The beats hypnotize me as Ryan continues to strum the strings of his guitar like a master, his fingers dancing effortlessly across the frets. For some stupid reason, I giggle like a schoolgirl, drawing Lunar’s attention.
She looks at me, raising a brow. “Care to share what you’re giggling about?”
Well, that’s embarrassing.
I make something up. “Just remembered a funny thing that happened on the way here.” I’m uncomfortable that she heard me, but hopefully, she won’t think I’m losing it.
Lunar giggles and shifts her focus. “These guys are great. Actually, even Ry, once you get to know him. He’s helped me through some rough times, especially in the beginning with Danger. He’s caring under all that idiocy.”
“Sounds like you’re trying to sell him to me?”
She smiles. “Well, I know you coming in will have stepped on his toes, and he’s gonna be a baby about it, but give it back to him and believe in yourself. You’re here for a reason, Tillie, because you’re good at what you do. Don’t let him cause you to doubt your abilities.”
“Oh, I won’t, believe me. I am strong, and I won’t let him faze me, but I’m not here to cause trouble either.”
“Ha! Cause trouble, I say! Stir these boys up. They thrive on it.”
With that thought running through my mind, I turn my attention back to the band. They’re so good my arms are covered in goose bumps.
As I take them in, I’m glad Lunar is here to help me tame these bad-boy rockers because two strong women are far superior to one.
After listening to Recoil play a few more songs and overhearing Ryan talking to the band, I see him in a different light. He’s funny but vulnerable, hinting at past experiences that have shaped him. At times, his bandmates hang on his every word, and his intense passion for music is evident. There is a depth to him, a rawness that suggests he’s been through a lot, yet he channels that energy into driving the band. Despite his harshness toward me, there is an undeniable charisma abouthim, and it’s something I look forward to experiencing as we work together.
Once I’m able to gather myself together enough to function properly, I get out of fangirl Tillie mode and slip into PR Manager Tillie mode. Their sound has impressed me so much that I don’t want to delay sharing it with the world. So I log into the band’s Instagram page and start a live stream, showing them rehearsing.
Live streaming is available to anyone, and I figure it’s a chance for their fans and anyone who hasn’t seen them before to view them in their rawest form. It may be raw, but it’s fucking brilliant. They only get one song, just a tease, a sample, to whet their appetites, which will make them want more. This is an awesome way to entice fans to engage on their page and hopefully bring in new people who haven’t seen them perform.
Comments are coming in hot and fast. People are loving it, and Lunar is standing behind me, watching the comments and emojis flying across the screen.
When I look over my shoulder at her to gauge her reaction, she’s smiling widely. “Brilliant idea, Tillie,” she whispers in my ear.
I nod, keeping the camera rolling and focused on the guys. The song ends, and Oliver stands and starts talking, so I quickly end the feed and turn around to Lunar with a smirk.
“That went well. Will be interesting to see if the comments keep rolling in from people who play the video back later,” I say.
She pats my shoulder. “I never would have thought to do that. It’s such a good idea, Tillie. You are good at your job. The guys should be stoked!”
After I’m finished, I check their Instagram page, and it already has hundreds more likes than before the live stream. Knowing it’s been a success, I walk through to the studio to tell the guys with a smile on my face.
“I’m loving your new material. Keep up the good work, Danger. Your songwriting is evolving and improving,” Oliver says as I walk up to them.
Ryan looks at me like he’s annoyed by my mere presence.
“My writer’s block has officially gone since I was able to finish “Lunar Eclipse” and now the words flow easily,” Danger replies.
Ryan watches me pull up a stool next to Oliver. My skirt rides up my thighs slightly as I take a seat, and Ryan’s jaw clenches. I swallow hard, clenching my thighs, while my gaze stays on him, and I almost miss the way his eyes flick down to the movement before lifting back to mine.
“Right, Tillie, do you have anything to add?” Oliver asks, breaking my close watch on Ryan.
I look at him and nod. “Actually, yes. I did a live on your Insta while the band was playing, and over twelve thousand people joined the stream and were commenting.”
Danger, Matt, and Nate all widen their eyes, but Ryan huffs, folding his arms over his chest.
Taking a deep breath, I question him, “Not happy, Ryan?”
“Well, I would have liked to have known I was being streamedliveacross the world. Plus, 12K doesn’t sound like a lot to me. I don’t think you can class that as a successful PR stunt, Tillie.”
“Actually, Ryan, it’s a great number, considering your page likes are at 60K, and that’s from all over the world. But mostly, that 60K of likes is from fans in Australia, who, I might add, are currently in bed. So this 12K is the American and European audience you’ve broken into so far. So, now I have spelled it out, it doesn’t sound so bad, does it?”
