Aftershock (24 page)

He closed his eyes and deliberately blocked the teasing out of his mind.

“Hey, Marc, look at this?” From behind him Rick heard the excitement in Garrett’s voice. “Rick, you got your iPad still on?”

Now what?

He roused himself and half-turned in the seat. “What have you got?”

“Didn’t you say Marc and Emma went viral?” Danny passed his iPad forward. “Look at the number of hits it’s up to.”

Rick took the tablet and stared at the screen. Sure enough. Just like Butch had told them, someone had taken a video, probably with their phone, of the final number plus the scene with Marc and Emma on stage.

“It’s got more than two hundred thousand hits so far,” Danny added. “Holy shit! Marc, you’re a hot superstar.”

Marc laughed. “Only a little one and only for the moment. I need to text Emma. She flew into Houston this morning, and I don’t know if she’s checked all this stuff out yet. Anyway, this is about the band. It helps us all.”

“Whatever,” Garrett said. “It’s got us way out there, so I love it. You should keep it in the show.”

“Holy shit!” This from Danny. “We’re trending on Twitter!” He gave a huge laugh. “Trending on Twitter. Us. Can you believe it?”

“Rick, I know you were worried about what Full Moon would post on the social media,” Marc broke in. “But I’ve been checking the postings and when you see it all, you’ll feel comfortable with it.”

Of course he would. Why had he ever had any doubts?

He glanced over his shoulder once more, his mouth curved in a half-smile as he saw everyone texting, thumbs flying on keyboards. He’d sent his own messages to his mom and Meredith and told them he’d call when he got to the hotel. He didn’t want to carry on a private conversation in the van where everyone could listen in.

But when they pulled up to the entrance of the hotel, a phone call was the last thing on his mind.

“Don’t anyone get out yet,” Gordo told them. “I mean it. Give me a minute here.”

Rick stared at the scene. It was jammed with people, some of them screaming, all of them waving cameras. Two men who appeared to be hotel security officers were doing their best to keep everyone away from the van, but they appeared to be fighting a losing battle.

“Hold on,” Gordo said. He picked up his cell and speed dialed a number. “Yeah. Uh, Butch? We got a little problem here. Uh huh. Yeah. Uh huh. I don’t think anyone did. All right. We’ll do our best.”

“What’s going on?’ Rick asked. He could hardly believe this riot was for Lightnin’. It had to be a mistake. Where was Deep Blue River? These was probably their fans out there.

“Butch wasn’t kidding when he said you guys caught fire overnight.” Gordo grinned. “He got the word the video went viral at a hundred thousand hits? Its five times that now and still climbing, along with someone’s smartphone video of the opening number.”

“So this is for us?” Rick stared out the window, incredulous.

“Sure is. Welcome to the maniac world of rock and roll.” He began honking the horn.

“So what’s the plan?” Marc asked.

“If I let you out here, there won’t be anything left of you. Butch is at the delivery door in the rear with two of the security guards he just hired. And cursing himself for not preparing for this. We’ll have to sneak you in the back way.”

Rick didn’t know whether to be afraid or excited. He’d tried to soft-pedal the optimism about the contracts, the single, the tour. Tried to prepare himself if it all flopped. The realization they were on the verge of a breakout with their first major release and their first tour was more than he’d ever hoped for. But this was beyond anything he expected. So much of the credit went to Sydney. The band had performed, but she’d come up with the gimmicks that captured the audience and the media.

As the hotel employees continued to hold off the screaming fans, Gordo eased the van out of the circle. In what seemed like seconds they circled the block, drove down an alley, and pulled up to a loading dock. Rick spotted Butch waiting for him. Next to him were two men in jeans and polo shirts with some agency logo on them. They looked prepared to take on whatever came their way from the mountains of Afghanistan to the streets of Houston.

When the van came to a stop at a short flight of stairs, one of the men hurried down and opened the doors, motioning for everyone to get out.

Butch grinned like an idiot. “Looks like you guys caught the brass ring first time out. I think I need to rearrange our logistics a little.”

He shook everyone’s hand as they headed up to the loading dock, toting their own personal gym bags. Then Butch and the two guards hustled them inside the building, down a hallway, and through to a freight elevator. As they rode from the ground floor, Butch handed hotel key cards to everyone.

