Page 99 of Paint the Town, Dove
My eyes turned to slits. “What’s going on, Tav?”
We stared at one another, testing, waiting. I could tell he wanted to say something, the truth maybe. But he moved away before he let himself. “Stay fuckin’ put, I mean it, Scarlett.”
Was I curious? Of course. Did I care enough to lose my job? No. Fans and reporters were battleaxes, determined to pry through the gates during atornado, let alone his final concert at home base. It was probably that, yeah –definitely that. And firmly out of my jurisdiction of problems.
Tav was thebandmanager, I wasRyden’s.
Hewasmyproblem.
Andmyproblem was currently performing his final song to an ocean of supporters, in awe of his impact.
I was front row, wearing the pride of a thousand hearts.
No, nothing could stop me from watching him perform.
I’d be here until the very end.
It’s so peaceful, I thought. Having someone through it all.
[It could have been so peaceful.]
***
“ENCORE! ENCORE! MORE, MORE, MORE!”
The crowd was hungry, shrill, teeming with excitement and nerves. After last night, seeing Ryden’s fragility, I didn’t want to go to his final sound check this morning. Was it in part due to the dozens of phone calls I made with the press, Gladis Roberts hounding down Ryden’s next available time slot for the New York Post’sInterview with a Rock startribute? Could have been.
Some people are fucking relentless.
But I accepted the distractions with open arms.
My life was never supposed to stand still. I was in a time loop of aggrievances, spontaneity.
Standing behind Ryden’s show, hearing him sing… turning it all off –that, that was the only moment I could breathe.
“ENCORE, ENCORE, MORE, MORE, MORE!”
“You hear that, guys?” Ryden turned to the rest of Jaw & Lion, “they want more! What’d you say we give them one more?”
“MORE, MORE, MORE!” They chanted.
Ryden glanced at Donny, Derek, Dean, then… me. A quick nod, a small smile – but it was enough to make my insides turn into falling snow.
“Aw, no! Seems like the band’s a bit tired!” The guys started filtering off stage, waving at the audience. But this…
Was unusual.
Did they – did they rehearse this?
“BOOOOOO!!!!” The crowd lost their minds.
I did too?
“What’s going on?” I grabbed onto Dean’s arm. “Why are you all leaving?”
He replied in the form of a half-hug. “I think he’d really appreciate it if you stayed for this one.”
And then he was off.
