Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree: A Red Velvet Christmas Novel

by K E Osborn

  “Have a good night, Clara,” I call out and she looks over at me now that I hear the commercial for Strictly Come Dancing play in the background.

  “Oh right, you’re off. Have a good concert. I’ll put little miss to bed after Downton.”

  I smile at her as Hunter chuckles to himself. “Sure thing, have fun.”

  “You too,” she says and turns back to the television. I turn to face Hunter and grab my bag off the bed.

  “Let’s go, the guys will be waiting.” He tilts his head to the side for us to walk out. So I step ahead of him, and as my heels step on the plush carpet of the fancy hotel floor, I can’t help but get excited about tonight’s gig. Opening the door, I step into the hallway and instantly the hairs on my arms stand to attention. I look over to the elevators and Brax is waiting, his back leaning against the wall, one leg raised bent at the knee and his arms folded across his broad chest. He looks magnificent. I take in a shallow breath and Hunter walks right into the back of me. I jolt forward not realising I’d stopped walking.

  “Geez Amber, stop suddenly why don’t you?” Hunter states the obvious grabbing my shoulders and pushing me to walk forward.

  My feet fumble slightly and I trip a little but catch myself rolling my eyes at my own idiocy. I stand up tall and walk along the hall toward Brax, who’s now watching me with a smirk, his eyes tracing up and down the length of my body. If I didn’t know better, I think I see his chest rise and fall a little quicker when he sees me—like I take his breath away. But I’m probably just hoping that’s what I see. Taking the last few steps to the elevators, Hunter walks up behind me and slaps Brax on the shoulder.

  “Thanks for waiting, man.”

  “No worries,” Brax replies.

  Hunter pushes the button to call the elevator just as his mobile starts to ring. “Fuck’s sake.” Hunter pulls it from his pocket and the annoying ringtone grates on my ears as he swipes the screen and answers the call. “What the fuck, guys? We’re coming down now,” he scolds into the phone making me giggle. It’s obviously one of the guys is wondering where we are.

  Brax leans into me as Hunter continues to talk to the guys as the elevator doors open. His hand slides onto my lower back as he walks behind me into the elevator. The warmth of his touch instantly sets me on fire. The doors slide closed, and as they do my breathing increases as Brax’s hand slips further down. I swallow hard as his hand slowly slides over my arse. I close my eyes as his front moves in closer to my back, and his warm breath grazes my neck sending a shiver down my spine. I casually glance up at Hunter who’s still on the call arguing with whoever is on the phone and completely oblivious to Brax’s advances.

  He leans in and gently kisses behind my ear. I bite my bottom lip trying everything in my willpower not to turn around, wrap my arms around his neck, my legs around his waist and bury my tongue in his mouth. My heart rate is spiking and his breath against my neck is so warm it’s making me burn with an insatiable desire.

  “You look amazing tonight,” he whispers.

  I smile and press my back into him. His hand on my arse clenches and I close my eyes relishing in the contact. His lips are at my neck, but he doesn’t kiss me just lets me know he’s there. The sexual chemistry firing off between us right now is through the roof, and I’m so glad Hunter is in his own little world and not witnessing this. He grinds his front into me and I relax my body into him enjoying everything he’s offering me.

  The ding of the elevator doors opening startles me, and I open my eyes fully and my body instantly tenses. I straighten up and see Mase, Cooper, and Jayce, as they all look into the elevator. Brax’s hand drops from my arse and he steps back as Hunter walks out cussing at them for not being patient. I take a deep, relaxed breath and look back at Brax as I make an unsteady step forward out of the elevator.

  “Just breathe beautiful,” he whispers.

  Smiling, I step out of the elevator, my legs stretching which eases the tension in the muscles from the thought of being caught. I walk along with my bandmates out of the hotel to the waiting tour bus. The guys scurry on before me as they rush up the aisle to the back as usual. Stepping up the black steps, my heels click on the metal as I duck, entering and walking on, to take my seat. Brax is soon sitting down next to me, which only makes me smile brighter as Hunter closes the bus doors with a thud and slides into the driver’s seat.

  Brax subtly takes my hand and we ride in silence to tonight’s venue. My heart is giddy and although whatever this is with Brax is brand-spanking-new and scary-as-all-hell, I love every second of it.

