Fallen for Rock (13 page)

Chapter Twenty-Three

Of course I had a fry-up. By the time I joined Mike after my hasty ablutions, he had gone and organised breakfast for both of us. I was greeted by a plate full of sausages, bacon, eggs, hash browns—yes, two of them—mushrooms, fried bread, and fried tomatoes. A pile of hot buttered toast teetered on a side plate, and a steaming mug of tea rounded out the ensemble. Mike was already tucking into his feast.

‘Thank you.’ I slid into the seat next to him and smiled to disguise my apprehension. How would I eat all of this? More to the point, how would I digest it?

‘You’re welcome.’ Oblivious to my distress, Mike kept chomping. ‘You look good. All fresh and chipper.’

‘I feel all right, actually.’

I picked up my cutlery and had an experimental stab at one of the eggs. The surface of the yolk broke, and golden liquid squirted out. My tummy rumbled its appreciation, and I was engulfed in the most almighty hunger pangs. What the heck, right? I dithered no more and ate greedily. For the next ten minutes, Mike and I munched our way through our calorie fest until at last, Mike sat back. He patted his belly and grinned.

‘That’s filled a hole or two.’

‘Hm-mh,’ I acquiesced, unable to speak on account of my mouth being too full.

‘Ready to face the day and night.’ He put his hand over mine and looked me in the eyes. ‘About last night… I’m sorry about Will.’ He shrugged. ‘You know what I mean. It’s just…well, he’s fallen for the whole rock-star lifestyle thing. He didn’t used to be like this, not when we started out.’

I smiled. ’It’s no big deal.’

‘Really? You sure? He was way out of line there. I wish he’d stop.’

‘I’m sure. What does Adam make of it all?’

Mike grimaced. ‘He’s turning a blind eye. But enough of that, as long as you’re okay.’ He grinned. ‘Cliché or not, I’m truly glad you came along. There’s something about you…’

He didn’t finish his sentence, and I jumped in with a reply.

‘
I’m
glad I came. I needed an adventure. I…I wasn’t in a good place before I met you last night.’

‘I gathered. Glad to be of service.’ He smiled, and his face shone brightly. Before I could get lost in the sea of emotion opening up right there in those dark brown eyes, Adam broke the mood.

‘Let’s move on, folks,’ he declared and clapped his hands energetically. ‘Glasgow is waiting for you.’

Obediently, the band members rose from their seats and began filing out of the restaurant. I laughed.

‘He’s like a kindergarten teacher.’

Mike laughed, too. ‘He has to be, with us lot. But come on, we’d better hurry or else we’ll get told off.’

We rolled into the car park behind the Glasgow Arena at almost exactly three p.m. The band was instantly whisked off to a local radio station for an interview before soundcheck, which left Laura and me standing on the pavement like two lost wanderers.

‘What’s next?’ I asked of Laura, tacitly acknowledging her superior experience in this department.

Laura shrugged. ‘I’ll be gettin’ on the next train home, I s’ppose. Got work tomorrow, an’ all that. What about you?’

My turn to shrug. ‘I’m staying put for a while, I guess. I’m on holiday anyway, as it happens.’

‘Lucky you.’ She wrapped me in a quick hug. ‘Look after you, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t be doin’, okay? It was nice meetin’ you.’

‘And you, too. Travel safe, yes?’

‘I will.’ She let go of me and squared her shoulders. ‘I reckon the train station is that way,’ she grinned and set off in a loping walk along the road. ‘Bye-ee.’

‘Bye-ee,’ I echoed her farewell and stared after her for a few seconds. I felt unaccountably bereft. It had been nice having female company in this unfamiliar terrain. Her presence had made the whole thing more acceptable somehow. Now it was only me.

‘Not for long, I bet,’ I snorted with sudden laughter. ‘Who knows who Jake’ll pick up tonight. Speaking of tonight… I need some clothes and things.’

I retrieved my mobile and called up Google to figure out where I was, and where I could go shopping. A few seconds later, I started walking down the road in the same direction as Laura in search of a shopping mall. Sure enough, it was only a short walk and quick dash across the river Clyde until I stumbled across the consumer’s haven.

Initially, I window-shopped in all the usual places, eyeing up expensive trousers and shirts with glee. But I stopped myself short. This wasn’t what was needed. I had too much haute couture already. I required something more authentic.

My eyes alighted on a small independent clothes store, and I walked in uncertainly, feeling out of my depth. Less than twenty minutes later, I walked out again, clad in hipster jeans, fashionably torn and embroidered down the side of one leg, and a slinky plain shirt designed to be knotted at the waist and showing off rather a lot of navel. I barely recognised myself in the mirror, but I looked great.

