“I sense you’re no longer in front of me,” she calls out.
The guys all laugh when she opens her eyes and smiles. “Wow! I’m getting this aura reading down pat.”
“Good work, Effa,” one of the other girls encourages her.
“Yes, good work reading his absence,” another affirms.
I look at Danger, who shakes his head and grunts.
Luke approaches the girls. “Hi, ladies,” he greets, enveloping them in his arms. He introduces the group to Recoil, “MeetCasey, Andrea, Alana, and Kristy, and of course, you have met Effa.” They all fawn over him briefly before wandering off in another direction, before we can say anything, seemingly having the attention span of a gnat.
Luke shrugs. “You said get who I could get, so I did. I’ve been working with them as well as you guys, and trust me, they have the talent. They may seem, well, odd, but their music is sound, Danger.”
“Odd?Odd, Luke? She’s talking about auras and waving her fingers through the air like a goddamn idiot from a children’s movie. She’s crazy or high. And, no offense, we don’t particularly want drugs on tour. I know that’s not very rock and roll, but drugs aren’t our style. And those girls are definitely smoking the wacky weed.”
“Okay, I’ll tell them, no drugs. But this is happening, Danger. Like it or not, those girls will pull in a bigger crowd. Trust me, I know what I’m doing. Not only will you have the girls who will throw themselves at you, but you’ll have the girls who are all about women’s empowerment. And if you’re seen as encouraging female equality, it will only be a good thing for Recoil, Danger. Accept it and embrace it because these girls are going on tour with you around Australia. And they’re doing the conference with you right now.”
“Luke, I’m all for gender equality and shit, you know that. But fucking hell, hippies? Really?”
I grab his hand and turn him to face me. “Danger, this is a good thing. The publicity the girls will bring in can only be favorable. Having an all-boys and all-girls band together on tour will bring a lot of hype. Just take a breath and think of the band,” I tell him.
He puffs out air through his mouth and runs his fingers through his slicked-back hair. “Fuck!”
Chapter Eighteen
DANGER
Dammit! Luminous completely stole the spotlight at the conference.
The reporters were hanging on to their every word.
All it’s done is dredge up the lingering feelings of Recoil playing second fiddle once again.
This is supposed to beourheadline tour, yet somehow, we felt more like the supporting act at the press conference than the main attraction.
It infuriated me.
Made my blood boil.
If there’s one thing Idon’tneed to be reminded of, it’s how Recoil always played second fiddle to Ella’s band, Staked. We were constantly in the shadow of Staked, never able to shine on our own. Because of Ella’s father, Colt, Staked always had the upper hand, with everything bigger and better than us.
It made everything so fucking frustrating. She had everything handed to her—record deals, headline tours, albums—everything dished up like it was nothing. But Recoil, we had to fight and work our asses off just to be heard through the noise of everyone else.
It was hard, and at the time, I essentially gave up the fight for Recoil. Ella had it all, including me, so I gave up everything just to follow her, to be around her.
To be a part of her limelight.
But that mindset was stupid.
I should have never left the band.
I should never have left the States.
I should never have given up everything to propose and live with Ella.
That was my biggest mistake.
Being around Staked but not making my own music tore at the very fabric of my soul. Every. Damn. Day. Eating at me like a relentless beast, it slowly consumed my passion and identity, leaving me feeling lost.
