The Lady and Tay

by Dawn Burton

  All too soon, the lights and sounds picked up as the cabin crew started getting ready to land, advising it was 7.30pm at night, LA-time, but the group’s internal body clocks were shouting that it was 2.30am. Confusion and bleary eyes reigned, as they struggled to come round, get themselves together and prepare to land. Then they were bundled out of the airport, into waiting minibuses and taken to a hotel just off Sunset Boulevard, where they had Saturday night and Sunday to relax and acclimatise before rehearsals and the first night in LA on Monday.

  In the event, Sunday was just a wasted day for everyone, wide-awake for most of Saturday night and then walking around half-asleep during the day, wanting food, not wanting food, not really capable of doing anything. The only highlight being that Will added their Visible videos to a private YouTube channel; one labelled Lovers with him and Hilly kissing, one labelled Good Friends with them hugging, and one labelled Mates, with them just laughing over a beer, clinking the necks of their beer bottles together. He sent a message saying, “Totally Hilly’s choice x”.

  The rest of the video was stunning. It was clearly homemade, with jumpy camera-work from Annie and Tay, but that added to the authenticity of it and made it more intimate. It started with Tay’s group and Annie’s group partying separately with everyone in full-on crazy mode, followed by Annie and Tay making eye-contact, then electrical disturbance flickering over the screen before Tay was quietly playing his acoustic guitar in amongst his partying group, while Annie read her book and drank tea. It then showed them sitting together, Annie draped over Tay as she read and he played, as the party raged behind them, spliced with scenes from the live performance, and of Tay and Annie running around Coventry and Coombe Abbey. Will had really focussed on the intimacy between them; the held hands, the smiles, the kisses, the looks, the sharing of a moment, and it was beautiful. He’d included the shots of Tay and Con practicing, Con and Sasha dancing then kissing, Annie doing her Sunday roast, taking an old lady around the shops and then sharing cake with her, running one of her music workshops, and then Adie sitting quietly, thumbing through photos of him and Mia, a big smile on his face, before moving to Hilly's scenes. The video finished on Tay’s proposal, him down on one knee, holding Annie’s hand before it faded to black. The only question was which Hilly version to use, but they all agreed it was perfect. Homemade, amateur but authentic, and Annie felt such a wave of love for Will who had crafted so hard to make this.

  “He must have stayed up all night to get it done,” she said, the tears spilling over.

  “He did,” smiled Hilly, proud to be able to confirm Will’s achievements. He went off with Jez and Tams to discuss his versions with the record company, while the others sat and had cocktails. Eventually he came back with a huge smile on his face. “We’re going with the kissing version! I can’t wait to tell Will. The PR guys are working on what they’re gonna say if anyone asks, but seriously, is it actually anyone else’s business?”

  “No,” said Tay slowly, “but do you think you should warn your family?”

  Hilly nodded. “Yes, I’ve just said I’m gonna call them and send them a preview, and then I can call Will and get him to put it your Watch House channel, assuming everyone is absolutely happy with it? Our guys will then link to it and we can sit back and watch the fans go ape. I hope they love it.”

  Within an hour, it was live, tagged, and slowly at first, the attention started building, and the notifications and the shares began coming across all social media. The response was overwhelming positive, with the main question being, “Did she say yes?”

  Tay smiled and uploaded the photo from the airport with the text, “Yes, she said yes!”, with a link to the video, prompting even more comments and attention.

  Chapter Fourteen

  It was time to kickstart the tour back up, so on Monday, the band headed to the arena where they were playing that night, Annie grabbing Tay’s hand as they pulled up. “I can’t wait to see you in your natural environment, up on the stage, playing to your crowd.”

  He nodded, “I can’t wait to show you. I was burnt out, but I really missed it when I had my breakdown, and I know the guys did too. Which of course added to my guilt that I was keeping them from their spotlights. Plus we get to meet some fans afterwards, which I never take for granted. I’m always so grateful that people will hang around to speak to us that I always try to get out to see them, because one day, they won’t be there. Or I won’t be there. One or other. Or both.”

