The thoughts of a large glass of wine later are the only thing that gets me through the rest of the day.
Chapter Two
Grady
“Fuck yeah!” I cry out as I force my cock farther down some groupie’s throat, making her gag. I should really know her name. She told me in the hallway while we were kissing, but I can’t fucking remember it. I don’t really give a shit because right now, I just want to blow my load. I need this release and this girl is willing to give it to me. I feel my balls tighten, and I thrust into her throat as I come.
I lean back against the tiled wall of the bathroom, catching my breath. She shakily gets up, and I put out a hand to help her, as she wipes her mouth and tear-stained cheeks.
“Thanks, baby, that was great,” I say to her as I pull out my phone and check my texts. “Listen, I’d love to stay but I’m late for soundcheck.”
“Oh…uh…OK, right,” she says, forcing a smile. I feel a tinge of guilt, but we’re two consenting adults and she had to know this wasn’t going any further than a quickie in the bathroom. I pull some paper towels out of the dispenser on the wall and hand it to her. I kiss her cheek and she touches it after I pull back.
“You were amazing. Sorry, I have to run, but Silas will get you back to your friends,” I tell her as I walk to the door. “I hope you enjoy the show, and I’ll have Silas get some backstage passes for your friends so you can come hang out afterward,” I add as I open it and walk into the hallway backstage.
“Thanks, Grady!” she calls out as the door slams shut. My brief moment of guilt ends when I hear her squeal and start talking to someone on the phone. I roll my eyes. Hell, she’ll probably use this as a defining moment in her life for all of eternity.
I find Silas standing a few doors down and he gives me a disapproving look.
“Girl in the bathroom needs…uh…three backstage passes and make sure she gets back to her seat,” I say to him.
“Whatever,” he mutters as he starts down the hall.
I ignore his comment and head off to find the rest of the band. Max Harris and Rhett Hudson are my best friends and members of Monumental Mistake. We formed the band shortly after meeting in college. And then two years later, we all dropped out when our band’s single made the charts. We got an agent, a record deal, and the rest is history.
I hear Max’s laughter from down the hall and I follow it. The door’s propped open and Max is lying on a sofa strumming his guitar while Rhett and our manager, Calvin Kratz, sit in chairs.
“She sucked my cock so good,
I fucked her on my car’s hood,
It was far from great,
But I was late for my date.
Her tits were bouncing—”
“Seriously, Max?” I ask as I interrupt his pathetic song. I can tell he’s already partaken in his normal pre-show toking. His pupils are dilated and there’s a half-eaten bag of chips next to him.
He crams a few chips in his mouth. “What? Like you can talk, Mr. Groupie-Fucker.”
I flick him off and grab a beer. It’s my pre-show treat. Rhett sighs and takes another sip of whatever green tea concoction his girlfriend, Jackie, has made him. Jackie’s cool, but Rhett’s totally pussy-whipped. They are annoyingly affectionate in front of us. And if on cue, Jackie walks into the room.
“Hey, Grads, how’s it going?” she asks as she punches my arm lightly.
“Oh, Grady is feeling really good,” Max says from the couch with a wink.
Jackie rolls her eyes. “Seriously? Another groupie? You’re gonna end up with kids at every port. Slow down there, sperm donor.”
I run a hand through my hair. “I didn’t fuck her, OK?”
Jackie visibly cringes. “Shit, that might even be worse. You need to re-evaluate your life.” She walks over to Rhett and plops down on his lap. He wraps his arms around her middle and kisses her shoulder. I groan and take a sip of my beer.
“You guys good with the set lineup?” I ask them as I glance down at the sheet of paper Calvin has set out for us to review. All the lineups have already been set in stone, so I don’t know why I bother asking them. I miss the days when we could be impromptu. Now when I pull a song out of the lineup or even add one in, everyone freaks the fuck out on me.
“We aren’t fucking making changes,” Calvin mutters. Calvin sees the death stare that I give him. “Look, it’s a pain in the ass to change up lights and everything. Just stick with the set lineup, OK?”
The guys grunt their agreement and I sit down and slurp my beer while checking my social media feeds.
My phone pings with a text.
Mom: Have a great show, my love!
My mother. What can I say about the great Blythe Daniels? My mom is a famous actress. This basically means that between her and my race car driving dad, I had anything but a normal childhood. I always had a nanny. Occasionally, I got to travel with my mom as she filmed. She means well, but as an only child, she dotes on me, especially since my dad died.
Me: Thanks, Mom.
I hit send as a crew member steps in to tell us that we’re on in ten.
Emma
Me: Day four of the semester.
I feel like I might sound a bit as if I’m a hostage or prisoner, but this semester is dragging already. I’ve had zero time to start on my documentary. All my new grad school friends are telling me it’ll get better, but I’m in a definite funk today.
Kate: Cheer up!! If it helps, I’ll fly you out here for spring break!!
Me: In a private jet?
Kate: Duh
Me: OK, that is making me feel a little better.
Kate: See? Things are already looking up!
Me: LOL! Love ya!
Kate: (kissy emoji face)
I put my phone in my pocket as I check my emails in the TA office. I get another text and smile when I see it’s Quinlan.
Quinlan: How’s your first week going?
Me: It’s been busy! Thanks for checking in!
Quinlan: Sure! I have some time later today if you want to grab a drink and chat about classes.
Me: YES!!
Quinlan: OK, then. I’ll send you a link to this cute little bar near campus.
Me: Perfect! I’m super stressed and could use a drink. I have to go meet Blythe Daniels. She’s talking in Dr. Elliott’s class today.
Quinlan: Of course you are, you’re in grad school. LOL! And I love Blythe! She’s great. Dad is friends with her. Tell her I said hello.
Me: Will do. See you later.
I place my phone in my pocket, shaking my head at the fact that Quinlan knows Blythe. Sometimes LA is like living on a weird planet where celebrities are around every corner.
I walk down to the front doors of the building and then around back. There’s a private parking area there for specially permitted vehicles, like all of our high-profile guest lecturers. I’m surprised when I find a Tesla and not some giant, black, tinted-window SUV. Blythe opens her own door and steps out to greet me.
“You must be Miss Baldwin,” she says with a warm smile as she extends her hand to me.
I shake it and nod. “Yep. That’s me. Do you have everything you need? If so, I can show you up to the classroom.”
“That would be great, thank you.”
She grabs a stylish oversized bag out of the car and then leans in to say something to the man in the driver’s seat who nods at her.