  We pull up at the venue and Hunter parks the bus at the back. The street is dark, lit only by one random street light, but it doesn’t have an ominous feel about it. I feel safe. Walking off the bus, I move with Brax into the venue as the guys gather the instruments and bring them inside. The pub is huge and has that old rustic vibe about it. The bar is wooden and is a massive circular shape that fills half the room. The neon flashing signs behind the bar on the mirrored wall flash, making my eyes blink. This place is homey and has a great vibe about it.

  There are quite a few people here already. They’re sitting at the bar drinking or lining the booths talking and laughing. I smile as people are watching while the guys are setting up. Brax comes over and tells me that it’s time to go on stage. I make my way over to the makeshift stage and step up the three steps to where my bandmates are patiently waiting.

  The pub is now packed and filled with people, with some more than a little intoxicated. Brax is standing right there at the front of the stage in full protection mode. Which, of course, instantly makes me happy and gives me that protected feeling I’m starting to become accustomed to. I’m in a good mood and feel as if nothing could shake this feeling.

  Looking back at Cooper he smiles as he kicks the bass drum letting me now he’s ready. I turn to the microphone and look out at the sea of faces who are now solely focused on me.

  “Good evening Glasgow. We’re Red Velvet, and we’re going to rock your socks off tonight. Are you ready?” I ask and half the crowd calls out “yeah,” but it’s a dull attempt.

  I laugh and throw my fist in the air. “That’s crap, I said…are you ready?” I yell trying to get them fired up, and it works this time as two-thirds of the crowd cheer out their appreciation in loud voices and throw their hands in the air.

  “That’s better. This is a little number we’ve been working on, it’s called ‘Lady Love,'” I say. Then Cooper starts in with the heavy bass drum, hi-hat and tom-tom intro, as Mason and Jayce start playing their guitars. The sounds of the music waft over me feeling like a current is vibrating through me. I love this feeling! I begin to sing the verse about my lady love which is about my child coming into my life and how much she means to me. The words flow effortlessly from my mouth and I glance down at Brax and see him watching me. His eyes bright and wide, his smile illuminating the dark room. The blend of his presence and the music is an intoxicating mixture that’s like a drug I wish I could live off. This is my natural high and nothing can bring me down.

  The gig is going amazingly well, I’m in a great place and we’re at the end of our half-time intermission. The crowd is really receptive, and their encouragement and cheering has only helped me perform harder. Everyone is having a great time, and as I step up onto the first step to restart our second half, the music over the speakers changes to a song I recognise.

  My body freezes as my foot collects the stair and I stumble up the steps with my entire body shaking. I was feeling so good, the night was going so well, and now this? Why did the universe have to throw this at me? The lyrics to ‘Saving Grace’ by Staked, Aston’s band, flow through the speakers loudly, which happens to be right next to my head. The sound reverberating right through my brain making every celebration, every touch, every kiss, every spoken word, every promise, every ‘I love you,’ every tear, all the heartache, and then the devastation flow through into my memory. I gasp as my chest tightens thinking of him—
of Aston-fucking-Soulding.

  I hunch over as my breaths become short and shallow. Hearing his music is reminding me of all the things I’ve lost. Not only him but for some reason my mother pops into my head as well. A hand on my back startles me as I look up to see Mason watching me with his eyes drooping and his lips turned down in a frown. “Hey, you all right?”

  I take in some deep calming breaths, I can’t let Aston beat me anymore. I nod my head even though I feel like I could fall over if I move too much. Mason rubs my back tenderly. He knows that’s Aston’s band, he’s heard them enough. He knows what I’d be feeling right now, so I’m grateful that he cares. “You okay to go on?” he queries watching me as I continue to breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth trying to gather myself.

  “I’m fine,” I reply and he nods and helps me walk back to the front of the stage.

  He watches me as my shaking hands move up to grip the microphone. I glance down at Brax and he’s watching me with furrowed brows and a tense stare. I look away because I can’t think right now, I just need to start performing again to get this fucking song off the speakers and out of my brain.

  “How’s it feel to be a home wrecker?” Someone yells out and I try to ignore them.

  “Are…are you ready to…for us to sing…play some more?” I try to talk to the crowd, but my words are coming out all wrong and I’m fumbling over the microphone.