  “Ok, point made, let’s not dwell on that thought!”

  They walked through endless corridors deep in the underbelly of the arena until they reached the dressing rooms. Annie wasn’t sure what to expect, but it was basically a lounge with sofas, a couple of bathrooms, and a range of food and soft drinks, their stage clothes hanging on a rail, neatly pressed.

  They dumped phones and bags in lockers. Tay had a quick warm up with a vocal coach, Nala, who would be travelling with their crew for the tour, and then they went to the stage, running through the songs they would be playing later.

  Annie watched from the side, taking it all in. Made her messing around on her stage at home feel really amateurish. She was fascinated by the quick changes and the comings and goings of the roadies, checking she wasn’t in their way. They wheeled a life-sized video screen onto the stage and Annie recognised the opening bars of ‘My Life Is Yours’. As a single, it had been sung with Kadi Hinton, a Nashville country rock star, so for performing it live, they had a video of her singing her part which played out on the video screen next to Tay. The rehearsal continued with lighting and sound levels being checked, before they stopped, satisfied they were ready for tonight.

  Tay called Annie onto the stage with him, twirling her around as they waltzed badly together. “I’m not gonna get called up for Strictly any time soon!” he laughed.

  They sat on the edge of the stage, dangling their legs off and gazing out at the empty vastness in front of them.

  “It’s huge-”

  “That’s what they all say!” he sniggered and she elbowed him, rolling her eyes.

  She continued, “Can you actually see people when the lights are on you? Make a connection with them?”

  He smiled, “Yeah, definitely! I feel a massive connection with this sea of people, who are happy, wanting to sing along, wanting to get involved, wanting to be a part of a great night. There’s an amazing collective energy that just buzzes at you until you have no choice but to be swept up in it. I can see the first few rows of people here at the front, but then it gets a bit blurred after that...which is probably just my eyesight going!”

  Tams called over to say they were going for food now, so they stood and rejoined everyone, piling into minibuses to take them for an early dinner before returning to the arena for the show.

  When they did return, the atmosphere had completely changed and the air was alive with the anticipation of the fans, the crew and the band, and Annie found her own heartbeat was raised as well. The lads put a playlist on in the dressing room and jumped around, singing, doing stretches and lunges to get warmed up, while the strains of the support act could be heard in the distance.

  Finally they walked down to the stage, standing at the ramps at the back of the set. Annie hung back, not wanting to intrude on the band’s bonding, but Tay grabbed her and pulled her close, kissing her hard and telling her he loved her. They’d arranged where she would sit in the VIP area in the stands so that Tay would know where to look for her, and she made her way over with Sasha, flashing their access all areas passes to security.

  The lights dimmed and a lone drum beat started, the hardcore fans stamping their feet and shouting Adie’s name, before a spotlight came on him. Then the bass started up, heavy and loud, as Hilly appeared in his spotlight, a round of applause spontaneously breaking out from fans who had already seen the Visible video. Next up was Con, blowing a kiss to Sash, and then finally Tay appeared, the crowd going wild and Annie breaking out in goosebumps to see her
man up there.

  As they continued their intro beats, Tay spoke, thanking the crowd for having them there, apologising that it’d been some time, but he hoped they ready to party because he’d like their help in celebrating his engagement to the gorgeous Lady Annabel Spencer, over there in the VIP section and pointed at her. Annie felt the impact of the whole arena swivelling to look at her, and cheering and clapping them, people near her even taking photos. She burned in embarrassment and shook her head at Tay.

  “Oh-oh, looks like I’m in trouble with m’lady!” he quipped, diverting their attention back to him.

  The evening sped by, Annie thrilled to see him and the lads being so well received, and before she knew it, the lights were back up and Sasha touched her arm, indicating to go back through to backstage. The lads were waiting in the corridor and Tay rushed to pick her up, the adrenaline still pumping through his body, his veins prominent, his pupils dilated and his mind clearly running at 100mph as the words tumbled out of his mouth. “What did you think? Did you enjoy it? Did anything not work? Did the people around you seem to enjoy it?”

