Page 37

“Yeah, totally.” Too awesome.

“Hey?” She rubbed her tummy. “I’m really not feeling well. Can you excuse me? I desperately need the bathroom.”

“Go for it.”

The moment Gena left, I stepped in behind the mixer. The software controlling the lights and monitoring the channel inputs filled the two screens. Reaching for the buttons, my fingers tingled. My pulse jumped. And this time it wasn’t from being in the same room as Lewis. It was the tech. The magic this equipment controlled. The show it could create.

Oh yeah.

Gena came back into the room a few minutes later, paler than before. She tapped Flint and Cole on the arm and drew them over to stand a few feet away from me. “Guys. I’m sorry. I’m not well. I need to go back to the hotel.”

“Yeah, okay.” Flint rubbed the back of his sweaty hair. “Don’t worry about it. You need a doctor or something?”

“No. I’m sure this curry just needs to pass through me.” She winced, clutching her belly.

Cole jerked his head toward me. “You want Tia to go with you?”

“No.” Gena winced. “No one needs to be around what’s coming out of my ass.”

“Okay. Go.” Cole grabbed her a bottle of water from his bag. “Get some rest. I’ll have our driver take you to the hotel. He’s just outside.” He grabbed his cell phone from his jeans pocket, swiped the screen, and shot off a text. “I’ll call you later to make sure you’re okay.”

“Thanks.” Gena grabbed her purse from beside the desk. “You’re an angel.”

“I know.” Cole threw her a smug, friendly grin. “Now get out of here.”

Falcon called out to the guys. “Can we hear ‘Fallen For You’ again? Can you play the slower version you did in the studio the other day, and then the fast one you just played?”

“Yep.” Cole turned to me; a challenge flashed in his eyes. “Would you like to manage the mixer for us? Or should I get Kyle to do it?”

My breath hitched. Wow! Cole trusted me in front of Ashlem? My gaze jumped from Cole, to the huge mixer, and back again. I could do this. I wanted to do this. “I’d love to.” I think. “Maybe have Kyle on standby.”

“I’ll let him know. But I’m sure you’ll be fine.” Cole squeezed my arm, then walked backward toward Kyle and pointed at me. “Love you. Watch out for feedback if Slip jumps around too much.”

“Will do.” My heart raced as I ran my fingers over the channel faders, effects dials, and the equalization and gain knobs. I scanned the software on the monitor that manipulated the effects and angles of the stage lights. There was no preprogrammed show running; they were just set to ‘auto’ to flash with the beat. Easy.

The guys replayed the track—first, the slower version, then the fast, vibrant take. The second feedback came through Slip’s amp, I turned down the gain, then I upped the volume on Flint’s mic; he needed to be heard. Lewis’s bass sounded better with a little more reverb.

At the end of the song, everyone at the back of the room clapped.

“Yes.” Blake pumped his fist.

Excitement flared in Falcon’s eyes as he stabbed his fingers at the guys. “That faster version is without a doubt your first single. You guys are gonna be bigger than Cold Play. And we’re gonna make it happen.”

The Ashlem team nodded with money-filled grins on their faces.

The band rushed together near Flint’s mic and hugged.

“Fuck yeah. We’re ready to do this,” Slip hollered.

Lewis joined in the celebrations, but reservation flickered in his eyes. I guess he was still on the outer edge, not knowing if his future was with them or not.

“Um, Flint? Can I have a quick word?” Blake called out to him.

The smile slipped from Flint’s face and was replaced by a worried frown. He dashed over to Blake and huddled by the far window. Cole and Slip were asked to join him after a few minutes.

As Everhide and the people from Ashlem congregated in small groups, talking about photoshoots and video clip meetings, promotional schedules and venue bookings, I gravitated toward Lewis and Sutton, who were talking to Hayden.

“What’s going on?” I asked Lewis.