And there it was. Tanner’s cheeks turned more than a little pink as the tornado of all things Ashley swept right in and took hold of all the air in the room.
“I’ll get the sofa made up while you are at the concert.” Sam said, cutting off the invitation and guilt before it could be issued.
“I’d be good with that, but you’re gonna be at the concert with me, so I will do it when we get back.” Ashley bounced onto the sofa. “I also brought earplugs for you both.”
“Mach’s bus has bunk beds,” Tanner suggested. Probably because the doors on the bus were not-so-solid and he had created something of an after-concert routine with her that got a little… loud.
“Mach’s bus also has Hans and—” Ashley pulled her lips to the side. “I need some space to crack that nut.”
“I’m assuming you mean figuratively?” Sam asked, even though she could see Ashley on a mission was not one to give up.
Poor Hans.
“Either way.” Ashley pointed to Sam. “That’s what you’re wearing backstage?”
“I’m not going.”
“See, the thing is, I can’t go if you don’t go, and Ireallywant to go.”
Gah. Ashley was not going to let up on this.
“Fine.” Sam tossed up her hands. “I’ll go get dressed.” She headed to the bedroom. “I have to find something appropriate for a drummer’s girlfriend, but that also includes sunglasses and a hat.”
“You could go sweater with a hoodie?” Ashley called behind her.
“I don’t know.” Tanner dove in with his thoughts. “It’s pretty warm out. Better not to try too hard at incognito or they’ll look harder and hope to find Lady Gaga or somebody like that.”
“You know, it’s so much easier being myself with a group of elderly people who don’t know, don’t remember, or don’t care about Sami Jo. I can just wear my work clothes with them,” Sam said from behind the door.
“Dockers and a polo do not a happy life make,” Ashley said loud enough for Sam to hear.
To be clear, she didn’t have to be very loud because the thin door allowed each room to hear what was happening in the other. That’s why there couldn’t be any sexy post-concert time with Tanner unless everyone got super uncomfortable.
“I’ve never been backstage,” Ashley said. “It’s much easier to be myself when I am doing nifty new things that involve rock stars.”
“Nice,” Tanner said. “I approve of this tactic.”
“I’ll get her there,” Ashley assured.
Sam paused pulling the new shirt over her head. “I can hear you, you know.”
She quickly finished changing, pulled the lanyard with her backstage pass over her head, and opened the door to the living room. The midriff-baring top she’d selected was fire and she didn’t need a mirror to know her hips absolutely owned the jeans. Even so, she couldn’t shake the stomachache that always started when she even thought about going out there.
“Do you mind if we walk over with you?” Sam asked. She tried to keep her words steady, but they shook all the same.
“Yeah.” He held out his hand. “We’ll go together.”
Sam gripped his hand like he was her everything, and Ashley skip-hop-walked along on the other side as they headed toward the stadium.
“There’s always food backstage,” he assured Ashley. “All you can eat.”
“Yay,” Ashley said. “I knew Hans wouldn’t let me down.”
Things moved quickly backstage. Tanner deftly managed to slip away every single time the fashion police showed up. Mach, she noted, used the same maneuvers with them.
“You came,” Courtney said with an excited squee. She hurried to Sam. “You are going to love this.”
Ashley settled in with the wives, but Sam didn’t sit. She stood right at the edge of the stage, balanced on that precipice where she was still backstage but only one more step and she’d be in front of everyone.