  “Whoa, slow down. Let me answer! I loved it, apart from you making everyone look at me, you twat. You were all amazing, and everyone around me loved it. Can’t wait to see it again tomorrow.”

  They all tumbled back into the dressing room as the lads quickly showered and changed. Sasha and Annie settled themselves into a corner with a glass of wine, while the lads had some winners from a local radio station competition to meet and greet.

  The band then went outside the stage door to meet the hundred or so fans who had waited to see them, taking selfies, hugging, talking with the fans. Hilly was receiving a lot of attention and positivity for his coming out, but Tay was the main draw, and bit by bit, the other guys dropped back inside as Tay made his way through them all. Annie had come out with them and stood watching from the sidelines. Tay kept checking she was ok, telling she could go inside to warm up if she wanted. She shook her head and smiled, “I’m fine. I’m enjoying watching you work!”

  Tay was talking to a group of girls who were looking over at Annie. He grinned and jogged over her, “This lot would like to say hello to you and see the ring, if that’s ok?”

  She shrugged and smiled her agreement, as Tay linked fingers with her and they walked back to the barriers.

  “Girls, meet my Lady, Annie. For some unknown reason that I will forever be grateful for, she’s agreed to marry me!”

  They ahhhed over the ring and took photos as Tay pulled her in tight for a hug, kissing her forehead.

  “Are you going to be singing with Tay?” asked one girl. “I love your Visible song, and the video is so cute! I adore the pair of you!”

  “Not professionally in the near future, no, but I’m sure there’ll be more videos of us messing around to come,” smiled Annie.

  After a few more selfies, Tams appeared, saying it was time to go now. Tay waved farewell and they moved back in, picking up their things then heading back to the hotel and into the bar.

  Tay pulled Annie onto his lap, “Stay close to me for a bit.”

  “Of course. You ok?”

  “Yeah. There’s just an inevitable down after a high, that’s all.”

  Tams was organising details for the next day; they were leaving mid-morning to drive down to San Diego, but she was lining up a phone interview for Tay while they were on the road, plus another for the afternoon in person once they arrived at the next hotel. “And Hilly, the PinkNews back home have asked if you would complete this Q&A for them?”

  “Me?” he asked in surprise. “I never get asked anything!”

  “Well, clearly they like the new you; maybe it’s the red hair!” she retorted. “I’ll email it to you then send it back to me. And just so you’re prepared, Tay, both interview pitches for you have mentioned Annie, so they’ll probably ask about you two.”

  Tay nodded and Annie wasn’t sure if that was a good nod or an annoyed nod; maybe he didn’t like the focus to be away from the music? “Sorry if I’m a distraction in your interviews,” she murmured in his ear.

  “Nah, it’s not you. I’d happily talk about you until the cows come home, but I just get worried I’ll say too much about things you’d rather keep private.”

  “Short of my door code, sorry, our door code, and the specifics of our sex life, say what you want. Doesn’t bother me.”

  “So general details about our life at Watch House or on the road are fine?”

  “Yes, and say what you want about you, just keep things about me PG-rated…or 12A at least, maybe 15 if you have to.”

  “Hey, Hilly, you spilling the beans on your 18-rated exploits in your interview?” called Con, earning himself a slap from Sasha.

  “No,” he frowned as his phone started ringing out with Will’s face on screen. He snatched it up and walked away.

  “Ah, it must be love,” grinned Annie, as the lads broke out into a round of Madness’ song of the same title. She settled down in Tay’s arms as he drank his coffee, and the group laughed and joked about the show, upcoming venues, previous tour memories, feeling him stiffen up as someone mentioned Charlie.

  “Who’s doing your photos?” she asked, holding his hand and squeezing it in support.

  “We’re just using the venue photographers, but they’ve been warned not to get too close,” Con said, casting a look at Tay.

