She left us to it. Me gawping at my own stupidity; Rona looking stunned to be getting asked for selfies.
“I’m such a dick. I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t be. It’s unusual for us because it’s always you people come up to.”
“You’re too kind. We’re backstage at your gig. I think that is the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.”
“Old habits, my love. That’s all. They can change.”
“You’re good to me.”
“So do you want to stay for a drink with Nell or go home?”
“It’s up to you.”
“No, I don’t mind, what do you want?”
“I think we should stay and hang out with our friends and celebrate you.”
Rona smiled from ear to ear. “Thanks, Lily.”
We hung out with Nell and Vee at the VIP bar overlooking the now empty venue. Miraculously, the venue staff had cleared up the floors so you couldn’t see a single spot of rubbish dropped. There was some background music on at the little bar. Nell and Vee had just done a shot of tequila. Rona and I had declined and were instead slowly sipping beer. I had a zero percent alcohol version because I was driving.
“Wheeesh,” Nell said. She exhaled, holding her solar plexus. “I think I might be getting too old for these.”
Vee agreed. “We both are.”
“Never again,” Nell said. “Anyway, I’m still buzzing from the show, Rona, this has been one of the best weeks of my life. It felt so good to be part of this with you. Cheers, mate.”
“Couldn’t have done it without you, dude.”
“Did you see all those people queuing to get in at the beginning?” Vee said.
Rona and Nell shook their heads.
“It went away around the side of the building. People were trying to get tickets on the door too. I don’t think the venue was big enough. That was the vibe I was picking up from the crowd. You might need to book a bigger venue next time.”
Rona’s jaw dropped slightly. I knew that queues around the corner and bigger venues scared her. She wasn’t quite there yet with how comfortable she felt, but she was trying, and I respected her so much for that. Her nerves this weekhad threatened to take over more than once. She’d tried to keep it quiet from Nell so as not to affect her. It seemed like Rona was waiting for something really bad to happen, kind of like what she must have experienced all those years ago when she was inSculpt.
“Yeah, maybe so.” Rona raised her eyebrows and took a sip of beer.
“Something to think about. Nothing to worry about for now,” Nell said, glancing hesitantly from Rona to me.
Maybe Rona hadn’t been doing as great a job at hiding her nerves from Nell as she’d thought. I was grateful Rona had Nell to steady her through this new venture into being a solo artist. Rona was billed as her own name, simply asRona, no surname. But she wasn’t alone. She had Nell and she got support from people in the industry she’d met over the years. Some of whom had been helping her out this week with organising the tour and carting her equipment around. I didn’t know them well yet but I wanted to. Everyone in Rona’s life seemed so cool and interesting, even the people she had more loose connections with. I loved everything about Rona’s world and could live in it quite happily for the rest of my life.
After Nell and Vee left, we finished our drinks and sat in silence for a bit. I checked my phone and there was a photo from Sophie of all the girls celebrating together in the club. I smiled at the photo, feeling so proud of them and what they did today.
“What are you reading?” Rona asked.
“This,” I turned my phone around to show her the photo.
“Aw, they look like they’re having fun. What an amazing thing for them to achieve.”
“What a day all round. Everyone in my life is smashing it and I couldn’t be happier.”
Rona smiled and yawned, discreetly, by turning around and looking the other way.
“You tired, my love?”
