Back-Up (27 page)

“We were in Detroit and there was an after party in a hotel near the arena.
We met some girls at the bar who were in town on business. After a few drinks, they invited us up to their room.” He sees my discomfort and shakes his head. “It wasn’t like that. They convinced us to play strip poker.”

From the kitchen, Hunter mumbles, “You two are such dicks.”

“Oh come on Hunter, did you honestly think this story wasn’t going to come up eventually?”

Jack looks at Trey nodding in agreement and continues. “So we are losing our asses to these girls, except for Trey. They hustled us. We lost every single piece of clothing we were wearing. Thankfully they had mercy on us, and let us keep our underwear.” Trey chokes out a laugh again.

“Oh my
God
.” I say getting a visual.

Jack nods. “They kicked us out.
I had nothing on but my underwear. Trey lost one shoe. Scott had on…” He bursts into a laughing fit and can’t finish his statement. Meanwhile, Scott curses their antics and gets up to join Hunter in the kitchen.

Jack composes himself and
blurts out, “Scott had on Sponge Bob boxers!” 

“They were the only clean pair I had.” He is still flushing beet red. “I love Sponge Bob.”

I almost pee my pants.

Jack
takes a deep breath and wipes his eyes before continuing. “Wait…it gets better. Unfortunately Hunt decided to go commando that night.”

“Oh no…” I look
at Hunter who is clearly reliving that experience in his mind. He looks mortified.  “Poor Hunter.”

“We had to walk through the hotel lobby, and there was a wedding going on.” Trey loses it, and his entire body
begins to shake uncontrollably.

“To make matters worse, MACE
was still in the bar hanging out at the after party. We never saw Hunter run so fast in our lives.”

Hunter curses them out again. Ignoring
him, Jack continues, “Someone got a picture of Hunter running through the lobby, and made a ton of copies. The next day our tour bus was plastered with them. Let me tell you, his ass was
very
pale.”

Trey falls off the couch, I’m bent in half holding my stomach, Jack is on the floor shaking, and Scott even starts
in until Hunter slugs him in the arm.

H
e looks at Jack like he is trying to be angry and fires back, “Sure, laugh at my expense. Trey was fully clothed and you looked like a friggin’ Calvin Klein underwear model.”

Wow,
I just got another visual, and a hot flash.

“I never leave home without my Calvin’s.”

“I’m sorry Hunter. That must have been traumatizing for you.” I try very hard to gain my composure, yet fail miserably. Biting my lip barely helps.

He looks at me shaking his head. “You have no idea. It was freezing out and a long run to the bus.”

It doesn’t help matters when Jack offers to pay for a spray tan session for Hunter’s ass or when Trey starts singing, “Who lives in a pineapple under the sea.” Fifteen minutes pass before we finally calm down.

During the course of the night they proceed to tell more stories, but none are as funny as the strip poker story.

After the boys attack the rest of Scott’s pesto pasta salad, as well as every last brownie, we head up to the roof to watch some fireworks. I really am having a great time and am disappointed that it’s already past ten. Jack stands so close that I could feel the warmth of his skin. The familiar sensations take hold once again, and I responsibly decide it is time to go.

“I should get going.”

He nods somberly and admits, “I feel bad you have to drive all the way to Hoboken. I probably should have told you to pack a bag. Why don’t you stay and leave tomorrow?”

My heart skips a beat at th
e thought of staying here with him overnight. “I’ll be fine. Thanks guys, I really had fun today.” Trey and Scott both wave, and Hunter comes over to give me a hug.

“I’m sorry I laughed at you.” I
confess.

He shakes his head.
“I’m used to it. Drive safe. I’ll see you tomorrow. And I meant what I said earlier.”

“I know. Th
anks.”

Jack says, “I’ll walk you out.”

He walks me to my car and opens the door for me.

“I really did have a great time. Thanks for including me.”

“Of course we would include you. You are one of us now.” His expression becomes serious. “Let me drive you home. I’ll take a cab back.”

“Jack,
don’t be ridiculous.”

“It’s late.”

“And?”

“Leila.”

Here comes the possessive, dominant Jack who surfaced when I was sick. I would like nothing more than to have him drive me home and stay with me all night. My brain quickly takes control of the situation, reminding me that I don’t have hairy legs, mismatched pajamas or Nyquil numbness as a deterrent. I can’t allow him near my bedroom or me tonight. I’m all fired up and horny as hell from all the clenching, fluttering and heart stopping that occurred today.

“I’ll call you as soon as I get home. I promise.”

“Are you ok to drive? Are you sleepy?”

“Nope.
I’m totally awake.”

“Fine. Don’t forget to call me
or I’m driving to Hoboken.”

Smiling at his threat, I nod
. “I will. I promise.” He bends and kisses me lightly on the cheek, leaving a tingling sensation from the touch of his lips.

I quickly get into the car, putting much needed distance between
Jack’s lips and me. My emotions are swirling inside me like a whirlpool as I drive off.  I’m happy I finally feel like a true member of Devil’s Lair. I’m excited for the tour that’s a few weeks away. But mostly I’m scared that these past few weeks haven’t lessened my feelings for him at all.

Not. At. All.

***

I am dying to talk to Evan. It’s been a few days since they got home from the competition and a brief phone call and a few texts were all I got to let me know they did fantastic. I need details. I’m glad he has had this distraction from what’s happening with his personal life.

Our schedules have prevented us from hanging out and catching up. Today is Sunday, and he said
he was coming by my place early. Then he wants to join dad and me at brunch. I’m very nervous about this. Not that I think Evan would pull anything, but I love these two men very much and it hurts me that they aren’t on good terms right now.

