One Kiss from the King of Rock (The One 2)

“I’m not doing it for you.” He was done with Errol. He turned to go, his mouth full of bitterness, his hands tense from being clenched. “A word of advice, unless you want to see vengeance on a historic scale, keep it to business with my mother.”

He didn’t mention the encounter with Errol to Mum. He didn’t relish an I told you so, and for the sake of the tour it was better not to create a bunch of new wounds. He told her he wished he could head off with the rest of World’s End and play tourist this weekend as a cover for the bad mood he was in. She didn’t buy it, but she was smart enough not to push him.

They watched the broadcast and both winced at how ill at ease Abel was on camera. And then Jay lay in bed trying to recall what Wizard had said. That encounter already seemed a long time ago. It only comes when you risk and something about not making other peoples’ decisions for them. It felt prophetic.

Errol wouldn’t risk his family on Jay.

Evie was worth the risk of being hurt again.

Next morning, he had cause to wonder what drugs Wizard was on because Evie had conscripted Grip to risk Jay’s physical well-being.

“Before you start rehearsal, I want Jay to teach you how to avoid trouble at meet and greets,” she said.

“What kind of trouble?” Abel asked.

“Gropes, inappropriate touching, creeping,” Evie said. “We’ve been through this before.” She listed the appropriate places to touch a fan: hand, shoulder, elbow, mid back. Definitely nothing below the waist. Depending on the height differences, it was fine to lean your shoulder into theirs. You could get out of trouble by kissing a hand, even touching foreheads.

“Who has a problem with any of that?” Oscar said.

Evie shut him down with a look. Then she stage directed Grip in the role of overly enthusiastic fan. “Go at Jay for a hug,” she said.

“Time to make lucky for my new pants,” Grip said.

He came in arms wide. Jay reached for one of his hands and turned it into a shake.

Grip laughed, stepped back and changed his tactic, coming in with one arm high, the other low on an angle, Jay offered his hand in a high five, making it hard for Grip to land the hug.

“Whoa,” Grip said. He rushed Jay, arms wide again. Jay took both his hands in his, brought them together in front of Grip’s body, let go of one and they were shaking hands again.

“This is some Ninja shit,” Grip said.

“What, you don’t ever hug back?” Abel said scornfully.

“You need to use your discretion but mostly it’s better to avoid it because—” Grip jumped Jay, pinning his arms and lifting him off the floor. He broke the hold with his elbows and two of them fell apart.

“It’s better to avoid it because once you’re in a hug it’s not easy to get out of it, and also that’s where other things go wrong,” said Evie.

“The accidental boob grope,” said Isaac. “The fan who makes you look bad when you force their arms away. What do you do about the cock gropes. I hate that,” he said.

“Try it,” Jay said to Grip and then groped Grip before he had a chance to stop clowning, by coming in for a hug Grip didn’t avoid and grabbing his tackle.

Grip laughed. “Now my new lucky pants are lucky.”

Next up, Grip approached Jay with much more stealth and tried a distraction technique, offering his hand to shake but stepping slightly in front of Jay and going for the grope with his other hand.

Jay put his hand to Grip’s shoulder and stepped back, holding him off and neatly avoiding the grope. Grip countered with a cheek tap. Still the point was made.

“Any tricks to avoid those dudes who want to crush your hand?” Isaac said.

“You can generally see those dicks coming,” Jay said. “Vary the greeting. Go for high fives and ice your hand later.”

“And the boob press?” said Abel.

“I like the boob press,” Grip griped. “Evie can demo that one.”

“Evie is not doing that,” Evie said. “I am also not going to be your character witness when you get accused of assault.” She motioned at Grip who tried to come in close with his chest puffed up and was foiled by Jay’s hand to his shoulder.

She paired them up after that, Abel with Oscar and Isaac with Grip. They messed around, but they still got it. Jay was watching Isaac neatly block every attempt Grip made to get to him when he felt a hand trail across his arse and turned his head to see Evie do it again, sculpting his butt cheek, then sliding her hand in his side pocket.