“No, Ivy,” Cole said, shaking his head. “You’re not an adult in any way, shape, or form. You’re two weeks away from turning eighteen, and until then, I’m responsible for you. I won’t leave you on your own like this again.”
Apparently, it was too much to ask.
* * *
I was startingto realize that Jamie’s kiss—the whole thirty seconds of it—may have been enough to spell disaster for the rest of my time here. I was more pissed about that than the kiss itself. Cole didn’t leave my side all night, except for when they played their set, and even then, I watched from backstage with Ran a few feet away. Cole had asked him to shadow me, and the only person who hated it more than me was Ran himself. I’d overheard him complaining to a roadie when he thought I couldn’t hear.
After their set, we went right back to the tour bus, so I had no idea how Ritual Disruption’s show went with Jamie and his bloody nose. When I asked Ran if they ended up playing, he said yes and didn’t elaborate.
Life on the bus was crammed with the five guys, Ran, and I using seven of the eight bunk beds. Cole complimented my small baggage, but the pleasure I had anticipated at feeling his praise didn’t come. I was too concerned he was going to be watching my every move for the rest of the two weeks.
At breakfast, as we drove to San Francisco for the show that night, I felt awkward once again. The guys talked in quiet tones and looked tired, seeming at odds with the up-and-coming rock stars I had expected to be surrounded by. After we finished our food, cereal, and eggs, I pulled Cole aside and asked him if the guys were acting differently because of me.
“What do you mean?” my brother asked, seeming genuinely confused. “What did you expect us to act like?”
“You just seem…I don’t know. Too mellow.”
Cole laughed. “Ives, we’re exhausted between shows. We’ve been touring for over a month now. This is how it goes. We get to the venue around noon, spend hours doing soundcheck, then go for dinner before coming back to the venue around eight. We perform, stick around for a few drinks afterwards, and crash while the bus takes us to our next city. The only thing different today is that we actually got up to have breakfast with you. Usually, we’d just ask the driver to stop at a McDonalds when we woke up.”
I flushed, feeling guilty for assuming the worst when in reality the guys had given up a few hours of sleep to eat with me. No wonder they seemed so tired.
“Sorry,” I grumbled. “I guess I was expecting something different from life on the tour bus.”
Cole grinned and ruffled my hair. “First and foremost, we’re here to put on the best show of our lives every single night. But don’t worry, you’ll see some of the glamorous parts soon enough. There’ll be a few parties in the evenings, we just try not to get too sucked into that scene.” His expression darkened. “You saw Jamie last night. That’s what happens when someone succumbs to living up to the whole rock-star stereotype. It can lead you down a very bad path.”
“Why doesn’t he get any help?” I asked tentatively. I couldn’t believe the guys of Bleeding Moonlight would ever let one of their own get that bad. Why weren’t Jamie’s bandmates sending him to rehab?
Cole ran his hand through his hair and rolled his eyes. “Apparently, he’s a nightmare. His bandmate Oliver has been trying to get him into a clinic for months, but Jamie refuses to go. And the label… Well, they’re happy as long as he keeps playing shows.”
“Maybe there’s something we can do to help?” I asked. Despite what had happened, a part of me pitied the singer. To me, it seemed obvious that he was in trouble.
Cole shook his head. “You’re sweet for thinking that, but what I’ve learned over the past few years in the industry is that it’s better to keep your nose out of other bands’ business. Ritual Disruption are superstars, and even on tour, they’ve largely kept their distance from us. They wouldn’t appreciate us trying to get involved in any of their shit.”
“Are they jerks?” I asked, trying to understand the dynamic between the bands. I wanted to be prepared the next time I crossed paths with anyone from Ritual Disruption.
“They’re fine. They just keep to themselves,” Cole explained. “Oliver is a nice guy, but I think he’s too busy trying to keep the band on track and manage Jamie’s destructive outbursts. Their bassist and drummer are touring musicians, so they’re pretty down to earth. I’m sure you’ll meet some of them tonight.”
“What’s happening tonight?”
Cole’s face broke out into another grin. “We’re going to a club after the show. If you promise to stay close to me, I’ll get you in.”
My eyes widened. He could get me in despite me being underage?
Cole read the question on my face and winked. “Hey, being with the band has its advantages. You’ll be on the list, like the rest of us. They never check the IDs of those on the list.”
Zoey and Sophie were going to freak out when I told them.
“I’m not going to tell you not to drink,” Cole continued, “but if word gets out that an underage girl got plastered at our party, I’ll be in trouble. You gotta keep your head on straight. Can I trust you on that?”
I was a light-weight. Our parents were relaxed around alcohol, but since I generally stayed away from parties, I hadn’t had any opportunities to build a tolerance.
I nodded. “Fine. I probably won’t drink at all.”
Cole smiled and pulled me in for a hug. “It’s good to have you here, Ives. I’ve missed you. I really hope this adventure lives up to your expectations.”
As I pressed my cheek against his chest, I was starting to feel optimistic that it would.
* * *
