Page 45 of Enough Isn’t Everything (Everything Trilogy #1)

Chapter Thirty-Two

GETTING STRONGER

Alfie was just a few feet away from me in the darkness. I couldn’t see him, but I felt his presence. I instinctively knew he was there, and I held my breath. The crowd fell silent… waiting.

I heard the drumsticks ticking, and knew the drummer was counting them in, then suddenly, vibrations from the bass pulsed and the sound of the guitars reverberated loudly.

The same vibrations rumbled across the floor and ran from my toes up and throughout my body as the noise boomed loudly from the huge amplifiers to the side of me.

Simultaneously, Alfie screamed out, “Hello Orlando! We’re so gonna rock the roof off tonight.

” The crowd screamed and roared again, their noise swelling louder in appreciation.

High pitched whistles and catcalls followed in unison as the band’s music blared from the massive speakers along the stage.

Alfie had so much energy, bouncing around playing the intro to their first song, and when he began to sing, the females in the crowd went wild with excitement.

The cacophony of the crowd was deafening between each song, but when they played and sang, the audience was right there with them. The lighting on stage was blinding and heat radiated down on the guys as they performed.

My feet continued to buzz under me with the vibrations of the bass’s rumble, and the music continued to boom. The relentless heat of the lights on stage made all of the guys glisten with sweat, and they were half naked in no time.

I certainly wasn’t one to complain, especially having a ringside seat to watch these guys.

Alfie sang a mixture of fast-paced heavy rock and slower ballads.

I was completely transfixed when he sang.

His voice was just so incredible. Even though I was hearing them for the first time, I could tell instantly that Crakt Soundzz had something very special, and they would definitely be going places.

Alfie sang one particular ballad, the music slow and haunting. He stood completely still, hugging the mic. His fingers flexed and re-gripped it every now and again. His eyes were closed as he lost himself in the words of the song. It was as if he were singing it to one person.

I looked away, breaking eye contact a couple of times, because it felt like I was intruding on intimate words to someone, especially when his face looked pained during some of the verses.

The complicated little riffs Drew played to accompany the song were pure inspiration and made the song sound more original and haunting. Near the end of the song, Alfie’s eyes opened, and his head tilted to the side in my direction.

They were sad and dull eyes, deliberately seeking me out as I stood in the wings. His gaze locked into mine as he sang the words, “If I can’t let myself love you, I need to let you go.”

Biting my lip in concentration as I listened, he broke the stare as he finished the line, his eyes flicking away toward the direction of the crowd before closing them again.

The crowd went berserk with emotion when he was done, and the band launched straight into a song about a guy fucking a girl to the beat of a rock song. I felt pretty sad after that, and if I hadn’t known better, it seemed a clear message to me to get the fuck away from him.

It frustrated me that Alfie couldn’t make a commitment to anyone, and I wondered if, like me, he was blocking himself from relationships because he had a bigger plan.

I had stopped myself from getting involved with anyone back home because I didn’t want to leave someone behind.

If I had fallen for someone, I might not have come here.

Seeing how he and his band played tonight made me think there might be something in that. I wonder if he had an inkling of how big his band might become and didn’t want the complication of leaving someone behind. If that’s the problem, what about the blonde girl?

There was no doubt about it though, these guys were mega-talented, natural rock stars, and their performance was flawless. I couldn’t believe that I knew this incredibly sexy and amazingly talented man personally.

Impressed, not just by just his looks, but his talent and charisma too, the crowd went wild. Alfie was grinning and every now and then would wink and point at a female in the crowd. I couldn’t help but feel kind of hurt by that, but I knew that was just his stage persona.

He was also drawing in new fans by introducing them to his music. Alfie didn’t owe me anything, I reminded myself. We were just friends. Technically, his pitch was perfect and the band’s music had substance. They would definitely be going places, especially with a front man like him.

Every number they played had a catchy hook, and the crowd seemed to know some of their stuff. It was contagious. This made me think they were more renowned than I’d assumed.

Suddenly, I felt that my music was very rudimentary in comparison to his genius.

To call Alfie a musician wouldn’t define him, although, that was what he was striving for.

He was much more than a musician. Very much an artiste, performing with originality of thought and his acting skills were as adept as his musical ability.

