“Downtown at Maple and Front.” I nodded. “How much traveling will we be doing?”
“We’ll stay in each city for a few days, but we’ll be on the road for weeks at a time. I assume the travel is okay with you?”
“Yes! Yes, of course. I’m totally cool with traveling.” I got a little car sick sometimes, but there was no way I was telling Deena that.
“I think we’ve covered everything important. If you have any questions, ask. I’d rather you ask than do something wrong and have to fix your mistake. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that sending the wrong post at the wrong time could be a PR disaster.”
I shoved the phone and tablet in my purse. The tablet barely fit. It was one of those huge, laptop-sized ones, not a mini version. I’d have to buy a new bag before tomorrow.
Deena stood up and adjusted her headset, tilting her head, eyes unfocused as if listening to something. “Okay, rehearsal’s over. Time to meet the band.”
I let out a small whimper. Deena paused and gave me a reassuring smile.
“Nervous?”
“Just a little.”
“Don’t worry, the guys are cool. They’re not popular enough to have inflated egos—yet. Well, except for Kell.” Deena let out a small, exasperated sigh. “He’s always had a big head.”
I stifled a laugh. That was exactly what the rumors said. Typical frontman.
Deena took me to a closed, unmarked door, knocking twice before entering. The scene inside should have been casual, laid back, with clothes and bags thrown everywhere. The people I found inside made sure I felt anythingbutlaid back.
The members of Feral Silence lounged on sofas and armchairs. The drummer Morris and the bassist Ren shared a sofa, each with a bottle of water in their hand. Morris wore the same clothes he’d worn on stage, but Ren had taken off his suit jacket and was sitting in his black pants and white shirt. The tie was off, and the first few buttons of the collar were undone. Much more casual than I usually saw on stage.
Kell slouched in an armchair, flipping through a stack of papers, running shoes propped up on a coffee table. I took a covert look around, but didn’t see Jayce.
“Guys, this is Aimee Lee. Oh, sorry.” Deena glanced at me. “You prefer Ailey, right?”
“Either is fine.” They could call me Oscar, and I’d be only too pleased to hear it from their lips.
“She’s our new social media coordinator.”
“Awesome, the internet girl!” Kell grinned, setting the papers on the arm of the chair. His million-watt smile eased some of my fears. Kell seemed just as friendly offstage as he did in interviews. Morris and Ren raised their bottles of water in greeting.
“Welcome aboard the crazy train,” Ren said. His long black hair was pulled back in a ponytail. Morris silently nodded his head. He had a reputation for being the quiet, scary one. He didn’t seem scary to me, just large. Very large. He was even beefier up close and in person. I was glad he was sitting down because I was sure he would tower over all five-feet-four-inches of me.
“I look forward to working with you all.” I was happy to hear my voice was steady.
“Ailey’s going to be the one following you around like a little shadow, so treat her nice. None of your stupid pranks, or she’ll post pictures of you asleep with your bedhead and drool.”
“Just so you know, I sleep naked.” Kell winked.
“What did I just say about teasing the intern?”
A voice behind me spoke up. “You’rethe intern?”
Jayce stood in the doorway, brows furrowed.
I froze as he stared at me, no trace of that heat I’d seen in his eyes before. Instead, his full lips turned down in a slight frown. He looked on edge, as if something were itching under his skin.
“It’s bad enough having camera crews in our face all day,” he continued.
Despite that moment we’d had, I needed him to know I was going to be a professional. I gathered myself together, wanting to exude an air of calm and sincerity, not fangirl exuberance.
“I’ll try not to get in your way,” I said. “You won’t even notice I’m here.”
Jayce raised an eyebrow in surprise, as if he hadn’t expected me to talk back. “And what about snapping photos of us when we think we’re alone?”
