Treat tells us not to get used to the high life because it can all fade quickly. Cherry was wrong about us having to pay back the hotel fees. Treat covered everything for us up until we signed to the label. He pocketed all the money from the gigs we did during that time, but it felt fair. Since then, I’ve been trying to manage it myself with help from Benjy. We’re the poorest so we’re trying to save. Nick wants to spend every last dime. It’s hard when we’re not all on the same page. Benjy and I wanted to rent a tiny apartment downtown but Nick had a hard time giving up the taste of the life that Treat introduced us to. We compromised on a two-bedroom rental about five minutes from the beach, even though it now takes an hour to get to the studio. LA traffic sucks. I think I could walk from one end of the city to the other faster than driving.
“Treat, let me meet your new boys.” An older man with a close cut gray beard wearing a suit with a pair of white Nikes strolls over.
“Good to see you, Jeff.” The two shake hands. “This is Linc, our songwriter, Benjy on bass and Nick, the drummer. Guys, this is Jeff Humphrey. He’s a venture capitalist who dabbles in music.”
“A three-piece set. I like it. Manageable numbers. What’s the plan? Singles? Opening act with some covers? You all look young. What are we thinking? Maybe some Nick at Night appearances?”
Before Benjy can spit curse words in Jeff’sface, Nick and I step on his toes--literally. “We’re singers, sir. We’d look dumb as hell on a small screen. No offense,” I add.
Benjy’s audible sigh of relief actually ruffles the hair at the nape of my neck.
“I think album first. These guys have the capacity of building a rock fanbase which means they need to have an album.”
“But you’ll need a good single and while I like what I’m hearing, I think you need something poppier. Have you considered a rap feature?”
Jeff sounds like a nightmare. The three of us exchange a glance. Time for us to jet. “We need to pack up Nick’s kit. Nice to meet you, man. Treat, thanks for setting everything up tonight. We’ll be in the studio in the morning.”
“The morning?” interjects Jeff. He laughs. “You are green behind the ears if you’re still getting up early. The morning is for one thing only and that’s fucking the side piece you brought home the night before. Am I right, Treats?”
“Jeff, you’re going to get me in trouble. I’m married now.” Treat turns to us. “I’ll see you around lunch time. Why don’t you put together a couple of tracks for me to listen to?”
“No problem.” The sweat I’d wiped away before starts dripping down my back. We’ve been working in isolation, but now the label president wants to come and hear what we’re laying down. But I want to get the album pressed. The sooner we get the album done, the sooner we can get booked at festivals, which means real income besides these club gigs and that brings me one step closer to Cherry. I’m not sure how much I need to support two people, but it can’t be a ton more than what I’m pulling in now.
I miss her so fucking much. “Anyone grab Teddy?” I ask, looking around backstage.
Nick shakes his head. “Why don’t you get it while Benjy and I pack up?”
“Okay.” But when I get out front, the stool where Teddy sat during our songs is gone and so is the giant stuffed animal. I push my way through the crowd to the bar. A bartender holds up a finger to let me know he’ll be with me in a minute but one stretches into five. Anxiously, I scan the large venue but don’t see anything remotely resembling the bear. When the bartender finally comes over, I want to grab him by the neck. I settle for squeezing the edge of the wooden bar top so hard I’ll probably get splinters. “The stuffed animal that was on the stool? Where is it?”
He shrugs. “Some couple walked off with it. Didn’t realize it was yours, man. Sorry about that.”
“Why’d you let that happen? It wasn’t theirs. We set that up when we came on stage.” I’m heated and my voice is getting loud.
“Dude, it’s a bear. Buy another one.” He starts to walk away. I lunge over the bar top and grab him by the back of the collar.
“It wasn’t just a bear,” I seethe. “That bear represented my girl and I can’t fucking play without it.”
“Dude, I just pour booze here. Tell someone who cares.”
Two burly security guards come over and drag me away.
“I’m with the band,” I tell them. “I need to go back and get my crew.”
“Right.” The humorless men dump me on the curb and ban me from re-entering. My phone is in the back with the equipment because I don’t carry the thing on stage with me. A half an hour later, a furious Benjy and a resigned Nick come rolling around.
“Where the fuck have you been?” Benjy yells. “We’ve been waiting for you.”
“I got thrown out and no one would allow me back in.”
“For what?”
“Someone stole the bear.”
“Someone what?”
“Someone stole my fucking bear!” I yell. I thrust a hand through my hair and kick an empty beer can. I know I sound ridiculous, but I miss Cherry so fucking much. “I have to go,” I tell them.
Nick sighs. Benjy hasn’t caught on yet. “Go where?”
“To Cherry.”
“What? We have to play some tracks for Treats tomorrow.”
“Play what we have. I’ll be back in two days.” I hold out my hand and a cab rolls to a stop. Benjy jumps out of the truck but I’m inside the back of the cab and tapping the driver’s shoulder before he can reach me. “LAX,” I say.
I don’t have my phone or any luggage, but I have my credit card. I have to see my girl. I just do.
Chapter Fourteen
Cherry
I lean up against the side of the car, my eyes on the airport exit. Benjy called me hours ago to tell me Linc was headed my way. He’d had a little panic in his voice but I assured him that I would send him back. The thought of seeing Linc excites me. Even if it’s only going to be for a few hours, I plan to enjoy each of them. I don’t care if it means getting no sleep tonight. I’ve missed him so damn much.
A moment later the doors slide open and Linc comes strolling out. His eyes widen in surprise when he sees me. I think he had plans to surprise me, but I’ve beat him to it. I run, throwing myself at him. He catches me and I wrap my legs around him. His hands go to my ass as I kiss him deeply. I fight back tears as he kisses me back. We’re a mess with all teeth and tongue but neither of us care; we just want to feel connected again. I hadn’t realized how much I needed this.
“Missed you so damn much,” he says, breaking the kiss for a moment, sounding out of breath. I know I am, but I don’t care. I go back to kissing him. Who needs oxygen? This is all I need. He carries me over to the car. I bury my face in his neck. I need to get it together. I was supposed to be the strong one here, telling him to turn around and get his ass back to California, but too many emotions burst free when I saw him. I decide to be selfish for a little while. I just want to feel him against me, to have him hold me, even if it’s only for a short time.