Page 102 of Love is a Harmony
“Next summer, once the new album is out. I don’t like just sitting around L.A.”
Piper walked toward them, talking into her headset. She gave Ben a soft smile. “Yes, he’ll want to shower real quick, but then he’s said he’ll sign some autographs after the concert. Get security in place.” She held her finger up before lowering it and smiling. “Hey, babe.” She reached up on her toes to kiss Ben before turning to Melanie with a smile. “You guys enjoying the show?”
“Always.” Melanie smiled just like she had been for days, no joy behind it. She only forced it because it was expected.
“Well, Drew only has one more song if you guys want to go wait in his dressing room.” Piper met Melanie’s gaze. “I assume you want to talk to him since he has a break coming up.”
“Yes.” Melanie nodded. “We all need to talk.”
“Sure, I’ll send him back.”
Melanie gestured to Dax and Ben to follow her from the side of the stage to the back hallway. The music faded as they walked, but never went away, and there was a comfort in that, a comfort in the rock stars she surrounded herself with and the fact they’d always be making music.
Nodding to security outside Drew’s dressing room, she pushed her way in. Not an item was out of place—not an article of clothing or tube of makeup. Melanie knew that was Piper’s doing more than Drew’s. The assistant preferred order, even going so far as to schedule every moment of Drew’s time on tour.
And Drew seemed to enjoy it.
Ben collapsed onto the leather sofa, the grin never leaving his face. “We need to bust Drew for that little hip thing he did when he took off his shirt. He looked like a stripper.”
Melanie snort-laughed. “Drew is… Drew.”
“Got that right.” Dax helped himself to the bowl of Milk Duds Drew had sitting on the table in front of the couch.
“I wish Jo and Noah were here.” Ben rubbed tired eyes. He’d been the most resistant of the group to the idea of Rockstars Anonymous, but now he relied on it as much as any of them.
Dax nodded. “Agreed. It’s been too long since we were all in the same place.”
It didn’t take long for Drew to burst through the room with Lola under his arm and Piper trailing behind. He stopped when he saw them, his face brightening. “What a concert!”
Melanie wanted to revel in his excitement, his adrenaline, like it was her own. She’d had a hand in crafting his career, after all. But she couldn’t muster a smile.
“Piper and I are going to leave you all to one of your weird meetings.” Lola grabbed Piper’s arm. “Bye.”
Drew watched her go with stars in his eyes, and Melanie looked away. She couldn’t take all the happy couples surrounding her, not when she just wanted Justin back.
And Noah?
Well, that was why she was here, right? Why she’d made Dax and Ben meet her at Drew’s concert.
Drew crossed the room and hopped up to sit on his makeup table. “I hereby call this partial meeting of Rockstars Anonymous to order. Just pretend I’m banging my gavel.”
“Well, we told you to stop the gavel banging, so I don’t think we’ll be imagining it.” Ben flashed him a grin.
Drew flipped him off.
“Aww, Drew, you’re the sweetest.”
“Boys.” Melanie sighed. She wasn’t in the mood for their banter. In fact, she hadn’t really been in the mood for much since Noah left for London a few days ago. All she could picture was him and Stella standing alone in a sea of people mourning his brother. “Someone video Jo in.”
Drew reached for his tablet and called Jo. A moment later, her face appeared. “I’ve been waiting for you fools to call.” She sent them all a cutting glare. “Has anyone heard from Noah?”
One by one, they all shook their heads.
Melanie could tell what they were all thinking. The last time he cut them out, he manufactured a scandal and then found out his brother died.
“He’s in London.” They’d all known this already. “And I think he needs us.”
Drew leaned forward, dangling his hands between his knees. “What can we do from over here?”
