When the food arrived, we all dug in with gusto.
“Are we going out again tonight?” I asked, already thinking of the next time I’d be able to see Oliver.
“Don’t think so,” Ezra answered. “We’re driving to Phoenix straight after the show, and then we’ll have a day off tomorrow once we’re there. Not sure if something’s been planned for then.”
Disappointment washed over me. Oliver said I’d know where to find him if I ever wanted company, but I couldn’t very well come knocking on their tour bus. I should have given him my phone number, but then again, he hadn’t asked.
We finished our brunch and boarded the bus to drive to the venue. It was a warm day in Oakland, and I sat by a window, looking out on the streets and the people milling about.
Cole sat down across from me in the kitchen nook. “Hey, Ives, you sure you’re okay? I feel bad for ditching you last night.”
I shrugged. “It’s fine.” A second passed before I added, “Abel told me about your ‘road wife’. Who is she?”
Cole’s cheeks reddened. “It’s all very fresh. I don’t know how long it will last.”
Wow. He wasn’t even sure about her, and yet that’s all it took for him to forget about me. I crossed my arms. “Tell me something about her.”
He rubbed at his chest. “Okay. Well, her name is Amy. We met a few shows ago—she’s a big fan. She’s a lot of fun, and she’s beautiful. I’m enjoying getting to know her.”
There was something sweetly hopeful in his expression, and it melted some of my irritation away. He wasn’t just having fun. He was falling for her. Hard. I knew, because I was pretty sure I’d worn that expression all throughout brunch.
“That’s good,” I said, giving him a smile. “Well, maybe I’ll get a chance to meet her.”
“Yeah, that’d be cool. Hey, I almost forgot,” he said. “Do you want to go shopping or something while we get set up? There’s a bunch of stores in the neighborhood around the venue.”
“Sure.” I could use the opportunity to stretch my feet and maybe buy a few things.
Cole grinned. “Cool. I’ll ask Ran to go with you.”
For the love of God. I stood up from the table. “Cole, it’s the middle of the day on a Sunday. I’ll be fine. Doesn’t Ran have a job outside of babysitting me?”
“I do actually,” Ran’s voice sounded from down the hall. Good to know he’d been eavesdropping on our conversation. “I need to deal with some business at the booking office.”
“Ah, sorry, man,” Cole called out and rubbed the back of his neck. “I shouldn’t assume you’re available. You sure you’ll be okay on your own, Ives?”
“Positive,” I grit out. Cole’s concern for my safety was starting to feel like an act, since it only extended to times when it was convenient for him.
4
The bus parkedin front of a large terracotta-colored building with the words “Fox Oakland”spelled out on an enormous neon sign. At its center was a tall dome, embellished with colorful stained glass and patterned tiles. It looked like something you’d see in Morocco rather than Oakland, California.
“Wow,” I said as we stepped off the bus. “Cool spot.”
Abel came to stand beside me. “The Fox Theater. This place is legendary. And the inside is even more impressive.”
“I’m going to walk around the area for a bit, but I’ll be back in a few hours,” I told him, checking my purse again to make sure I had my phone, wallet, and the all-access pass. “I’ll see you later.”
He nodded and waved goodbye. As nice as the guys had been so far, I still didn’t feel completely at ease around them. They were so…larger than life. I never idolized my brother or his band from afar, but now that I was living side by side with them, their stardom was front and center. I was just Ivy, but they wereCole, Abel, Charlie, Ezra, Silas. Their names rolled off their fans’ tongues, longing and admiration and something unattainable folded into the syllables.
I didn’t secretly fantasize about being famous or anything like that. I knew that this kind of life came with big sacrifices, and that my brother and his bandmates had worked really hard to get to where they were. But how amazing must it feel to be loved and admired by so many people? It was something I’d never find out for myself.
I strolled through downtown Oakland with Ritual Disruption’s second album blasting through my headphones. Tall palm trees lined the sidewalks. College students wearing Berkeley T-shirts streamed by me, laughing and enjoying the beautiful day. I popped inside a few stores and bought some clothes, all courtesy of Cole’s credit card.
A store display with sunglasses caught my eye, and I stopped to look. I must have stood too close to the door, because the sensor went off, and the two glass panes slid open.
Oliver stood inside, his back to me.
My heart rate spiked, and my palms immediately grew clammy. I wiped them on my jeans, torn between going inside and running away. Why hadn’t I put more effort into my appearance this morning? I’d only slicked on a bit of eyeliner and blush before getting off the bus, anticipating that I’d get ready properly after I returned.
