Page 92 of Rock Out Together
Sid took a step back but dismissed Dillon with a roll of his eyes and answered with indifference. “Sex sells. I know what the audience wants. I led this band to the top. You three should have been thanking me instead of complaining all the time. You’re a bunch of ungrateful bastards.”
They all retaliated at the same time, shouting differentthings at Sid, but it was Dillon’s voice that overshadowed everyone else’s. “Fuck you! I’m sick of your pretentious attitude! You’re not better than us! There’s no reason for us to take your bullshit anymore! This is it! Our last show! After tonight, we don’t have to see each other ever again! So, shut the fuck up!”
Lizzy had never seen Dillon so irate, and she wondered if it was Sid’s sexist remark about her that riled him up so quickly. It didn’t matter. It would all be over soon, and she never had to see Sid again or listen to his egotistical bullshit. She was done. Done begging to sing one of Blind Fury’s songs. Done trying to be heard. Done with arguing. Let these guys hash it out among themselves. She was going to her dressing room.
four
. . .
Lizzy
Sound check diffused the tension.Lizzy had no idea what happened after she left the men in the lounge, but once the band was on stage, they left their personal differences aside. Conversations were strictly about the music. The music. . . sometimes it smoothed the rough waters between them. Other times, it caused a tsunami.
When they were done, Lizzy headed backstage to the pre-show party. Usually she hated these things—they all did—but tonight was a special event. Maybe the others weren’t interested in giving Blind Fury a proper farewell, but she felt it was well deserved.
The party was overflowing with people, food, alcohol, and music. She stole a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, stood off to the side and surveyed the room. It was filled with industry people and the press, who, no doubt,would be cornering her for interviews at any second. She spotted Dillon walking toward her from across the room and gave him a questioning head tilt.
“Hey,” he said, standing next to her and looking into the crowd. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Why wouldn’t I be here?” She noted that neither Sid nor Zach were anywhere to be seen. “We should all be here.”
“You’re right. I hear what you’ve been saying about tonight being the end of Blind Fury. I get it. It means something. We had a lot of ups and downs as a band. A lot of headaches and a lot of arguments, but there were a lot of good times too. Maybe not these last few years, but our early years were a blast. No one can deny that.”
She nodded in agreement, memories of happier times filling her head. “I’ll never forget any of it.”
He clinked his beer bottle against her champagne flute. “To Blind Fury. It’s been one hell of a ride.”
Sadness spread through Lizzy’s chest and made her frown. Even though part of her was ready to leave it all behind, despite the fighting and all of Sid’s bullshit, through all of Zach’s drama, and the constant back and forth with Dillon, Lizzy still loved this band, and she hated that it was over.
“Hey.” Dillon tried to read her eyes. “You OK?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.” She took a deep breath and surveyed the crowded room. “Do you know any of these people?”
“Some faces are familiar, but I have no idea who most of them are.” Dillon pointed to the far end of the room. “Itlooks like Zach finally showed up.” He snorted a laugh. “Isn’t that the head of Taylor Records he’s schmoozing with? He’s probably trying to score a new contract.”
“Do you think there’s truth to the rumor that the label offered Sid a deal?”
Dillon nodded. “Yeah. Walter probably had a hand in it. He wouldn’t let Sid walk away without a contract. A contract that surely included a deal for himself as Sid’s manager.”
Her head snapped in Dillon’s direction at the idea of Walter betraying the rest of them. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Not at all. Walter’s smart. I can’t blame the guy for trying to make a buck. He was our manager, but he still only looked out for his pocket.”
She didn’t know why she was surprised or so put out. It was no secret that money was the only thing Walter really cared about. “Where is Walter anyway?” Lizzy scanned the room again. “Shouldn’t our manager be here?”
“He’s probably babysitting Sid. Massaging that huge fucking ego of his.”
A member of the press passed and snapped a photo, flashing a bright light in their faces with a huge camera. Lizzy expected the journalist to ask them for an interview or at least ask a few questions about the band’s break-up, but he just wanted a photo. Were they old news already?
The room was filled with people pretending to bid farewell to Blind Fury, but it was just about money and marketability. They were a pack of wolves, only interested as long as it brought in a meal ticket. To Lizzy, it was the end ofa dream—the end of life as she knew it. Everything was about to change. This little party was a farce, and she no longer wanted anything to do with it.
She placed her empty champagne glass on the table. “I’m outta here.”
“Wait.” Dillon caught her by the arm. “Don’t go yet.”
An unexpected surge of heat made her stop dead, and her gaze immediately snapped to his hand. It gripped her forearm high enough so that the back of his index finger skimmed the outermost part of her breast.
She lifted her eyes and met his smoldering stare. Not only did his intense gaze mesmerize her, but the possessive hold he had on her arm sent a hot chill up and down her spine. Any other time, she would have tugged her arm free and stormed out, but she was paralyzed. The way her heart pounded and the way her skin prickled made her eyes widen with newfound wonder and . . . attraction. She had no fucking idea what the hell was going on. She never had this kind of reaction to Dillon before, and it unnerved her because, obviously, last night woke something inside her—something she never expected—and it was an unwelcome feeling.
