Meet Me Backstage

11. We're Going to Be Friends

A/N: Oops! I just realized I never published Tuesday's update, so I'm posting two today. Thanks for your patience! Chapters 11 & 12 comin' at ya now!

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JACKS

I walk off stage and grab a towel to wipe the sweat off my face. I'm glad I wore black because it gets hot under those stage lights and it's now stuck to my skin with sweat. I feel sticky and gross but I'm still riding that post-show high.

"Wooo!" Sticks hollers, grabbing a towel of his own to dry his damp hair. "Vegas, man! Fuck! That was a good crowd."

"Yeah," I reply, wiping my neck and downing water from a plastic bottle. "That was fun."

We walk back to the green room and I unbutton my shirt and sling it over a chair.

"Ah, good idea," he says, lifting his tank over his head and throwing it into his gig bag. "I gotta show off the goods for when Skye comes back."

He hasn't stopped throwing winks and comments her way since sound check earlier. I know he's just doing it to get under my skin, but damn, it's working.

"Okay, okay!" I let out an exasperated huff. "I get it. Now stop."

"Get what?" He sits on the couch opposite me and smirks, not-so-subtly flexing his muscles as he leans back.

"You're just doing this to piss me off."

"Doing what?"

"Flirting with Skye. Cut it out."

"Well now," he says, leaning forward with a sly smile. "Why ever would that piss you off?"

I narrow my eyes at him and press my lips together.

"You know why."

"Haven't the slightest." He laughs and grabs a bottle of water from the table. "But I suppose if you wanted me to stop, you'd have to give me a good-ass reason."

"She's my employee, isn't that enough of a reason?"

"Bullshit. I flirt with Kay all the time."

"Kaylani can handle your crap."

"And Skye can't?"

"She... I... It's not that... uggghh." I drop my head into my hands.

A couple of other band members walk in and start talking amongst themselves.

Sticks moves to the chair closest to me and leans over.

"Why can't you just admit you like her?"

"She's engaged. You know that."

"So? It's just a fuckin' crush. It's not like you're planning on stealing her away from her fiancé and whisking her away to be on tour with you forever." He laughs then takes a sip of water, but his smile fades as his eyes meet mine. He must notice something in my expression that I've been trying very hard to conceal. With a gag, he spews water from the rim of the bottle and begins coughing and choking. I pat his back a few times until he regains his breath.

"You..." he says, clearing his throat again, "you're not serious. Shit."

"I didn't say anything."

"You said enough." He shakes his head side to side. "I was just fucking around a bit with you, buddy. I'll stop."

"Thanks."

"You coming out with us tonight? Hitting the fucking strip, layin' out all night?"

"No thanks. That's not for me. Besides, drinking isn't good for my voice."