Page 5 of Laying it Bare Backstage

“Damn, you couldn’tconvince the girls to stay.” Ascher griped at me, when I stepped back inside the room the band was still lounging in. He sat at the table, his hand in a huge bag of barbeque flavored chips.

The rest of the guys were sprawled about on the two couches and two recliners, either on their phones or eyes on the rerun of some baseball game.

Since all of the groupies had vacated, I deemed it safe to return. I wasn’t using a line on Serenity; I didn’t like that part of my stardom anymore. I actually despised it. I wanted something meaningful with someone exactly like her. Well, notlikeher,withher. But she had shot me down. Fate had dropped her right in my path, yet I was powerless to work it to my advantage. And what were the odds of me running into her again like that and getting a second chance?

“It took me a while to remember Serenity. She was always quiet in high school. She was a great art student and she was really smart. But I remembered Ivy right away. She hasn’t changed much. She still has a bit of a wild streak. I thought it was crazy they were best friends in high school, but I see that hasn’t changed since graduation.” Ascher’s words brought me out of my thoughts and planted a promising idea in my head.

“No, Serenity shot me down. But she was really sweet about it. You don’t by any chance have Ivy’s number?”

“I do happen to have it.” His lips curled into a smirk and his blue eyes danced with mischief. “Do you want me to text her to give you Serenity’s number?”

“No. I would never invade her privacy like that. Because I’m pretty sure Ivy would give it to you to give to me. She is a bit of a fire cracker. But no. I would like you to text Ivy and ask if she could take Serenity for coffee tomorrow at some café and let me know which one and a time so I can rent the place out and then you and her can take off for an hour while I hang out with Serenity. Make sure Ivy knows to keep my being there a secret.”

“I’ll text her right now.”

“We’re heading out to Brews and Cues in a little. You two coming?” Sprawled out on the couch, Nolan glanced up from his phone to look over at us.

“Not tonight. I’m heading home.” I was hoping to have an impromptu date early tomorrow. “I’ll text you guys when I have details on when I’d like to start recording the next album. Although I’m sure I’ll be seeing you guys before then.” At the end of every tour, we always had a little break while I wrote new songs before we would meet up again to record and then start up rehearsals and plan for tour dates. During that time, we would still hang out once in a while, but it was mostly a time for the guys to enjoy a bit of a normal life. Well, except for my bouncer/bodyguards. They were with me year round. Although there were two other temporary guys who filled in when both of them had something else to do. My usuals were both married with young children and I didn’t want them missing out on things. My only requirement was they both attended my concerts and at least one of them was available for other scheduled public appearances. When I was out and about the town pretending to be a regular guy, it didn’t matter who I had with me as long as he was competent.

The door opened and our manager, Quinn Akers, stepped inside. She was dressed professionally in a gray pencil skirt, light blue blouse, and high heels. Her brown hair was back in a high pony tail and her blue eyes scanned the room before settling on me. “I see the groupies headed out a little earlier than usual.” Her lips quirked into an amused grin.

The rest of the guys grumbled under their breath. Maybe they too were growing tired of that scene.

“Well, you guys were awesome out there tonight for your final show. I couldn’t be more pleased. Now you get to enjoy your well-earned break. Let me know when you have a tentative date for the next album, a single release, when you want to start touring. You know the drill.”

“I’ll be in touch. We’re good here. I’m getting ready to head home and I think the rest of the guys are going to a club, so we won’t be here much longer.”

“You guys have a great night.” With a little wave, she strode back into the hallway.

“Ivy texted back and said Lana’s Brews and Pastries at ten o’clock tomorrow.”

I jerked my gaze over to Ascher. “That was quick.Now hopefully Serenity doesn’t catch on to our trick until Ivy gets her there tomorrow. Thanks, man. I owe you.”

He stared at me for a beat, his lips curving into a teasing grin. “You’re smitten.”

“What are you, fifty?”

“Infatuated? Enchanted? Bewitched?” His smirk twisted devilishly. “It doesn’t matter what word I use; the outcome is the same. You’re completely captivated. I caught a glimpse of that earlier when I saw you talking to the two of them. But now it’s confirmed. You’ve never chased a girl.”

“There’s just something about her. I can’t put my finger on it. Like a connection; at least on my end. Besides the fact that she wasn’t fawning all over me. That was the first thing that drew me to her, of course and she was beautiful in a classy sexy way. But I feel like there is so much more there. So, I’m hoping I can convince her to give me a chance.”

About ten minutes later, we packed up our stuff and walked out to the parking lot. My thoughts raced around my head during the drive. Serenity was skittish, but I wasn’t sure exactly of what. I needed to uncover that mystery so I could put her fears to rest. And lucky for me, I did have one thing going for me; she may have left and not given me her number, but she also didn’t run off as soon as we had met. Even though she was guarded, she did give me a little bit of her time. I was taking that as a small win.

After Jasper pulled up to my gate and keyed in the passcode, he continued up the driveway and parked beside his own SUV.

I grabbed my duffel from the backseat and hopped out. “I’ll see you tomorrow at nine. And if things work out for me and Serenity, I’ll get in contact with one of the temp guys since it will be unpublicized outings. But for our first date, I want someone she’s already seen.”

“I think that’s pretty good thinking to help put her at ease. Have a great rest of your night.” Jasper waved before ducking into his car.

My two bedroom was in a quieter neighborhood in Santa Cruz, but I still had a fence with a passcode lock and tall bushes around the perimeter for safety and privacy. Thatnormallydeterred fans from disturbing me at my residence.

I climbed the steps and unlocked my door before stepping inside, punching in my code so my alarm didn’t sound, and dropping my bag at the entry way. I’d deal with the contents later. I needed a shower and bed. Trudging toward my bedroom, I passed my kitchen on the left. I could have spent an obscene amount of money on my place, but I just wanted a place to call home when I was done with a tour. My kitchen had all new stainless steel appliances, dark cupboards, white counter tops, and a light wood bar that separated it from my living space, but it wasn’t excessive. My living room had a black leather couch and matching love seat and recliner. A seventy five inch flat screen hung on the opposite wall. My spare bedroom was a decent sized room so it served as storage and my office. I had a small desk I hardly ever used, but my most prized piece of furniture was my gray overstuffed chenille chair. I could flop into that comfortable chair and get lost in my creativity for hours. And since my phone was my preferred device for jotting down my lyrics, it worked out perfectly.

Pushing open my bedroom door, I strolled into the connecting bath, stripped off my clothes, and hopped into the shower. Less than twenty minutes later, I crawled into my king sized bed with a huge grin on my face along with a little nervous flutter in my stomach. I had never met anyone like Serenity. Naturally gorgeous, smart, honest, and real. All qualities I found sexy as hell. I had to find a way to convince her to give us a chance.

The next morning, I called the café and asked to rent out the place for an hour. I wanted our first real opportunity to get to know one another to be quiet and uneventful. Then I pulled a tan pair of cargo shorts out of my dresser and a light blue short sleeved button down from my closet and got dressed. Once I finished in the bathroom, I tugged on a pair of my Chuck Taylors – in case I had to chase her – slipped a ball cap down over my forehead, and slid on a pair of sunglasses before walking out to my car to wait on Jasper.

He was right on time. During the drive to the café, butterflies swirled around in my stomach. The same feeling I got every time I released a new single. My music was a part of me and each time I shared a new piece I hoped the fans experienced the same magnitude of emotion. With Serenity, I wanted her to feel as deeply for me as I did for her. Or at least share that connection.

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