“You’re assuming we’ll make it big one day,” Garrett says.
“Oh, we’ll make it big,” Liam says. “And when we blow White Poison’s record sales out of the goddamn water, they’ll be begging to open for us.”
While they’re busy dreaming about our future, I pull out my phone and google Bria Cash. I don’t see anything about an album, but I find a YouTube video of a high school talent show where she sings a Taylor Swift song. I put in my earbuds and listen to the entire thing.
Chapter Five
Bria
During the van ride to Hartford, I stare at the White Poison tour bus in front of us. I don’t get to ride in it. Never have. It’s for the band only, so they can sleep, de-stress, or work on new music. Despite being onstage with them, I get to ride in the large passenger van with some of the crew. It’s almost impossible to sleep, given its rigid seats and lack of headrests.
Liam’s van is behind us. It’s even smaller than this one, yet it holds the four of them and all their luggage and equipment. I wonder if there’s any extra space. The short time I spent with them at the diner yesterday was better than any time I’ve experienced on the road with White Poison. They seem genuine and nice, but that’s probably because they haven’t made it big yet.
I try again to fall asleep, but I can’t. I haven’t slept more than a few hours since yesterday. Every time I doze off, I hear Aimee bragging about going to Fiji. I turn to the guy sitting next to me; he sets up the band’s instruments. “What are you doing after the tour ends?”
“You mean after I sleep for two weeks straight?” He laughs. “I’ll do what I always do between gigs—work on my brother’s construction crew. He builds houses.”
“Are you …” I glance at the tour bus again. “Are you going to Fiji?”
He looks at me like I’m crazy. “Fiji? Where did you get a crazy idea like that?”
“I thought since the band is going, maybe you’d go too.”
He snickers. “As if I’d ever be invited.”
“So they do invite people?”
He gives me a sympathetic look. He knows I’m dating Adam. Everyone does. “I honestly don’t know who goes on those trips. For all I know, it’s just the four of them.”
He’s lying. I look out the window, lips tight, and gaze at the snowy hills in the distance, wondering who else has been lying to me.
A few hours later, we pull up at the hotel, the entire caravan still in perfect follow-the-leader formation. That rarely happens. Liam’s van pulls in behind us, surprising me. They never stay at the luxury hotels where we bunk.
When I get out, I stretch my legs and catch Crew doing the same. “I thought you couldn’t afford places like this.”
“We can’t, but this is our last show, and Liam’s uncle wanted us to go out in style. He booked this for us as a Christmas present. After the gig, we’re staying the weekend to unwind and do some male bonding or some shit like that.”
“That’s nice.”
I can’t help feeling a little sad that after tonight, I won’t get to hear their music in my dressing room before I go onstage, but I remind myself there are only five more shows, and for the first time in months, I feel a sense of relief.
Crew and I are talking when Aimee gets off the tour bus. I feel a quick spurt of anger. “What the …?”
“Everything okay?” he asks.
“No, everything is not okay. I was told nobody else rides with them. It’s why I was relegated to one of the roadie vans. I’ll catch you later.”
I storm over to the bus as Aimee saunters away, her hair all disheveled, like she was sleeping or something.
Kurt, Collin, and Louis get off the bus. When they see me, they look guilty.
Adam appears, tucking in his shirt. “Hey, luv. Didn’t know you’d be waiting.”
“Obviously, otherwise you’d have wiped Aimee’s lipstick off your face.” His zipper is at half-mast. I point. “Might want to close the goddamn barn door.”
“What’s got you in a tizzy? I was sleeping. I always sleep on the bus.”
I cross my arms. “Yeah, sleeping with Aimee. Not to mention taking her to Fiji.”
“Hogwash,” he says with no guilt whatsoever. “But even if that were true, you’re the one who gets to call herself my girlfriend.”
I’m disgusted that he says it like I should be honored even though he’s sleeping with anyone wearing a skirt.
“I’m so stupid.” Outraged, I look at the sky. “How naïve I was to believe I was the only girl in your life.” I give him a hard shove. “And what an asshole you are to make me think I was.”
He looks around at our audience, causing me to do the same. Some of the crew are watching, as are all the guys from Reckless Alibi. “This is hardly the place for this conversation, Bria.”
“This is exactly the place for it. That way everyone will know what a jerk you are.” I glance at Aimee, whose grin is not the least bit apologetic.
He finishes buckling his belt. “You’ll find you’re the only one who cares, luv.”
I stomp my foot. “Stop calling me that.”
He tugs on my elbow. “Calm down. Let’s go up to my suite.”
I jerk away from him. “I’m not going anywhere with you ever again. I’m done with you.”
He grabs my arm again, harder this time, and looks down his nose at me. “You’re done when I say you are and not a moment sooner.”
Crew takes a step forward, but his bandmates hold him back.
I painfully pull my arm free. “Screw you, Adam. I don’t care who the hell you are. Nobody treats me this way. I don’t care what Aimee and your other sluts do, but I’m finished being your doormat.” I turn to the roadies. “Kudos for keeping his man-whoring under wraps for so long. Does he pay you extra for that?”
Most of them look away but Reckless Alibi is ready to come to my rescue if Adam doesn’t back down.
“Do you even know what you’re doing?” Adam asks with an air of superiority. “Nobody tosses me to the curb. I’m Adam bloody Stuart.”
“No, you’re an asshole.”
I walk away, and he laughs. Laughs.
I struggle not to cry, managing to make it around the corner before the tears fall.
I hear footsteps behind me, and whirl around. “Get the hell away from me!” It’s Reckless Alibi. “Sorry. I thought it was him.” I sit on the curb and wipe my eyes. “How could I have been so stupid? I was a fool to think he was faithful to me.”
Liam sits next to me. “You’re nice and beautiful and have the voice of an angel. Fuck him, Bria. And fuck White Poison. Come sing with us.”
“No offense, but I’m the backup singer for one of the hottest bands in the world. I’m not sure I could be a backup singer for anyone else, plus there’s the Europe tour.”
He touches my shoulder. “Do you really think you’ll be included after what just happened?”
Like a punch to the gut, I realize what I’ve done. I wasn’t thinking of the consequences. I let my emotions get the best of me. Why couldn’t I have kept my mouth shut and quietly dumped him? Of course I’m not going to be invited on the Europe tour. I publicly shamed Adam Stuart.