Page 56 of Just Wait

The irrational urge to kiss her washes over me from nowhere. It’s not easy to fight the pull, but I’m sure that would send her running off the bus.

Her scent is sneaky rather than cloying or overbearing.

I love it.

I want more time to get to know Lumen.

Jesus.

I’m just as bad off as Malcolm.

If she leaves, I’m going to spend weeks wondering if she’s okay. I guess that means we need to figure out how to convince her to stay a while longer.

We won’t be in our masks tonight, so it takes longer for hair and makeup to get us ready to step out onto the stage.

It sucks because I’m antsy and ready to get back to Lumen.

Malcolm invited her to come with us over to the wardrobe setup, but she said she’d chill and wait for us in the greenroom, which makes sense. The wardrobe area connects to our greenroom as well as Tangled Desires’. Although they’re out on stage at the moment, I’m guessing she doesn’t want to take any chances.

It helps that Benji is with her.

He might be annoyed by her very existence, but he won’t take it out on her.

He knows better.

All managers are replaceable, and he makes a killing off us. If nothing else, I trust his love of money to ensure he’ll treat her well.

The makeup lady loves to give me dark eyeliner, but luckily, she rarely tries to put me in foundation.

I hate that shit.

It never fails to make me break out.

She went to town on Mal tonight, though. He’s not just sporting dark liner, she blacked out his eyes from his eyebrows to his under eye. It gives a skeletal effect, and dark veins spill down his cheeks.

It’s actually sick as fuck.

Kincaid has guyliner, thick mascara, and what I think qualifies as black eye shadow. Together, they make his teal blue eyes pop even more than normal. Before I met him, I had no idea eyes could actually come in that color. I thought the only way to achieve them was by using contacts.

Parish and Tennyson are equally decked out, but they’re already dressed, lingering around near the door while talking among themselves.

Wardrobe got us into our outfits quickly tonight.

I’m mostly set, but I laugh as Malcolm struggles with the zipper on his leather pants.

“I swear to God,” he grumbles. “One of these days, I’m going to have a pubic hair disaster and fuck my junk up.”

“I’ve been telling you for the longest time,” Kincaid says, lacing his combat boots. “Get smart and buzz that shit.”

“It’ll also make your dick look bigger, and God knows you need it,” Tennyson chimes in.

“Fuck off,” Malcolm says incredulously. “Do I need to whip it out so we can have a measuring contest?”

I snort.

It was a battle to get myself into my skinny jeans, but I kept my boxer briefs on. Luckily, they never try to stick me in leather. I also don’t have to slide across the stage on my knees like Mal does, so that’s probably why I’m given a reprieve.

I have some sensory issues that make leather, microfiber, and velvet a fucking nightmare that I want no part of, but my preferences are listed in my wardrobe notes.