Page 50 of More Than Scars
“Shit!” Bowie ripped the covers off us and hurriedly dressed. I hadn’t so much as gotten out of bed before he was out the door. As band manager, presentation was everything, so I had to be a lot more put together than he did.
I dressed, did a quick face wash and hair combing, and joined the guys in the common area. There they stood, two of Masterson’s metal gods, Derek Masters, lead singer of Maiden Voyage, and Ryder Hampton, their lead guitarist. Bowie, Tony, Tibby, and Claude were all smiles, engaging with the metal gods.
“You must be Pressley,” Derek said as I emerged. “Derek Masters. Nice to meet you. We wanted to come by and personally welcome your band to the family.”
“We appreciate that and any advice you have as well.” Fuck, was I fanboying?Buckle up, Pressley, because this is your life now.
And what a wonderful life it had become.
We talked for a few minutes before my phone went off, security alerting me my presence was required at the gate. “Excuse me, gentlemen. I have business to attend to.” Fizzbo, Masterson’s head of security, met me at the golf carts.
“You must be Pressley.” We both knew who the other was without meeting, having been briefed on the inner workings at Masterson, pictures included, though they did nothing to alert me of how truly formidable this man was.
“Yes, and you must be Fizzbo.” He nodded. “I take it you’re my escort.”
“I am, and I’ve been briefed on our mission.”
Mission. This guy was way too serious. I smiled. “Yes, let’s go pick them up.” We boarded one of the large carts that would hold six to eight passengers. We were only picking up three, but better to be safe than sorry.
When we arrived, Fizzbo parked and hopped out. “Stay here for a moment, please.” I wasn’t about to argue, just watched as he talked to the gate security guards. I waved to what I believed was Bowie’s family, given he was the spitting image of the two men standing with an absolutely breathtaking woman.
Fizzbo waved me forward, and as soon as his family came through the metal detector, I introduced myself. “Hello, I’m so glad you could make it. I’m Pressley Darren, Imminent Danger’s band manager.”
“And our son’s boyfriend,” his mother smiled. “I’m Lindsay James, and this is my husband, Ben, and my brother-in-law, Ray.” Thankfully Ben had a full beard, but Ray only sported a mustache, or there would be no way to tell them apart. After quick introductions, we boarded the cart. Thankfully Fizzbo was driving because it was utter madness getting through the throngs of bands, and this wasn’t even the day the megastars were playing, so those buses hadn’t arrived.
When we pulled up to our pod of buses, most of the guys had funneled out of the bus to gather in the opening between the Masterson buses, where someone had set up a firepit. “Can’t say I expected to see that,” I said without thinking.
“It’s kinda my thing,” Derek replied. “Fireside chats and songwriting.”
“Totally makes sense.” Tony spotted Bowie’s family and ran over to them, hugging everyone.
“Where’s Bowie?” Lindsay asked him.
“Inel baño.”
She went inside the bus, and a hush filled the air as we all waited to see what would happen.Bang, bang, bang,she pounded on what I guessed was the bathroom door. “Boy, your time is up, so you better get out of there before I come in.” Tony snickered beside me.
“Mom?” We heard through the open bus door, a few seconds later I heard Bowie say. “Mom, I can’t believe you’re really here.” Both were wiping their eyes as they joined us. “Dad!” Bowie ran straight for Ben, and they hugged each other tight then he and Ray hugged.
“You have that handsome man of yours to thank for this,” Lindsay said as she winked at me.
Bowie jogged over, firmly gripped my cheeks, and planted a big kiss on my lips to the hoots, hollers, and whistles of his Masterson band brothers. “Thank you. You have no idea how much it means to me to have them here.”
“I’m glad I was able to pull it off. James family, that bus is yours while you’re here.” I waved to the one parked beside us. “Courtesy of Easton and Diamond.” They sent it out for Bowie’s family to stay in since they couldn’t make it out. “It’s their personal bus, so it likely has all the possible bells and whistles.”
“And then some,” Stoli said as he walked up. Bowie’s family was in awe as they bounced from principal to principal, as Fizzbo called all the band members.
“You just sealed the forever deal,” Tony smiled wide as he walked up beside me. “Bowie is super close with his family, and he was totally bumming they couldn’t be here.”
“I figured as much. I’m just so proud of him, and I know they are too, and I wanted to do something special for him.”
“That you did, and more. They’ve really been the only family I have too. My old man is a piece of shit, but the Jameses always treated me like a son.”
“That’s because you are.” Lindsay kissed his cheek. “I can’t believe how insane this place is.” Fizzbo had a couple of his guards bring over their luggageand set it inside their bus. “You guys really did well, and it sounds like we have you to thank for dragging Bowie to the audition, Tony.”
“That I did, but he landed his place in the band on his own,” Tony assured her. “Now, as far as wearing his hair back and smiling, you have Pressley to thank for that.”
“I just,” Lindsay paused and dabbed at her eyes. “Thank you, Pressley. Since the accident Bowie hasn’t been the same. While that’s not totally bad,” she grinned, “prior cockiness aside, I didn’t like him hiding himself away. He’s a beautiful boy, inside and out, and he shouldn’t be ashamed in any way.”