  “Donny.”

  “I’m really liking this little town of yours. I wish we could stay longer.”

  I relax a little more into my seat and nod. “I know Effa would have loved that. I’d like that, too. I haven’t had a chance to really chat with you and Livvy over the past week.”

  He shakes his head and chuckles. “Kid, you’ve been looking after your sister and my baby girl. That in my books is far more important. But, we have some time now before you two head off tomorrow.”

  “We sure do… I wanted to apologize. For not being able to see the signs. For
not being there quicker to help Effa.”

  He places his hand on my back and taps, then shakes his head. “From what I hear, you bashed on her chest till her ribs caved in. You breathed life back into her when she was fading so fast there was no coming back. To me, you saved her life. So sure, I might look like I wanna give you a hard time. I might look like I want to punch you… most of the time. But that’s because I’m fighting the urge to hug you like a sissy bitch and burst into tears thanking you. I look angry because I am angry, for feeling like less of a man around you. You make me so damn proud of you, kid, and I hardly fucking know you.”

  A small gasp exits my mouth while I sit here speechless. I have no idea what to say to that. I certainly wasn’t expecting that much honesty from him, but fuck if it doesn’t feel good to hear. I honestly don’t know what to say, so I do the only thing I can think of, and I open my arms leaning forward and take him into a tight man hug with back-slapping and all. He chuckles, hugging me back so tightly I can barely breathe, his strength and warmth surround me, and for the first time in my life, I feel what it would be like having an embrace from a father figure. My throat grows thick while I blink a few times to adjust myself as I pull back from him. He slaps my shoulder and shakes his head.

  “You’re a good match for my baby girl, Kaden. I couldn’t have hand-picked a better man for her.”

  I glance over to Effa seeing she’s occupied with Kristy, so I turn back to Donny with a heavy breath and look him right in the eyes. “Well, that’s the best thing you could have said, because… I really need to ask you something.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  EFFA

  Saturday night went so well. We had a great time at the pub, meeting all the locals, including Fort Affliction who, as it turns out, are a great set of guys. I know Mercs and Luke plotted somehow to get me to agree to bring them on tour with us, but the thought had already crossed my mind while listening to them.

  I have to admit, I would have liked to have been consulted about it before Luke asked them in front of me. But, it turned out for the best, because our tour can go ahead when fighting fit. So, all is good in the world. I just hope Fort Affliction can handle the pressure that comes with a tour like ours. I hope they can handle the spotlight and new found fame that will come with it. But I’m sure they will. They’re all switched on men. So I think the fame they inevitably will have will suit them all well.

  “Penny for your thoughts?” Mercs asks, interrupting my thought process as I turn my head to look at him. His hair is slightly longer on top of his head as he runs his fingers through it taking a breath. The sunlight shining through the window of the car has a glistening brilliance, even though the windows are tinted. It’s making me feel slightly less nervous because the day is so stunningly beautiful. The sky is clear blue, and there’s only a small splattering of white clouds in the sky, as I look past him out to the lush green fields surrounding us as we drive.

  Smiling, I reach out for his hand as the car moves off the Pennsylvania Turnpike and onto the Blairsville Pittsburgh Highway, and we inch closer and closer to Pittsburgh. “Just going over Saturday night and how great it was. It was nice to meet another band, not only that, but it was even better because it’s people you know. I like Ligoniers, they’re all such great people,” I tell him.

  “Yeah, they are a good bunch all right. How are you feeling about today?” His voice is low, etched with concern.

  Shrugging, I frown. “Mixed emotions. I want to know what’s going on with me. But at the same time, sometimes ignorance is bliss, you know?”

  He tightens his hand in mine. “Whatever happens. Whatever the outcome, Effa. I’m here for you. With you. Always.”

  I nod and slide over next to him, resting my head on his shoulder as the car drives us closer and closer toward the doctor’s office.

  We arrive at Doctor Wakefield’s office at the right time. The hour and a half drive from Ligonier wasn’t too bad with the morning traffic, but it’s nice to get out and stretch my legs. As we sit down in his office waiting for him, my leg agitates up and down nervously in anticipation of how today and the testing will go.

  “Hey babe, don’t be nervous. I’m right here with you, no matter what, Effa,” Mercs offers, reaching out for my hand as the door opens and Doctor Wakefield steps in. His salt and pepper hair sweeping over, styled just the right way.

  “Good morning, guys. How was the trip back?” he asks rounding his desk and taking a seat.

  I smile at him, his calm tone and soft demeanor putting me at ease almost instantly. “Great. Hardly any traffic to worry about.”

  “Good to hear. So, have you had another episode since the last one?” he asks, pulling out a notepad and a pen.

