Chapter One
Axel
Theroarofthecrowd rings in my ears as I strike the final chord, my fingers aching from the nonstop shredding on the last song. Sweat drips down my back under the blistering stage lights. I glance to my support band who are all pumping fists in the air with huge grins on their faces. While I love performing, when I look out over the crowd through the haze of smoke, all I feel is relief—it’s over.
I barely process the thunderous applause as I unstrap my guitar and make a beeline for the wings. My pulse pounds as I brush past the outstretched hands grasping at me from the front of the stage. All I want is to get away from the suffocating mass of people screaming my name.
Finally, I escape backstage, away from the glaring lights, and take a deep breath. No more pressure from all those eyes on me. I head for my dressing room, avoiding eye contact with the crew. The show’s done, and so is my need to put on a performance. Now I just need some time alone to recharge before the next one.
Nigel is waiting for me in the dressing room. He claps me on the back. “Axel, my boy! Another amazing show tonight.”
I nod, grabbing a towel to mop the sweat from my face and neck. “Yeah, it was alright I guess.”
“Alright? It was a stellar show. You’ve made the die-hard fans happy. Now we just need to hope that ticket sales continue.” He crosses the room, dragging a hand through his short salt-and-pepper hair. There’s probably more salt in it now, given the crap he’s been dealing with lately. “The next two shows haven’t sold out.”
“There’s still time.” I toss the towel over the back of a chair. When I look up, Nigel’s smile is gone, his lips drawn in a straight line.
“Listen, we need to have a chat about this mess with Rick,” he says. “It’s reflecting badly on you.”
I tense, my gut twisting with guilt. My brother Rick’s latest screw-up has the media in a frenzy, and they’re out for my blood too. “I know. I never should have covered for him.”
Nigel huffs and sits at the small table. “Well, it’s too late for should-haves now. But not to worry, I have a plan.”
I grab a bottle of water and drop onto the seat opposite him. “Yeah. It’d better be good.”
“There’s this Pride Cruise leaving from Sydney in a couple of weeks. They’re looking for a headline act to join the lineup.”
“In two weeks? It’s a bit late to be organising it now, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know the details of how the original act fell through, but whatever happened, it’s our gain. It’s the ideal opportunity.”
“Perfect opportunity for what?” I take a swig from the bottle. “I’m not interested in a cruise, Nige.”
“I get that, but it’s the perfect chance for you to rebuild your reputation. We’ll donate your performance fee to LGBTQI+ charities, and your fans will be thrilled to have you on board. The press will eat it up. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great cause to support, but the good publicity makes it a win-win.”
“A cruise performance? I don’t know, Nige. You know how I get with the attention…” I trail off, already feeling queasy at the thought of being trapped on a ship with hundreds of fans.
He leans forward, obviously keen on the idea. “It’s not just about the publicity, Axel. This is a chance to get back to the music, away from the stadium tours and media circus. A return to your roots.”
I consider his words, tempted by the idea despite my hesitation. Maybe he’s right. Maybe this cruise thing is exactly what I need to repair the damage and remind people why I started making music in the first place.
“I guess one performance wouldn’t hurt.”
He grimaces. “Ah, about that.”
“Whaaat?”
“It’s actually a couple of performances.”
“So I have to, what, be on the cruise for a couple of nights?” I study Nigel who doesn’t say a word. I narrow my eyes. “Go on.”
“You’d actually take the whole cruise—”
“No.”
Nigel raises a hand. “Hold your horses. They want you to do a couple of intimate performances and then there’s a gala concert night towards the end. You’ll have some downtime in between. Think of it as a chance to let your hair down, get some rest and relaxation.”
I snort. Sure, lots of rest surrounded by partying people all out for a good time. “I’ll think it over.”
