Page 4 of Finding Storm

I flip him off, and he just laughs.

“Greenroom. Now. There’s pussy waiting to be signed.”

That raises my brow. “Signed?”

“Sorry.” Cash grins. “I meant, fucked.”

Both Raze and I laugh before getting to our feet and following him out into the hall.

The three of us walk into the greenroom, which is already filled, mostly with men I do know—roadies, producers, and the like. And women I don’t know.

Levi is already here. He hands me a beer as I approach.

Cash is off, already beelining for some Asian-looking chick who’s sitting on one of the sofas. I’m guessing she was his earlier distraction.

She’ll last for the night, and then he’ll move on to the next.

Like we all will.

Raze is talking to one of our sound guys.

“Good show,” Levi says to me. His words don’t sound like a question because, unlike Raze, Levi doesn’t probe. He’s just chill. The most laid-back motherfucker I’ve ever met.

“Yeah. Good show,” I say to him.

I take a swig of my beer and let my eyes drift over the room.

One table filled with food. Another littered with booze. There’ll be drugs here too, just not on show.

Music playing in the background. Women here, hoping to hook up with one of us.

Same shit. Different night.

Yawn.

Shit. If fifteen-year-old me could hear me now, he’d probably punch me in the nuts.

And I’d deserve it.

Maybe I was right earlier. Maybe I am burned out.

Maybe I just need a break. From everything.

I go to my pocket for my cigarettes and remember that I left them in the other room.

For fuck’s sake.

“Just gonna head back to the dressing room. Left my smokes in there,” I tell Cash.

Taking my beer with me, I walk back, taking my time. I’m in no rush.

Pushing open the dressing room door, I cross the room and grab the pack and my lighter off the table.

I take one out and light it up, inhaling the smoke. I pocket the pack and lighter.

When I turn around, bottle still in hand, I’m only half-surprised to see a girl in the doorway.

Well, when I say girl, I mean, woman. I’d say she’s about my age.