Page 16 of Just Wait

I mean, she’s untrained, but she has raw talent.

“I’ll repeat my question,” Kincaid whispers, sounding every bit the dick I know he is. “What the fuck are you doing?”

“Just listen,” I tell him, keeping my voice low. “We’ve been trying to figure out what that special sauce is in Tangled Desires’ songs.” I nod toward the stage. “I think she’s it.”

“What are you saying?” Kincaid asks.

“I think she’s the magic.” I’m really not sure how he’s not picking up what I’m putting down. “If she’s writing music for them, and they’re blowing up…”

He really should be getting what I’m saying.

Not only would it be fucking spectacular to have someone who could help us craft music, I want to spend more time getting to know her.

And smelling her.

Which is weird, but life is weird.

“You can’t just steal another band’s songwriter,” Kincaid says softly.

I grimace. “She’s not only making music for them. She’s also dating Tangled Desires’ lead singer…”

He curses under his breath, grabbing my arm and dragging me toward the door.

Well, damn.

I should have kept that last tidbit of information to myself, but it’s too late to do anything about it now.

I’m getting real fucking sick of Kincaid lecturing me about staying away from Lumen. He didn’t even know her name before I told him.

He cost me an opportunity to talk to her alone when he straight-up dragged my ass out of the practice area to berate me up one side and down the other about not hooking up with another musician’s girlfriend.

No amount of assuring him that I’m not going to cause problems would get him to shut up, and it’s left me in a shit mood as we get ready to take the stage.

They’ve got me in leather pants that are so tight I didn’t even bother trying to wear my boxer briefs, a cutoff tank top that shows four or more inches of my lower stomach, and so many bracelets and cuffs that my forearms definitely won’t be cold.

I can’t wait for the next venue.

This place sends us out as soon as Tangled Desires exits the stage, but this is normally when the techs and set designers would be swapping out for our gear.

The drums are too expansive to change out, so Tangled Desires’ drummer is using Riser’s kit, and he wasn’t amused when he heard. The rest of us lucked out because our instruments are more portable.

Our pyrotechnics and special effects have been in place since before they took the stage, but I guess the audience probably doesn’t notice.

During our last tour, we had aerial performers that hung on poles, hoops, and silks. They wore these blinking LED lights, and the effect was magical.

I actually miss it, but Benji, our manager, said we’d have them back for a few shows around Halloween. Apparently the performers are headlining their own aerial show, so the label couldn’t sign them for this entire tour.

Having them doing flips and spins above our heads was a hell of a lot more enjoyable than the pyrotechnics. The special effects are hot, and we sweat like crazy no matter what the temperature is outside the venue. Not to mention how obnoxious the smoke gets at times.

It’s way more chaotic to have us going on as soon as the opening act comes off stage, and once I’m strapped into my guitar, I seek out Lumen.

She’s all alone, and it seems like a good idea to check on her.

The security team has done a solid job of keeping the fans with backstage access out of our way, but they’ve never trapped her over with the others.

I frown hardcore as one of the massive security guys stands in front of Lumen. He raises an arm, blocking the side closest to the stage, and it seems like he’s trying to push her into standing with the fans.

I slide between Riser and Kincaid, holding my guitar to my chest.