  “Aston is better off without you, whore!”

  I’m really out of sorts as my head is all over the place and my body is shaking. I don’t even register that the guys have started playing until Mase nudges me, and I glance up and look into the audience to see their faces all turned toward me. Their eyes all hard and judgmental staring at me like I’ve lost my mind. I quickly figure out where in the song they’re at and start singing, but even to me my voice sounds flat, emotionless, and off balance.

  I’m falling apart.

  Someone in the crowd boos and it throws me, I lose my part in the song and stop singing trying to remember the words. The crowd becomes vocal and boo loudly as Mason walks over and looks at me while I stare out to the back of the room at nothing like the place is fading into that one spot. Everything around me is blurring as my chest tightens, and the loud booing and hissing from the crowd encroaches my eardrums like a persistent hum that won’t go away. I’m slowly losing my balance as I sway on the spot. My heart is thrashing in my chest, my blood pressure escalates as goose bumps litter my skin.

  My trance is broken as an object hurtles past my face. The breeze from the fast paced movement snaps me from my daze, and I blink rapidly as I look down to the crowd who are all yelling and throwing their arms up in the air. Another foreign object flies at me, but this time it hits my side as I step backward and flinch with the force of the blow. The glass bottle plummets to the stage and jolts from side to side as it hits the floor. I heave a deep breath as the crowd surges forward and a man reaches up. An almighty scream erupts from my lungs making my throat ache with pain. I kick the guy away from me and start to run toward the back of the stage, my whole body is heavy and my feet feel like they’re dragging making me slower than normal. The music starts up again as Mase’s singing echoes through the pub. I continue to move off stage when a pair of arms wrap around me from behind, and I let out another scream forcing out all my pent up anxiety and terror at who could be manhandling me.

  I push back into them and try to make them let me go. “Amber, relax, it’s me.” Brax’s deep voice soothes me instantly.

  I melt into his arms as he holds me tightly and carries me to the back of the stage and then down the stairs, and through the back and into the green room. Being in Brax’s arms all the terror is slowly ebbing, but the anxiety seems to remain. However, just being in his arms is a comfort I haven’t felt before. I turn in his grip and cling to his shirt needing to be near him.

  He pulls back looking at me. “Are you hurt?” he asks. I can’t think straight. I just need something to take the edge off, so I break free of his hold and race over to my handbag to grab my pill bottle. Unscrewing the lid, I tap the container to let the two tablets fall out. Throwing the tablets in my mouth, I find a bottle of water and drink them down. The moment I feel them flowing down my throat I feel a little calmer, but not completely. I’m losing my shit.

  “Amber, what are they?” he asks walking over and grabbing the pill bottle from my hand harshly.

  “Anti-anxiety meds. Nothing sinister, don’t worry.”

  He slumps his body and the tense look in his face softens. “I’m glad it’s not hardcore drugs, and I’m happy that you have something to help with your stress. Is this all you take?” he asks and I furrow my brows at his question.

  “I take an antidepressant daily, but that’s none of your business. Why are you so curious about my prescription habits?” I ask defensively.

  “I saw you taking a pill the first morning I was working for you, and I’m curious as to what it was. Trust me, I’m all too familiar with antidepressants. I take them too. You’re not alone,” he says.

  “You do?” I ask and he nods. “Why?”

  He exhales and pulls me into an embrace. “War is tough. Being a soldier, fighting for your country, that’s great and all, but they don’t tell you about the dangers that come with it when you enlist. Sure you know about gunfire and death and all that, but they don’t tell you about the permanent brain scars you’re left with. The shit I’ve seen Amber…” he trails off and his eyes are distant like he’s somewhere else right now. His body is stiff, so I caress his cheek and he flicks back into the now and looks at me.

  “Tell me,” I whisper.

  He exhales and shakes his head. “I can’t burden you with that shit.”

  The door swings open, the sound of their footsteps all stomping loudly against the floor makes my heart start to beat faster again.

  I drop my hand from his cheek and take a step back as they all walk in and Mason rushes to my side. “Are you okay?” he asks bringing his hands up either side of my face. The tense grip of his fingers onto my cheek shows how scared he is as he forces me to look at him.