“You’re all checked in. I’ve got your rooms together on the same floor. These guys will make sure you get inside without anyone knowing. Then we can draw a breath. At least for a little while.”

“Where’s the River?” Rick wanted to know.

“Their charter arrived about an hour ago. We knew to take them in the back way, but we just weren’t prepared for this for Lightnin’.” He chuckled. “Can I pick a winner or what? Oh, and beginning tomorrow, no more travel by van. At the rate you guys are already bringing in the money, coupled with the River’s sales, I chartered a bigger plane to carry both bands to all the tour stops. The equipment will still go in the truck.”

“Holy crap!” Garrett’s voice nearly squeaked. “If I’m dreaming, don’t wake me up.”

“I still don’t have the overnights from
Billboard
on sales and play requests but, gentlemen, I’d say you’re off like a rocket.” He turned his gaze to Rick. “You can thank Sydney for the way she managed all the preconcert hype and the logistics of the after-party. And for coming up with the Marc-Emma thing.”

“No worries there,” he assured him. “We all know how hard she’s worked.”

“Good. Good. Let’s get you up to your rooms.”

Butch rode up in the elevator then walked down the hallway with them. Rick unlocked the door to his room and, for some reason, everyone followed him in. He turned to look at the rest of the band.

“Keep this in mind,” he told them. “We’re only as good as our last song or our last appearance. We’ve established a high level of expectation and we need to reach it every time. No goofing off, no groupies all over the place, none of that shit.”

“But, Rick—” Danny began.

“That goes for all of us.” He grinned at Marc. “Except for Marc and Emma, who are practically an old married couple. So. Everyone got it straight?”

They all nodded.

“I couldn’t have said it better myself,” Butch told them. “Relax. Order room service. Gordo will come and get you when it’s time to head over for the soundcheck.” He started to leave then turned back. “Oh, and another change in routine, starting tonight. I’ll have fresh T-shirts for you at the arena so bring with you whatever else you’ll need. You’ll be hanging out there after the soundcheck. Dinner’s catered in and you can relax before the show. See you later.”

Rick closed the door and looked at his band members. “Anyone want to shout, do it now.” Then he laughed and pumped his fist in the air. “We are on the way.”

They decided to eat in their own rooms. That gave them alone time to make their phone calls, send any texts they wanted to, and decompress before tonight’s show. After a long conversation with his mother and sister, Rick threw himself on the bed and closed his eyes, just giving himself over to the excitement of the moment.

This was it. What they’d worked so hard for. Planned for. Hoped for. He could hardly believe it. If he could just figure out how to handle this thing between himself and Sydney, life would be damn near perfect. Because while she could deny it all she wanted to, there was definitely something going on.

***

By the time Sydney met Butch in the lobby at four, she was sure her cell phone was on the verge of self-destruction. The thing had rung all day, one call after another. Her only respite had been on the plane. Every media outlet in the area, including nationals with local reps, wanted tickets for tonight’s show and passes for the after-party. She even had calls from Tampa about the next stop on the tour.

She added the names to her growing list and made sure to give them the verbal strokes they needed. The only one to set her teeth on edge was Macey Shreiner.

“I want face time with Rick,” she demanded. “Alone. And I want it tonight, after the show.”

Over my dead body
.

“Tonight just won’t work, Macey.” She used her best PR voice. “I’d make it happen if I could. But I can arrange a meet in Tampa when we’ll have more time.”

“You wouldn’t be trying to keep him to yourself, would you, Sydney?” The sly bitchiness in the woman’s voice made Sydney grit her teeth.

“Not at all. We’re on a very tight schedule here. That’s all.”

“I want him for a full interview before anyone else gets him,” she insisted.

“I’ll do my best. But you know Linc and Butch control some of that.”

“Make it happen, Sydney. Call me with a time and place.”

The call disconnected, leaving Sydney sitting there with her jaw clenched and a desire to bitchslap the woman. Too bad that wasn’t possible.