I’ve had a few conversations with dad since that fateful day. He told me
that there were many times when he wanted to tell Evan the truth, especially after mom died. However, he thought if he revealed the truth and Barb still took him away, it would hurt Evan and my mom unnecessarily. It took many years for dad to build a friendship back with Barb. He resented her for what she did although he began to understand it over time.

The day Evan and I became friend’s dad felt it was God’s way of sending a message. When it was clear we were getting closer and closer, dad and Barb actually had a sit down. I’m not sure Evan is going to be happy with this information. I told dad
that he might not want to share that with him.

My
doorbell jolts me out of my thoughts.

Evan walks into my apartment looking happy and carefree. “Hey sis, I missed you.” He has taken to calling me sis, which tells me he is more comfortable with our situation.

“Hey. You look good. Are you ok?”

“Yep,
I’m great.”

I grab his hand and drag him to the couch. “Tell me everything.” I
plop down beside him.

“It was so awesome
, Lei.” He proceeds to tell me every single detail of the competition, the crowd, and the great job Lori did in getting them seen and noticed by some of the local radio deejays. She had a bunch of CD’s made and handed them out to record producers. The best part was they came in third place out of ten bands. Third place at their first competition, I am so proud of them. “Hey, I didn’t mean to upset you. We missed you Leila. It would have been even more perfect if you were there.”

“I know.
Things do happen for a reason Ev. If I didn’t get the job with DL it wouldn’t have caused the chain of events that got you to the competition.”

“DL?”
He questions and I shrug. “You’re right. You’re always so smart.”

“I
know.”

“Humble as shit, too.”

“I hate to bring this up but we have to go.” 

He nods.

“Did the competition help you forget what happened?”

“Yes, and no. I’ve done a lot of thinking. It is what it is, an
d I’ve gained more than I lost.”

“I’m so proud of you.”

“Don’t be so proud yet. I’m not ready to forgive her.”

“Evan,
she needs you.”

“And I’ll be there for her. But it still hurts when I remember her lies.” He runs his hand through
his hair. “Hell, my name shouldn’t even be Evan Miller. Evan Miller never existed.”

He’s right.

He has a lot mottling up the possibility of forgiving Barb right now. He needs to work through this his way.

We reluctantly set off for brunch with Dad.

As we sit and wait for my dad to arrive, Evan fidgets manically.  I don’t say much and leave him with his thoughts. He keeps fiddling with his silverware and glancing towards the door.

My dad finally arrives and looks like he’s aged since I last saw him. My heart goes out to him, as this must be so hard for him as well.

He kisses the top of my head and pats Evan on the back.

Evan doesn’t beat around the bush and comes right out with it. “I don’t forgive what she
or you did, but I’m slowly beginning to understand your reasoning.” He pauses while my dad simply nods.

“I’ve already spoken to my mother. I told her I
would be there for her during her treatments and her recovery process. I love her. I am grateful to you for also being there for her. As far as our relationship goes, I hope we can get back to the point we were at. I loved you like a father and I think that I still do, but I can’t just pick up where we left off. Not yet, at least.”

Dad’s eyes well up with tears
and he nods again. He looks over to me, and I feel my heart breaking for him. Evan follows his glance as well. “The only part of this whole mess that I am completely at peace with is the fact I gained Lei as a sister.”

  The tears that have been threatening all morning finally spill from my eyes. I know
Evan will get to a better place because it’s just the kind of person he is. I hope he can rebuild his trust and his love for dad. We all just have to give him his time.

***

Time has taken a speed pill, and flies by without showing me any mercy. Tonight is my last official performance with Cliffhangers and that chapter of my life is now closing. It’s extremely bitter sweet for me. I will miss the guys, the bar, and the girls all terribly. Things are changing not only for me, but for my former band mates as well. We are all growing up.

I spend a little extra time on my hair
, make-up, and outfit. I want to relish in every moment of tonight. Even my drive over to The Zone has me reminiscing of all the times I’ve taken this route while battling with the nervous butterflies I always got before performing.  I’ll be taking these memories with me and pulling them out when I’m missing everyone so much.

The Zone parking lot is almost full, and there are only a few spots left. I know ton
ight we will have a huge crowd but it’s still fairly early. All our regulars know that it’s my farewell show and many have promised to be here for me to say goodbye. Why are they here so early?

I also wonder
why Ace isn’t on his usual perch. I approach the doors and notice it’s unusually quiet inside the bar. Just as I pull open the door it occurs to me why.

Oh crap…but it’s too late to run.

“SURPRISE!”

The bar is jammed and every single person in it is facing the door, every pair of eyes looking at me.

Someone is going to pay for this. 

Mortified doesn’t begin to describe what I’m feeling, as I am passed from person to person. Some I know
, others, I have no clue who they are, and a few hug me a little too intimately.  I now know how Jack felt at his party. I never had one thrown for me, and I remember thinking that night I wouldn’t ever want one. My friends mean well, and I’m going to have to grin and bear it. I wanted a nice quiet send off, maybe having a drink or two after the show with all my best buds, but they obviously have other plans for me.

Above the stage is a huge banner that reads:

LEILA MARINO once sang here
.

Shaking my head and frowning, I walk over to my friends who are standing near the bar waiting for me. Jack, Trey, Hunter and Amanda, Scott and Patti are all congregated with my former band mates
. Even the girls, Ace, Kelly, and Nina are here.  I’m stunned into silence.