  “I’m okay now. Brax brought me back from the edge.” Mase looks over to Brax and nods. He looks back at me and leans in pulling my face toward him and kisses my forehead. The gesture is sweet and not at all overbearing like he normally is.

  “I hated seeing you upset like that. I hate that Aston still does that to you. And I hate that I can’t be the one to make the pain go away.”

  I exhale bringing my hands up pulling his hands from my face forcefully and turn away from him. “Please don’t do this now, Mase, and it wasn’t Aston as much as it was the fan’s yelling at me for being with him, yet a-fucking-gain!” I say and he grabs my arm and turns me back around to face him, the air swishes around me from the force of the pull.

  “I know you aren’t in the right place for anything right now. I know you’re hurting. Just please, think about giving us a shot when you’re able to.” His eyes are drooping and glassy as he looks at me.

  I can’t help but roll my eyes and shake my head. Hunter walks over and steps in between us, and for once I’m grateful for the tough brother act. “No one is getting Amber’s attention except for Charli, okay Mase? Amber needs to get better first. Don’t go confusing her head with your desperation,” Hunter says and Mase glares at Hunter then looks from me to Brax.

  “Does that go for him as well?” Mase asks snarkily.

  Brax straightens slightly. “Yes, it goes for him as well. Amber is out of bounds for everyone,” Hunter says and I huff and throw my hands in the air in annoyance.

  “Hello, I’m right here. Can you at least talk about me behind my back like normal people would, not when I’m right here.” I grab my bag storming out the back door toward the waiting bus. The cool night air hits my face and the flames of anger seething inside me aren’t cooled in the slightest. Time seems to drift past, as I pace back and forth thinking about how I lost it
in there while thinking about Aston. Thinking about how Brax was the one to help me out of it, and how much I like him. But if Brax has the power to make me react to him the way I did tonight over Aston, then I’m not sure I want to fall for Brax either. If that’s what’s even happening? I groan out loud wondering where everyone is, and eventually they all file out of the venue with their instruments.

  “You could help, you know?” Jayce teases and I’m not in the mood.

  “You could shove your bass up your arse, you know?” I reply and he scrunches his eyebrows and nods walking to the back of the bus to put his guitar in the trailer. “Shit, Jayce, I’m sorry,” I call out as he walks off.

  “All good, Amber Jewel,” he says and continues walking as the others come out carrying everything. I race over and help Hunter carry my amp and mic as he helps carry a tom-tom drum from Cooper’s kit.

  “We need to hire roadies,” I suggest and Hunter laughs.

  “More people on tour with us, I don’t think so,” he replies and I purse my lips and nod at his definitive answer.

  Brax walks out and looks at me. I smile and he half smiles back at me as we load the instruments into the trailer. We all walk around to get onto the bus and Brax follows me on, but doesn’t sit next to me. I furrow my brows and fold my arms over my chest wondering if Hunter’s words are getting to him. The ride back to the hotel is quiet and the silence is deafening, no one is talking to me and I guess that’s probably because I made a complete fool of myself, but more importantly the band. I bring my legs up onto the chair and wrap my arms around my legs for the entire ride back.

  We pull up at the hotel, and I actually can’t wait to climb into bed. I’m emotionally wrecked as I stretch my arms above my head and my muscles ache to remind me they’re there. The bus comes to a complete stop. So I stand up not waiting for anyone to exit and wrap my arms around myself for comfort. I know they all think I’m an emotional wreck, and I hate to think what Brax thinks of me now. The problem is, I know they’re right. But those triggers just keep haunting me over and over again. Walking toward the hotel my legs feel like lead weights, my entire body is heavy as I walk through the sliding doors. The guys keep up with me as we all walk quietly up to the elevators. Everyone is quiet which makes a change for these boisterous boys. I know it’s because of me. The elevator doors open and we all file in. I exhale as the doors close with a thud like the beating of my heart that is pounding in my chest. Everyone is looking down at the floor, Brax standing next to me. His arm is touching mine as we all squash in the confined area together, and it is the only small spark of light in this dimly lit space. The elevator chimes and the noise startles me as the doors groan as they open. The guys file out one by one and walk off to their respective rooms, not saying anything. Hunter is still parking the bus so he’s not here.