  I shake my head and weakly smile. “No, just the two. Plus, the other symptoms.”

  “Okay, and how much weight have you lost?”

  “Maybe three and a half pounds… give or take.”

  He nods writing down some notes, but then looks up to me in an assessing way. “But your face, it’s puffy… yes?”

  I nod, and he hums under his breath and continues to write. “Decreased appetite, fatigue and decreased sex drive as well, correct?” he asks.

  My chest tightens, my stomach sinks, and a lump catches in my throat as I glance to Mercs. He looks at me raising his brow, and I wince.

  “Correct.”

  Mercs furrows his brows, flaring his nostrils seeming agitated, or hurt, or confused? Maybe all three. All I know is he didn’t know about that last symptom, and I should have told him. I just didn’t want him to think it had anything to do with him. Because it doesn’t, not at all. This is all me. He looks away from me as Doctor Wakefield looks up and nods.

  “Right, before I want to speculate on what I think might be going on, I’d like to do some specialized blood work to check your hormone levels, your hypothalamus and pituitary gland. I’ll add in some others, but if I’m right, I suspect it will be those that are playing around with your body right now.”

  Nodding, I try not to worry about Mercs and how he must be feeling at this moment. I need to focus on my diagnosis and deal with him later. “Okay, and if it is that, then is it fixable?”

  He tilts his head. “Let’s get the results first. Then we can see what we’re working with. I don’t want to make any comments or assumptions until I have the facts, Vespa.”

  Sighing, I nod and smile. “Of course. So what’s next?”

  “I’ll send you off to the nurses’ station for the blood work. Then I’ll get you back in tomorrow afternoon for your results, and we will proceed from there.” He sighs. “Vespa, I’m going to do my absolute best to get the right answers for you.”

  Taking a deep breath, I feel relieved. I know he’ll do the best job he can. I trust him. “Thank you, Doctor. So I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then?”

  “Yes. I’ve slotted you in for four p.m.”

  “Thanks, Doctor Wakefield,” I reply as I stand up along with Mercs.

  The Doctor hands me my blood test form, and we walk out the door. My muscles are tense, and Mercs doesn’t say anything as we begin to walk down the hall toward the nurses’ station. My stomach is churning at what he might be thinking. How he’s feeling. I know we said we were going to keep honest and open communication with each other, but honestly, I didn’t tell him about the lowered sex drive because I thought he’d take it the wrong way. But right now, yeah, I’m fully regretting that decision.

  I come to a halt, and he spins to face me, raising his brow like he’s concerned at why I stopped mid-walk. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” I blurt out.

  He exhales, slumping his body and steps up to me taking my hands in his and looks in my eyes. “I’m not angry. I’m not upset or even hurt... more confused as to why you thought you needed to keep something like that from me. I mean… we had sex. I certainly thought you enjoyed it. You seemed like you did—”

  “No. I did, Kaden. Very much. Being with you is amazing, eve
ry time. And when we were doing it, honestly it felt fantastic. It’s just leading up to having sex, the need for it wasn’t as overpowering as it usually is, and that has absolutely nothing to do with you, and everything to do with my body right now. Because my mind wanted it, so much. That’s why I went with it because I knew that even though my body was not as excited as normal, my mind was screaming to be with you. Because I want you, I always want you.”

  He weakly smiles. “Okay,” he says so casually I almost don’t register that he’s said it.

  I blink a few times. “Okay?”

  He chuckles, pulling me to him and wrapping his arms around me pressing his lips to mine briefly and then draws back looking into my eyes. “Yes, okay. I know something’s happening in here...” he points to my body, “… right now, and I’m not going to hold it against you if your sex drive is lowered. What the hell would that make me if I judged you for that? I know it’s not personal. And like I said when we did have sex you were there. You were in the moment. I felt it. So I’m not worried. I’m with you, baby. But please, don’t keep things from me, even if you think they’re going to hurt my feelings. Okay? I want to know what’s going on with you.”

  My stomach flutters and I smile leaning in pressing my forehead against his and closing my eyes taking him in as he holds me tight. “You’re incredible.”

  He chuckles, pressing his lips to the tip of my nose and brings his hand up to caress my cheek, making me open my eyes again to see him looking at me with such wonder it almost knocks my breath away.

  “Effa, you mean so much to me. I’m here to support you, no matter what.”

  We’ve been together for close to three months, only about a week off that, and in that time our adoration for each other has grown strong. He means so much to me now too, and I can’t imagine my life without him in it. I can’t seem to remember a time before him. It seems like a lifetime ago.

  “I suppose we should get this blood test done?” I murmur.

  Mercs smiles and nods then leans in and presses his lips to mine briefly. He pulls back reaching for my hand, and we head down toward the nurses’ station for my blood testing.