She giggles again—fucking hell, that sound—and I breathe in deep as her eyes drop to my bare chest.
“Mercs,” she repeats, the name rolling off her tongue like it was made to be said slowly. “Sounds expensive. Like a fast car.”
I grin, tilting my head. “Nah, nothing like that. Last name’s Mercury. Nothing fancy there.”
Her eyes light up, and she bounces on her toes. “Oh my, are you related to Freddy? Please tell me you are. He’s a lyrical genius, a melodic mastermind, a gifted god… oh, praise Gaia, please tell me it’s true?” She grabs my other hand with both of hers, eyes wide and sparkling like a hopeful fan girl.
I wince slightly, already feeling guilty about disappointing her. “Sorry, no relation. But I do love “Bohemian Rhapsody.””
She gasps. “Oh man, me too. That and “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton. Oh, Gaia, that song gets me every time.”
I laugh, unable to help myself. Those songs couldn’t be more opposite if they tried. Shaking my head, I glance down and realize our hands are still connected.
She notices too, and chuckles, rubbing her thumb over my skin. The motion sends another sharp tingle up my arm.
“Your skin is really smooth for a roadie. Do you moisturize?”
I laugh again.What the hell is with this chick?“Uhh… no. Just my natural, umm… softness?” The last word comes out higher than I meant, and I immediately want to take it back.
Effa tilts her head and brings my hand up to her cheek, placing my palm flat against her skin. Her face is warm, slightly flushed, and soft. There’s barely any makeup on her, if any at all. She’s effortlessly stunning, and I tense, completely thrown. I glance around to see if anyone’s watching, but there’s no one. When I turn back, her eyes are closed, that same soft smile stretching across her face as she holds my hand against her cheek with both of hers.
“Umm…” I murmur as she sways gently, like she’s in a trance.
“Shhh… I’m feeling your energy.”
I freeze, my muscles locking tight.
What in the fuck kind of world have I stepped into?
I’m pretty sure I am beingPunk’d.
Ashton, you can come out now.
“My energy…” I whisper, half-afraid to speak louder in case it ruins whatever the hell this is.
“Yes. You have a calm energy, but right now, you’re very tense. And there’s a nervousness about you… like there’s a big problem weighing you down.”
My brows pinch together because her words hit a little too close to home. She’s spot-on, and I have no idea how.
Startled, I pull back, my hand dropping from her face as our fingers finally part.
She opens her eyes and gives me a soft, apologetic smile. “It’s okay, I know I’m eerily accurate about these things.”
I take a full step back and breathe out. “How can you tell all that… from me touching your face?”
She half-smiles, her brightness dimming just slightly. “I can sense things. I’m in tune with the world and its energy. Some say it’s hippy shit. Some say I have psychic abilities. I don’t really know, I call it my gift. Gaia gave it to me. It helps me sing, helps me connect with people through music.”
I stare at her, still skeptical. “Can you read minds and shit?”
She bursts into laughter so hard she doubles over, holding her stomach as her giraffe hoodie flops over her face. It’s ridiculous and honestly, a little adorable.
I tilt my stance, annoyed, and as if sensing it, she straightens up, still chuckling but now catching her breath.
“Oh, Mercs, you kill me. No. No one can read minds. That’s parlor tricks. I don’t have ESPN or whatever it’s called.”
I press my lips together to hide my smirk.
“I’m just me… Effa. Lead singer ofLuminous. And you…” She steps forward again, gazing up at me. “You are our savior. Thank you for fixing us. I can’t wait for you to make our stage shows far more like… betterer. Or, something like that.”