My ordinary clothes stuffed carelessly in the store’s paper carrier bag, I made my way to a shoe shop to exchange my block heels for more suitable footwear. I found a pair of clunky black clogs with hobnails running along of the uppers, and I fell in love with them instantly—probably because they were wildly comfortable.

Last order of the day was to stock up on toiletries, and I raided a nearby chemist for my brand of shampoo, conditioner, soap and make-up essentials. I even bought a dinky little beauty bag to store everything, as though I were travelling properly. It was all rather exciting, actually, and I felt good. No longer elegant nor sophisticated, but a little wild and very much free.

Back at the arena, the security staff had meanwhile erected barriers. A crowd had gathered and was growing by the minute. This time, I wasn’t daunted. I retraced my steps to the stage doors and waved my VIP pass at the doorman.

‘Emily Trenden. I’m with the band,’ I declared haughtily. He wasn’t a familiar face, and for a fraction of a second, I worried that he would query my out-of-date credentials. But no.

‘Go on through,’ he nodded and stepped aside. I resisted the urge to execute a triumphant air-punch and floated past him in a dignified,
I belong
kind of manner.

The band was on stage for their soundcheck, and I debated watching the spectacle. I found myself endlessly fascinated by the procedure but decided against it. My need for a shower trumped every other desire. Thus it was that I greeted the band wide-eyed and clean-smelling when they trooped into the green room after the soundcheck.

‘Well, well, well,’ Jake enthused. ‘Look who’s all fresh and edible.’

I gave a little ballerina twirl, taking the innuendo in my stride.

‘Indeed,’ Mike agreed good-naturedly. ‘But you’ll have to find your own forbidden fruit because this here’s mine.’ He wrapped a proprietorial arm around me.
Mee-ow!
Who would have thought men had claws like that? I changed conversational direction.

‘How did the interview go?’

‘Fab. A bit hectic, but fab. It’s going out tonight, right before the show, we think.’

‘So, soundcheck done, what’s next for you?’

‘Showers.’

‘Dinner.’

‘Bit of telly.’

I laughed. ‘Sounds very domesticated.’

Jake gave me a rueful look. ‘It’s five minutes of sanity in a crazy day.’

‘But you love it, really,’ Will teased.

‘Of course. Still, it’s nice to chill, right?’

With that, the band dispersed. Lewis and Mike went off to the showers—not together, evidently—while Will sat down to catch up on his favourite soaps and Jake tucked into some food. I joined him, figuring that everybody else needed a bit of space, and that I might as well eat.

‘Emily, a word please.’ Yet again Adam cut short my eating pleasure, for he summoned me when the first fork of food had barely made its way to my mouth. I set down my plate.

‘Of course.’

Adam motioned for me to join him in the anteroom, and my heart sank to my brand new clogs. What had I done?

‘So. Emily. A little word to the wise, if I may.’

Gulp
. Even though that sounded serious, I opted for levity. ‘I’m all ears. Fire away.’

‘This isn’t real, you know.’ Adam made a vague gesture towards the green room. ‘Mike’s only playing with you. I don’t need any heartache or any rumours splashed about the papers.’

OMG, a telling off from the band manager! I felt like a duly chastised teenager, but I bit back a tart response. He was only protecting his charges and his business interests.

‘It’s okay,’ I smiled sweetly. ‘I know. I’m hardly your archetypical star-struck fan, am I? I’m only playing along.’

Adam looked at me with new interest. ‘Why?’

‘
Why?
Well.’ I paused. This was none of his business really. ‘Let’s just say I’m taking a break from being me. I’m twenty-seven. Believe me, I know what I’m doing. Besides, I can only tag along for a few days. But meanwhile, I intend to have some fun, as long as Mike wants it and no one gets hurt.’

‘You surprise me,’ Adam conceded. ‘But please don’t get between Mike and the band.’

I frowned, nonplussed. ‘I wouldn’t dream of it. Why do you say that?’

‘No particular reason. Just…just beware, okay?’

‘Okay.’

Well, what else could I say? I had no clue what he was talking about, but it sounded ominous. It sounded as though not all was as well with MonX as the publicity gurus would have the world believe.

When I reclaimed my food, Jake had disappeared to the showers, and Mike and Lewis were busy demolishing the buffet.

‘All right?’ Mike looked at me, curious.

‘Fine.’

‘What did Adam want? Did he warn you off?’

I snorted. ‘He did, but not in the way you think. He seems worried I might do something stupid.’

‘He worries too much. Hey, you look great, have you been shopping?’

‘Get you, it’s not like a bloke to notice these things! But yes, I couldn’t have worn those same clothes again.’