When they came off stage, Alfie was buzzing—bouncing up and down on his toes with excitement.

Someone threw him a towel and he wrapped it around his neck.

He was drenched in sweat after giving the crowd everything he had out there.

Grabbing my hand tightly, he smiled. “Let’s go.

” He led me down a long dark corridor and eventually, into an area with lots of people milling around.

There were some couches, big mirrors, a makeup chair with a dressing table in the corner, and a large buffet and drinks on a table that ran the length of the room. There were two young girls in black and white uniforms keeping it looking tidy and replenishing stuff.

Alfie turned to me, holding both my hands. “So… did you have a good time?”

I nodded. “You were all fabulous.” He smirked and looked bashful for a second.

“High praise indeed,” he teased. “I’m gonna have a couple of beers here with the band first, then we can go out front and watch the main band. Is that okay with you?”

Feeling relaxed, I agreed. “Sure, take your time, I’m fine.” I walked over and sat on one of the couches feeling a little awkward. Some guy came over and sat on the arm of the couch next to me.

“Well hi there, sweet cheeks.”

The guy looked like he needed a good bath. His hair was lank and greasy and his teeth were yellow. He flicked his hand through his hair, and the only thing I could concentrate on was his nicotine-stained fingers. He began to check me out, while scratching his crotch. He was gross.

When he’d finished his leering, he smiled at me, tucking his long hair behind his ears. It didn’t improve his look. “How’s it going?”

Thinking he was just being friendly, if a little lacking in his self-awareness and that he must be involved with Alfie and his band, I indulged him. “Yeah, great thanks, they were great, weren’t they?” I gestured with my head at Alfie’s band.

He licked his lips. “Yeah, they’re okay, for a warm-up. You want to come with me and meet the guys from Phoebe’s Fix?” I felt a little starstruck. I knew who they were, though I didn’t really know much about the band, since their music hadn’t made it into the mainstream over the pond in the UK yet.

I’d heard a lot of their stuff on the radio since coming to the US, but they could be sitting next to me, and I’d have no clue they were there, hence I’d not recognized him. I was flattered he wanted to do this for me, told Alfie I would wait here.

Then the man himself appeared. Alfie’s arm slipped around me, and suddenly he was kissing me hard on the lips. “Hey, Lily darlin’, quick, there’s someone I want you to meet.” Alfie addressed the guy, “Oh, sorry, man. Lily meet Harry, Harry… my girl Lily.”

Incensed at what Alfie had just done, I was about to protest, but he pulled me away sharply, trailing me through some people. He stood me back against a wall in the corner of the room holding my hands in front of him. “What the…”

“Shush.” He bent his head. “That rock star was preying on you, he wants to fuck you and they don’t like to be turned down.” Seeing my startled gaze, he smirked. “Harry’s the bass player in Phoebe’s Fix. He’s a crude bastard too. He fucks a girl and offers her to others as his sloppy seconds.”

I couldn’t help my reply. “That’s rich coming from you.” He stared at me.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

I looked incredulously at him. “Are you kidding me? Tell me if I’m wrong, but isn’t being fucked by a rock star when they take what they want without any emotion or consideration for the other person’s feelings like what you do?” I spat back at him.

Looking stunned at me, Alfie asked, “Is that what you think? It wasn’t like that and you know it.

We…” He gestured his finger between us. “We used each other, Lily. You knew what it was, and you begged me for it, I heard you.” My mouth dropped open to protest, but he snickered and began laughing at me.

I glanced over at Harry, his eyes still staring at us intently. “He’s still there,” I whispered, cringing as I looked past Alfie’s shoulder. Alfie was angry now and hissed at me.

“He probably thinks he can take you anyway, maybe I should just leave you to it.”

“No,” I snapped urgently, but with a pleading look.

He raised an eyebrow and slowly began stroking my hair tenderly, his eyes locked on mine.

It was hard to imagine that we were in the middle of an argument.

We were arguing, but his touch felt so tender and intimate, and maybe it looked that way to anyone observing us.

Paralyzed by his touch, my head was telling me to push him away. My body was screaming for more, much more. It felt too right to stop. Alfie laced my fingers in his and sensually lifted them, to lean on the wall above my head, his forehead on mine.