  Annie moved her hand to the back of his neck and massaged gently, kissing his palm.

  He nodded, “It’s ok. It’s ok to mention Charlie. I…I miss my brother, but I don’t miss his tour persona. But I think I can separate the two now. I told Annie that bad thoughts don’t trump good actions and it’s the same for Charlie. His bad side doesn’t wipe out all of his good actions, but because there were so few good ones, they’ve got swept aside. But when he wasn’t high and when he wasn’t trying to push drink and drugs on us all, he was funny. Remember his impressions of other singers? He’d mimic, I don’t know, Chris Martin, or Dave Grohl, or Adele, and be brilliant at them.”

  It started the band remembering good memories, causing smiles and laughter, and the conversation gradually moved on from Charlie to general stories from their past.

  “Good grief,” said Annie, covering her ears, “it’s a good job I didn’t meet you back then, Tay. I think you were way too rock and roll for my lay-dee sensibilities.”

  “Surely you were in your tearing-up-the-town phase then though, so maybe we would have been a self-destructive implosion if we’d met.”

  Annie screwed her face up. “All things considered, I’m glad we met now. Not then.” She burrowed herself into Tay’s arms, nestling into him for comfort.

  Tay finished his coffee and looked down at the woman in his arms. His woman. His wife, one day soon. He felt the love engulf him, and absolutely nothing else in his world mattered in this moment. Just her. And him. And what life they would make together. He suddenly felt the urge to worship her body, to expose those killer curves of hers to his mouth, his fingers and his eyes. He swooped her up and stood. “Me go take my woman,” he declared in a Tarzan-voice.

  The band whooped and cheered them as Annie squealed and he strode towards the lift, pausing to set her down then to throw her over his shoulder in a fireman’s lift, smacking her arse as he went. Once they were alone in the lift, he put his hand up her dress to squeeze her arse cheeks, sliding his hand between her legs, running along the material of her knickers, as she pulled at the elastic of his trunks, snapping it against his skin. She pushed herself up then down, twisting her legs to lock her ankles behind him, clinging around his neck and pushing herself into his groin as she attacked his mouth with kisses.

  “Oof!” he shouted, opening the door of their room one-handed, then throwing her onto the bed, jumping on top of her to kiss his way up to her mouth. “Look, Mrs Anderson-to-be, I don’t know what you think is going on here, but may I remind you, I am always in charge, and as the little woman, now you’ve got my ring on y
our finger, you’d better believe it.”

  She raised her eyebrows as he smirked, then pushed him away and flipped him onto his back, jumping on top of him, putting her hand down the gap at the front of his trousers and grabbing his balls. “Look Mr Spencer, I don’t know what you think is going on here, but may I remind you, I am always in charge, and as the ‘little woman’, I’ve got such a firm grip on your crown jewels that you’d better believe it.”

  “Ah, yes, I think I may have forgotten that you are in charge sometimes my dear, and it would seem that perhaps now is one of those times, so if you would be so good as to return the crown jewels to me, perhaps I can make up for my momentary lapse?”

  “S’ok. I believe in equality, so perhaps I can show you how turned on I was watching you command your stage earlier. How you had that whole arena eating out of the palm of your hand, yet I’m the one who gets to bring you home. I’m the one who gets to undo your trousers like this, pull down your trunks like this, and suck on your huge, throbbing cock like this.” She bent her head as she carried out her words, taking his length in her warm, wet, soft mouth, caressing with her tongue as she moved backward and forwards, in and out on his cock. She hummed softly and took him deeper with each mouthful, contracting the back of her throat against his tip.

  He threw his head back and grunted deeply, then pulling out suddenly, flipped her onto her back. He frantically pushed her dress up, dragged her knickers down and off, throwing them out of the way, swiping his finger along her slit to check her wetness, groaning in delight at how ready she was and quickly sinking into her. He exclaimed at the sensation and started thrusting rapidly. He reached down, rubbing at her clit but he was too hard, too frenetic and she grabbed his hand to stop him.