She sent all her notes to Butch on his phone to update him and ask for any suggestions, but he’d simply texted back
Gd jb.
At four o’clock, dressed for the evening in what she called her work outfit—black slacks, a blouse in a vibrant color—tonight, it was sapphire blue—hair clipped back in what she hoped was a professional look, she met Butch in the lobby. In the cab to the arena he gave her the details of the mob scene that greeted the band at the hotel.

“Whew!” She laughed. “I’ll bet they didn’t know what hit them.”

“Absolutely. You know, they’re damn good or I wouldn’t have signed them, but without your game plan and hard work, no one would even know who they are. The Marc-Emma-‘Music Lady’ thing is brilliant. Even I couldn’t have predicted it would catch on the way it did. I can’t say it enough times.” He was making notes in his smartphone as he spoke. “I’ll talk to Emma and see if we can arrange to keep her on the tour with us.”

“I know her salary is important to them,” Sydney pointed out.

“Salary?” Butch added another note. “That’s the easiest fix of all. We can’t lose the magic they bring to the stage.”

“A lot of it has to do with their story and the chemistry between them,” she reminded him. “It’s so strong, it’s almost visible.”

“It also helps when people hear that story and discover she’s not a groupie or tour follower. This is going to come out wrong, but she validates Marc.”

Sydney nodded. “I understand what you mean and I agree. That’s why I’m so excited about the way it’s caught on.” She patted her tote. “I have tonight’s guest list and backstage badges for everyone. Linc recommended getting one of the security staff to check people in.”

“That’s standard operating procedure, as I’m sure you’re aware. I know all the regulars on the event staff,” Butch went on, “so I’ll be sure to introduce you to them. What about the merchandise? And thanks for checking on Deep Blue River’s, too.”

“Sure.” Sydney scrolled down in her Notes section. “I coordinated with the office and the local distributor. The stuff should be at the arena now. After soundcheck I can take a look at the lobby setup for both bands. I took pictures with my camera last night so I’d remember the way you like things set up.”

“You’re proving to be quite the valuable person.” He was silent for a moment and Sydney could feel his hesitation about something. “Syd, don’t take this wrong but is there something going on with you and Rick?”

“With me and Rick?” she parroted.

“Don’t misunderstand me. I like you both and I’d like to see you happy. But if there’s a relationship brewing, you need to keep a lid on it and be very discreet. This is a cutthroat business. Macey Shreiner’s already got her claws out and there could be others. I don’t want to see her destroy your career when it’s really just getting started.”

Neither do I
.

“Understood.”

“This business can be very cruel to women who have relationships with musicians, couples like Marc and Emma aside. So if there is anything…?” His voice trailed off. “Better to tell me now and be prepared.”

She closed her hands tightly around her briefcase, absorbing what he said. Maybe she should go ahead and tell him now. Be prepared, like he said. Or should she discuss it with Rick first? This was his manager, after all. But before she could say a word the ringtone sounded on Butch’s phone, he answered, and the cab pulled up to the back entrance of the arena.

Butch climbed out, paid the cabbie, and stood aside so she could slide across the seat. Hand at her back, he guided her to the stage entrance. They presented their security badges to the security guards who stood inside like formidable sentries. The two of them plus the band, the sound crew, and both road crews had special badges with their photos and names on them. Guests had passes stamped with the name of the agency, the concert date, and
Guest
. Linc had asked Sydney to coordinate the distribution of the guest passes at all stops. A new package would be waiting for her at each hotel where they stayed.

As she and Butch climbed the steps up to the wings, she noticed two more security guards on each side of the stage. Just in case someone found a way to sneak in during rehearsal, she assumed.

There was a certain routine prior to every concert and Sydney had been through it countless times but always as an assistant to one of the agents. Now it became her responsibility to touch base with the road manager then make sure the distributor she’d spoken to had delivered the merchandise. Check the sales setup in the lobby. Double-check the guest list and field last-minute calls for passes. Make sure there was enough security around the stage. Fans could get really wild and obnoxious.

Lightnin’ was on stage at the moment, prepping their instruments for the soundcheck, but the undercurrent of excitement running through everyone was palpable. The exhilaration of the morning’s publicity, coupled with the mob scene at the hotel, had to have them riding an incredible high.