Page 85 of Serenade Me

Chapter Twenty-eight

Marius

“Hey, Hails,” I say, as I hold the door open for her as we all enter the bar after the next night’s concert.

“Yeah?”

“When are we gonna get a day off already?”

“Oh, that’s easy. Let me check the diary… er, here it is. Never. That’s when.” She grins and winks at Anca who giggles.

“The hell. I’m tired, dude. Look at my fingers, they’re being worn down into little stumps!”

“Hmmm, you sure it’s because of your performing, because the thin walls between our beds on the tour bus tell me otherwise.” Sebastian says, face scrunched up into a ball.

“You’re just jealous. Cos your ball and finger stumperer is not here,” I throw back at him.

“Excuse me, what did you call me?” Says a female voice we didn’t expect.

“CADENCE!” We all yell, turning around to see her standing there, a bottle of tequila in each hand.

“What the hell?” Sebastian growls and runs up to his fiancée, pulling her into his arms and giving her a kiss that threatens to never end.

Brad makes a shrill dog whistle as I run up to her, pulling her out of Sebastian’s hold and give her a big hug. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed having her around until I saw her standing there.

“Hey, babe! Let me take a look atcha!” She says, pinching my cheeks before giving me a big hug. “You look good,” she whispers into my ear. “I can’t wait to hear all about what’s going on, but not here.” She pulls away and ruffles my hair before turning back to her scowling husband.

“Why didn’t you tell us you were coming?” Seb grumbles.

“What would I do that for? What if I found some other hotter musician on my way and didn’t end up getting here. Then you’d be waiting for me for nothin’”

“Oh, in that case, then I have nothing to worry about.”

“Oh no?” Cadence winks at us.

“No, how are you going to find a hotter musician than me?” Sebastian preens.

“Well, I dunno… Jez looks like he’s been working out…” She winks at him.

“I have! Thanks for noticing…I think I have a 7th ab now,” Jez says as he pats his stomach.

“And Marius has those gorgeous eyes and biceps from playing the viola,” Cadence continues to muse.

“Thanks! I grew them myself,” I say, flexing my arms and fluttering my eyelashes. Anca tries to muffle a laugh, burying her face in my shoulder.

“Wait. What?!” Sebastian exclaims. “I’m way hotter than any of them! And I have a French accent…”

“Yeah, and probably a French man’s hygiene habit too!” I yell out, enjoying the banter.

“Harumph. And here I thought you came to visit because you missed me,” Seb whines and wanders over to the bar shooting his fiancée a hurt look.

We all dissolve into a pit of giggles for moment before Cadence sighs and shrugs. “Better go comfort the big hot musical baby. Don’t have fun without me!” She runs over and jumps on Sebastian’s lap and it’s not long before they’re attached at the mouth again.

“I love her!” Anca loud whispers into my ear.

“Yeah, she’s great. In fact, it was in a bar just like this, that she convinced me to come over and talk to you,” I say, pulling her against me, burying my face in her hair and taking a deep breath. I can never get enough of her scent.

She wriggles and runs her fingers up and down my back making me sigh. “Oh, so we have her to thank then?”