“Yeah.”
“Perfect. I’ll have Gunther bring in croissants or something, so we can have breakfast.”
“Sounds good.”
“Okay, bye guys!”
The line went dead, and the four musicians stayed there in silence for a few seconds.
“What do you think it is?” Leah asked.
“An Asian tour!” Chris shouted.
“Yeah, keep fucking dreaming.” Erik snorted. “We still have a long way to go before that happens.”
“Eh, who knows?” Marc said. “At the end of last year we didn’t think we would make it to the final round of the Burn to Rise festival. And now, not only have we traveled to the States, but we’re going to New Zealand and Australia in a month, and to South America in January.”
“Fuck, that’s a lot more than we’d ever dreamed of.” Leah grinned. “I’m so fucking pumped!” She squeezed Marc’s knee.
“Me too!” Chris got up. “I know it’s late, but ugh!” He grabbed the neck of his guitar, lifted it, and slid its strap over his shoulder. “Shall we?”
“Fuck yeah!” Erik said.
Stringed instruments were tuned.
Drumheads were loosened and tightened.
Leah stretched her back and neck.
The four musicians put on their earplugs, and soon, with a kick of the bass drum followed by a growl, the room was filled with the savagery of their own particular sound.
“No,butseriously,youguys overdid it with this trip,” Erik said.
“Nuh-huh.” Leah shook her head. “You deserved it. I know how much of a pain in the ass it is being away from your partner, and it’d been two entire months for you. Besides, it was good not having to do two jobs for some time.”
The drummer faked being offended, a palm on his chest. “Are you saying I’m the one to blame?”
“Yes, and no. I mean, with no drummer… There was no purpose in rehearsing.” Leah grinned before taking a sip of her beer. “But I’m glad you’re back. I kinda missed you.”
“Julia missed you, too.”
“And you didn’t? You bastard.”
“I love you,” Erik started, putting an arm around her shoulders. “But, dude, I’ve been seeing your face way too much over the past few months.”
“Mark my words,” Leah said, pinching his side. “Sleep with one eye open during the Kiwi-Aussie tour.”
“Is that a threat?”
“It’s a promise.”
“Would offering you another beer free me from such a curse?”
“Hmm… Maybe.”
“Said and done!”
As they walked away, cackling like idiots, Marc sighed, a smile plastered on his face.
