Bad Seed

“You’re the one that sprung this on everyone and put her on the bus. If she’s close to tears, that’s on you too, buddy. You know how rowdy we get on the road.”

“She told me about the alcohol in your bag, Drake. What the fuck’s it doing on the bus?”

“So now you got her spying for you?” I asked. “I’ll make sure to be more careful next time.”

“Knock if off, or I will make your life hell. Got it?” he asked.

“Whatever,” I said.

I strode past my grumpy manager and headed for the dressing room. I had to admit, I did feel guilty about the bottle of alcohol in my bag. Delia had seen it and had given me the most disappointed look. Not disapproving. Not like Hank. But disappointed. Maybe one day I would sit her down and talk to her about the pain both physical and mental.

Rright now, I had a fucking concert to give.

The show went off without a hitch. It was loud and crazy, with women tossing their bras and panties to the stage just like they always did. Beer was being guzzled and I kept throwing them back on stage myself. The women went wild whenever I gyrated my hips and I picked one out of the crowd to come up on stage with me. I was in my element, adored by throngs of people who accepted me for what I was.

The show ended with two encores and people throwing their shirts at me in praise. My band and I took a bow before we left, and I could feel hands groping at me. They were grabbing at my chest and ripping my hat off my head.

While I usually put up withit, I didn’t tonight. Instead of the groping making me ready for the party tonight, all I wanted to do was get back to the bus.

I ducked into a bar after the show and made my way into the shadows. I ordered a whiskey neat and downed it quickly, then asked the pretty little waitress to get me another. Landon found me and slid into the seat in front of me, his hands still shaking from the adrenaline of our performance.

“Disappeared on us pretty quick there, Drake.”

“Needed something stronger than beer,” I said.

“I hear ya on that,” he said, as the waitress set my drink in front of me.

“Want one?” I asked.

“Nah, man. I’m good. Stone’s supposed to get us later. Got some hotties I wanna keep it up for.”

“You’ve never had an issue with whiskey dick.”

“I wanna get mine tonight down a woman’s throat. Pussy’s getting a bit old,” he said.

“Only you would think something like that,” I said, with a grin.

“Hey. What’s up with you? You weren’t your regular self on stage.”

“The fuck’s that mean? That show was one of the best we’ve done in a while.”

“You just seemed a bit—

distracted. Kept asking the crowd to sing so you wouldn’t have to. You didn’t do your usual stage diving. What gives?”

“Just wasn’t what I was feeling tonight. But the crowd was happy, so what?” I asked.

“Just wanted to make sure you were okay is all. I know you got a lot of shit on your shoulders. Didn’t know if there was somethin’ I could do.”

“The fuck’s wrong with you? I’m good. I always am.”

“Landon! Drake!”

“Stone!” Landon said. “What’s up?”

“Come on, come on. I went to the bus to find you guys and you weren’t there. I’ve got some lovely ladies waiting for us. Ready to party it up, Drake?”” Stone said.

“I’m good tonight, guys. Gotta get some rest,” I said.