I already knew the answer to that. Nothing would stop her from getting out there to see the Monkeys live. It was just a coincidence that we were going to be there the same week we were in town.
Fuck yes. Do you know me at all?? See you Sunday big brother xx
Chapter Twelve
Micah
Lights flashed everywhere. I struggled to take it all in. Vegas was everything I imagined it would be. Even mid-week¸ there were people everywhere.
We’d just finished our show in a hotel in the middle of the strip and the guys had deserted us in favor of getting drunk and doing God knows what else. Like most nights, Sax and I found ourselves alone, this time on the roof of the hotel.
I reached for my bottle of water and looked out over the stunning skyline. The sheer number of people here was amazing. The show had been packed. It was by far the biggest crowd I’d sung to in my life, and as terrifying as it was, hearing that applause and cheering at the end had made it all worth it.
“So, what do you actually do?” I blushed as he raised his eyebrows at me. “I didn’t mean it like that. I meant as the manager—what does that actually involve?” I asked.
“I find shows for you guys to perform at. Like this. The whole point of this group of shows is to drum up more exposure for you guys. The more people who know about you, the better. That makes it easier for me to try and secure shows for you at festivals, or as openers for bigger bands.”
“Like the LA music festival?” I asked.
He nodded. “Exactly. I’m about ninety-five percent sure I’ll be able to get you guys on the list.”
“Wow,” I murmured. “Have you seen the headline acts for that?”
“I have,” he laughed. “Arctic Monkeys, Bloc Party, Empire of the Sun…”
Shit. Performing in front of bands like that and for fans of bands like that? That was insane. I felt sick just thinking about it.
“You’ve gone a little green there, M. Everything okay?” he chuckled and I narrowed my eyes at him. “Look, you sang in front of me that night at the bar and you did awesome. Don’t think about who is watching. Just focus on you and what’s in your head.”
“Deep,” I teased, nudging him. “Did you ever get nervous when you sang?”
“All the fucking time. I used to throw up every night before I did a show. Then I used to drink way too much after it,” he added with a laugh as he rubbed his chin.
My stomach flipped as I watched his fingers run over his stubble. He was in need of a shave, but damn it was sexy. His hair had grown a little, too—just enough that the ends were beginning to show a little bit of curl.
I looked away and sighed. I knew what I was doing and it was a bad, bad idea. There was only one way something like that could end: badly. As if he’d be interested in me anyway. I was way too young for him. Even younger than he realized, and it was so easy for me to forget that.
“The first show I ever did I threw up on stage,” he admitted.
I burst into laughter. “You’re kidding! Bullshit,” I challenged. That was the kind of thing that would’ve ended up on YouTube if it were true.
“True story,” he argued with a grin. “I was five, and it was the end of year play. We did Oliver Twist and I threw up all over a girl. To make things worse, I had the biggest crush on her. I was mortified.”
“Poor little Saxon,” I giggled. “I can’t believe that didn’t ruin you for life.”
“It did for a few years. The kids called me Chuckles all the way through until high school.”
“Kids can be cruel,” I agreed. “How the hell did you get past that and become the rock God you were?”
“Rock God?” he grinned.
I blushed. “I said ‘were,’” I shot back.
He laughed. “Music was the one thing that was always there for me. It was the one thing in my life I knew I could count on. I’d be playing my guitar in the park or on the beach, and people would stop and listen. So I started playing for tips just to give me some confidence. From there, I ended up with a few regular gigs in a couple of coffee houses and bars.” He shrugged.
“It must’ve been hard to give it all up,” I said softly.
“At the time, it was a relief. I was in way over my head. The fame was drowning me. And I haven’t lost the music. I still sing. I still play my guitar every day. Though these days it’s only Broosky who hears me,” he laughed.