“It might get dirty,” I warn him. “She hates me. I don’t know what I did but –”

“You stole my brother’s attention.” Dean talks as he autographs. “Heidi’s been after Gunnar since his voice changed. I think she thought the two of them would bond over Audrey’s death, but it didn’t happen. No matter how hard she tries, he doesn’t want her.”

I think about what he said. She does act like a spurned lover.

Dean continues. “You know why I call Gunnar my brother, right?  I was a foster kid.”

“I know.” I smile. “Latson told me. He told me about his – your – mom, too. I’m sorry she’s sick.”

“You and me both.”

“Hey.” I feel a tap on my shoulder. “Can we get some of those pens over here?”

I grab a few and turn around to hand them to Drew. “Thanks,” he says. “Oh, and here’s a tip. The more you drink, the less you’ll feel the carpal tunnel.”

I laugh.

Dean and I continue to sign until the Eagles “Hotel California” comes on. He starts to sing and I join him, until footsteps and laughter interrupt our duet. I look up to see Heidi and her entourage approaching. They’re wearing tight, skimpy outfits with little strappy tank tops and heels. Heidi’s all big smiles and swaying hips until she sees me. Her eyes narrow and her walk slows, yet she makes it to our table. She looks down and picks up one of the band posters.

“What the hell?” she hisses and turns to Dean. “Please explain why this bitch is here.”

“I think it’s obvious.” Dean remains nonchalant. “She’s in my band.”

“Since when?”

“Since I asked her.”

“She has no talent!”

“Says who?”

“Says me!”

I pick up my glass and take a drink. This is entertaining.

“You must not have ears,” Paul says from behind me. “She’s fucking talented. And, hey, by the way, long time, no see.”

Heidi shoots him an evil glare. “You didn’t call me, remember?”

My eyebrows shoot up.

Heidi turns her attention back to Dean. “I didn’t sign up to watch her on stage.”

“Then look past her and at me,” Drew says over my head. “I’ll be the one behind the drums.”

“Or,” Paul stands, “you could not show up at all. It wouldn’t hurt my feelings any.”

Heidi scowls and focuses on me. “You’ve got them all wrapped around your little finger, don’t you?”

I shrug. I refuse to get riled up. Instead, I grab a Sharpie and remove the cap. I sign another poster and ask, “Should I make this one out to Heidi or do you prefer another name?”

She slams her hand down on the table and leans into my space. “You don’t get it, do you?”

“I’m sorry. I guess I don’t. Do you want me to sign your hand instead?” I move quickly, getting a J and an E on her skin before she yanks her hand away.

“You …” she seethes. She points at me and looks at Dean. “I’m not putting up with this!”

“No one said you had to.” Dean raises his glass. “Why don’t you take a seat and relax. Jen won’t talk to you if you don’t talk to her. Right, Jen?”

I nod.

“Ugh!” Heidi huffs and stomps off to an empty table. One of her girlfriends follows her, while the other three remain by us.

“Wow.” A nameless woman steps forward. “Hi. I’m Brooke.” She extends her hand to Dean. “I don’t want to get off on the wrong foot. I have no idea what’s going on, but I’m super excited to hear you guys play. So are Kate and Lisa.” She looks over her shoulder at the other two girls.

Dean shakes her hand. “That’s good to hear. Are you familiar with our music?”

Brooke blushes. “Um, no. Not really. Heidi just said she was following a band and we could come along. Maybe meet the guys and help out and ... I don’t know. Have fun, I guess.”

“Well, ladies, you’ve come to the right place.” Paul grins and pulls over two empty chairs. “You’re more than welcome to join us.” He looks around. “I don’t see another empty seat. One of you will have to sit on my lap.”

One of the girls, Kate or Lisa, I’m not sure who, happily volunteers. Jesus, I think. So it begins. I’ve yet to see any “rock star” behavior out of any of the guys; I suppose it had to start sometime. As Paul plays Bad Santa, I roll my eyes and go back to what I was doing. I silently wonder how interesting things will get once we’re out on the road. I have no idea how big the tour bus is. Should I invest in sound-proof headphones?

“Don’t worry about Heidi,” Dean interrupts my thoughts.

“Do I look worried?”

“I don’t know. You’re making some kind of face.”

I laugh. “I’m just thinking, that’s all.”

“About?”

I glance back at Paul, Drew, and the girls. Their flirting makes me miss Latson. Not that I haven’t missed him every day, but this kind of throws it in my face.

“Hellooo,” Dean says. “What are you thinking about?”

I sigh. “That there’s only one lap I’d like to sit on.”

Dean gives me a knowing smile. “You guys will be together before you know it.”

“You promise?”

“Promise.”

~~~~

“God, I wish you were here.”

I stare at my reflection in the dressing room mirror as I hold my phone to my ear. I’m trying to remain calm, but we go on for the first time ever in about an hour.

“You’re going to be fine,” Latson reassures me through my cell. “I know it. I can feel it from two time zones away.”

I let out a heavy breath and blow my side bangs off my face. Mona, our stylist, intricately curled my hair to the left, since I decided to grow a zit on that side of my forehead. I know it’s from stress, but come on. Did it have to show up on opening night?

“Take a picture of yourself and send it to me,” Latson says. “I want to see you before L.A. does.”

“Okay. Hang on.” I put his call on hold and do as he asks using the mirror. I send the picture as a text message and then go back to the call. “Done,” I say.

It takes a minute before he receives it. “You look amazing,” he says. “Where’s the sign that says your mine?”

I laugh. “It will be spelled out in lights over my head on stage.”

I have to admit that Mona did a great job despite my new friend Zitty McZit. She gave me cat eyes with thick, black liner, and she made my lips look pouty with two shades of lipstick and some sort of gloss. My cheeks look perfectly pink, and the clothes she picked out are cute ankle boots, tight jeans, and a sheer white peasant blouse. I’m wearing a black mid-riff tank underneath it, and my hair falls in waves down my back.

“I miss you,” I say. “I could use a kiss for encouragement right about now.”

“If I was there to kiss you I wouldn’t stop. You’d be late for the show.”

“I’d be willing to risk it.”

Dean gags from behind me. My tone must give me away. “Are you two getting all mushy?  We’re taking good care of her, G!”  He yells so Latson can hear.

“Tell Dean to worry about himself,” he says.

A guy wearing a headset knocks on the open door. “D.U.?  You have five minutes until meet and greet.”

“Thanks,” Dean says.

I meet his eyes. “D.U.?”

“It’s short for the band name. It’s easier.”

“Oh.”

“Still learning the ropes?” Latson asks.

“Yeah. They don’t give all the secret codes to the new kids.”

Roxanne comes speeding around the corner. “Why are you all still in here?  Meet and greet. Now. Walk.”

“Gotta go,” I say to Latson as I hop off the stool. “Wish me luck.”

“You don’t need it,” he says, “but break a leg anyway.”

I fall in line behind Rox, Dean, Paul, and Drew. We make a few turns down a couple of hallways before we’re led into a small conference room. There are no tables or chairs, just a group of about twenty people wearing lanyards and holding stuff like cameras and papers. Roxanne stops us before we get too close.

“These are the VIP people who paid extra for close seats. They get to meet you now and Ariel after the show. So be nice, smile, and sign whatever it is they want you to sign.”