Fireflies will be playing for another hour, so I walk to the quiet rooms backstage with Andi. Cami and the girls have been on tour with us before, so they’re well versed in how to play up to the crowd. I don’t normally leave my room before a show so I can conserve my energy, but I couldn’t miss Andi’s first big performance.
“You know, we’re actually giving them three brand new songs tonight. They’ll be all over the Internet by midnight,” I say as we walk into the green room.
“The songs go live on all digital media outlets at ten o’clock tonight,” Katelyn says. “The buzz from the audience will drive sales through the roof.”
“I didn’t know we were releasing so soon,” I say, pinning Katelyn with mywhat-the-helllook.
“The president of the label made the decision twenty minutes ago. You weren’t back here for me to tell you,” she says while throwing a sideways glare at me.
“I’m surprised you weren’t out there watching the newest talent onstage.”
“I can see her just fine from the monitors back here.” She points to the flat screen TVs that are currently muted.
“There’s nothing like seeing the show live,” I retort.
“Wow,” Andi interjects. “This is such a letdown from what I thought rock stars did backstage.” She looks around the room, her eyes stopping at each member of the band before she continues. “Where are all the groupies, drugs, and alcohol? Where are all the wild parties with naked people running amok? Has no one taught you what’s expected from real rock stars?”
The humor dances in her beautiful eyes, but she maintains a straight face. I quickly scan the other guys and have to turn around before I burst out laughing and ruin her gag. They don’t know whether to believe she’s being serious or joking. Katelyn has a disgusted look on her face and opens her mouth to belittle Andi when she catches my stare. Slightly shaking my head at her, I wordlessly warn her to keep her mouth shut.
“But,” Drew starts pensively, “Travis said no strangers on the bus. So we can’t.”
“Rock stars should also be rebels,” Andi chides him. “Do you always follow the rules?”
Drew thinks about her question for a minute before answering. “Yeah, I guess I do,” he says, the realization of his un-rock-star-like conformity hitting him.
“Andi, I’m shocked and appalled at you,” Kale chimes in. I think he’s on to her.
“Not as much as I am at you,” she replies with disapproval. “Here I thought I’d have some juicy stories to tell my grandkids about how I survived the Sound Bar’sGiving Fate a Hand Tour. I guess I’ll have to make up a few now.”
Mike, Drew, and Kale narrow their eyes at me, finally picking up on my lack of interaction in this conversation. Andi turns to look at me and starts laughing. “Sorry, guys. I couldn’t help it. I actually did wonder if that kind of stuff still happened, but it makes sense that you keep access limited.”
“The wild parties would actually be a liability to the label and to our contract. Plus, we’ve been at this a long time, and that’s just not our scene anymore. No doubt we had enough of all of that when we started out, but this is much more of a business to us now than it was back then,” I clarify.
“Well, that, and since you date the most beautiful models, actresses, and singers in the world, you don’t really need groupies anymore,” Andi points out.
“There’s that, too.” Kale smirks.
“So, what do you normally do before a show?” she asks, sincerely interested.
“Just this,” Drew answers with a shrug. “We chill out while the other acts play, and then bust our asses while we’re onstage to give everyone a good show.”
“And after the show?” she asks.
“That’s when the fun starts, Andi. And tonight is your full initiation into the group. Let’s see if you can hang with us,” Kale challenges.
“Yeah, we have plans for you, little girl.” Mike weighs in.
Andi’s expression turns playful. “Oh, I can definitely hang with the Grandpa Quartet. Bring your A-game, boys.”
All the guys respond at the same time, eating up the challenge and loving her spunk. They were positive she’d be much too reserved to hang with us. They thought they’d have to be careful what they said around her or they’d offend her delicate sensibilities. Not a damn one of the dickheads would listen when I told them she’s cool as shit.
“What if we take you to a strip club?” Mike asks, thinking he has her cornered.
“What if I take you to an all-male revue?” she counters and effectively shuts him down.
“Umm, no. I don’t want to see that shit,” Mike replies and scrunches his face up as the thought sinks in.
Andi laughs at him. “Mike, you’d be in a room with a bunch of women instead of a room with a bunch of men.”
