Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27923 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27923 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
CHAPTER 3
Kaye
“Thank you, Baltimore. It’s been a blast. We are Lifeless Lies!”
She looks the same but different. Her hair is shorter and no longer has the strips of hot pink. She went through the wringer for that pink hair. Her father called her a harlot, saying that she was tampering with God’s creation.
Lifeless Lies sound good. No, not good. That doesn’t do them justice. The band is enigmatic and differs vastly from most current bands. They have this soul base under their rock sound. Cain was right; the drummer is exceptional. Shiraz was electric over a decade ago, but now she’s a force. The bass player and lead guitarist play well together, so cohesive and in sync. The band has it. Lifeless Lies are going to be huge. I hate that I’m forced to watch the lead singer and ignore the yearning inside me.
“They’re great,” Billie shouts beside me, hooting and hollering with the crowd as the band plays their last number. “Like, superb. Cain’s over there shaking in his boots cause he thinks Shiraz is better than him.”
I glance over at the guys huddled by the side of the stage. “Cain’s got nothing to worry about. Shiraz is amazing, but Blaze came in at number five for the best rock and roll band drummers of all time.” I’m not lying about Cain. The man has more talent in his pinky than most bands combined. Cain Foster is still the best I’ve ever heard.
Billie laughs nervously. “It’s amusing how imposter syndrome still gets him, isn’t it? You’d never believe the great Cain Foster would have a second of doubt about his abilities.”
I wrap my arms around her and sway to the music, but my focus is on Piper. My entire body is aware of her in the same space as me, and my mind races, knowing I’ll eventually come face-to-face with her. I’m so anxious that I don’t realize I’m holding my breath as Lifeless Lies completes their last song. Piper thanks the crowd and exits on the opposite side of the stage from where I’m standing with Billie.
Billie and I cheer as Cain takes the stage. The drumbeat is somber before it increases in tempo, and he’s joined by Marley's classical rock flare on the keyboard. I thought the guys were crazy to write their latest albums without a bass player, but Marley surpassed everyone’s expectations. He deserves the label of the Mozart of Rock 'n Roll.
Then Iggy comes in with his distinguished guitar riffs, followed by Lars’ deep and haunting voice.
“It never gets old watching them on that stage, does it?”
Billie beams. “It sure doesn’t.”
I lean toward her. “I’m so relieved when Lars and Cain don’t fuck on stage.”
Billie giggles. “They don’t do it that often.”
I raise my eyebrow. I swear Lars and Cain have increased their onstage antics since they got back with Billie. Their fucking on stage has become a trademark move for the band. In cities where nothing sexual happens, fan forums are flooded with disgruntled comments.
“I’m gonna go to the green room,” I yell.
Billie nods. “Okay.”
I usually steer clear of the green room because the bands hang out there before and after the show. From what I’ve read about Lifeless Lies, they prefer their tour bus after their sets, so I’ll get at least an hour of peace before the guys finish their set and flood the space to eat and drink.
I grab the cool steel of the handle and slowly push the door open. The oxygen is sucked from the air, and my heart races. My hands are cold and clammy, my vision blurs, and I can’t focus on anything but her.
Piper’s eyes are shut, head resting against the wall. Her long fingers dig into the hair of the blonde girl with her breasts exposed, her gold tank top bunched around her smooth bare back.
I should head backstage, to the safety of Billie and the guys—my family. But the woman riding the face of the pretty blonde was my family too. The family I longed for my entire adult life.
My gaze moves from Piper’s long legs to her face, and that’s when it happens—her pretty blue eyes open and land on mine. And she smiles.
CHAPTER 4
Piper
The blonde chick begged to go down on me. I didn’t even fuckin’ want it. I never want it. But warm bodies and soft tongues are good for forgetting, even if only for a few seconds. So I make the little slut fall on her knees and crawl to the wall where I’m standing. She puts on a show, too, preening as the band hoots and hollers. The only one who doesn’t humiliate her is Shiraz. She shakes her head and looks away as if pained by the image.
I’m not a shell on stage. I don’t feel empty and miserable. On stage, I’m at home, but once the roar of the crowd dissipates and the adrenaline-high ebbs, the emptiness floods in.