Page 18 (2/2)
"I had to discuss soht It’s an LA band; I know the lead singer He says we can come in the back way, separate frouards can do their thing You guys up for it?"
I nod at MiShaun, and she says, "Sure, we’re in"
"Cool We’re oes on around ten" He druet back to… whatever you were discussing"
Chapter 21
REID
"Party of seven for Alexander" The hostess glances up, her expressioninto the wide-eyed look I’m used to outside of LA or NYC You’d think celebrities are is, the way people react when they see us in public Like aliens have landed, or Jesus has risen My presence alone would have been enough for her, but the addition of whoever else she recognizes in the group renders her incapable of unstuttered speech Brooke, MiShaun, Quinton, Tadd, Jenna and E for the ride Grahaht, and I’m just so bummed about that Not
I’ between Erazes here and there--my hand at the small of her back fro to the table My arhs pressing against each other inter dinner If things go as planned, she won’t have to wait for the movie release to be fa up with Paparazzi Gossip rags and Internet sites She’s going to have to get used to this--the way that people knoho I am, and because of that, they think they knowyou, all on a whim
When we arrive at the club, we use the band entrance Walt offered, rather than walk through the crowd The hallways in the back are a crah by the e, where we can sit and watch without being recognized or pestered Bob and Jeff hover nearby
I love my fans, but I wish they’d fade off occasionally and let me live my life I escort Emma to the front spot near the wall The way the chairs are arranged, there’s no one behind us and no one in front of us of us--it’s private as possible Quinton is next to et My arm is propped across the back of Emma’s chair as the war, so there’s not a lot of talking In between sets, Euitarist when I was hanging out with Walt in LA The other guys, no"
"Cool," she says
The athered in front of the stage jostle for position in front of hi in one place He plays the whole audience, and everyone’s into it The floor pulses with bass notes, sending waves of vibration up through lance at E"
"I know, right?" My handthe ers slide through her hair at the base of her neck and thethe brim ofher head against h us and the weird sense of privacy provided by the smoky darkness and a few hundred people all focused elsewhere, I kiss her There’s no script, no fil we’ve done on caraphed for shadows and ca a scene I slide ue across hers and deepen the kiss until I can taste her hesitationinto et back to the hotel, I deliver her to her roo like the kiss during the show--despite the pleasantly evil ideas of everything I’d like to do to her pounding through my head
My friend John will be in town tomorrow--he says he’s alanted to visit Texas and he’s bored as hell in LA That’s John Too oing out withfor him--it’s like he’s famous, too, and he loves it Guess he needs another hit
Tadd and I talked earlier today about going south for a couple of days to go tubing on the Guadalupe river Disappearing for a couple of days would be a good idea, because this is how girls like Eh attention to let them know they’re on your hty, and she’ll be ready to go by Saturday
I think I , I keep blushing for no apparent reason--every tiuys in the last two days I still haven’t heard froood luck with fil, and they showed up early to stand just outside the barricades surrounding the house But he isn’t fil today, so all but the most tenacious of the the set this afternoon, and when their taxi arrives, there’s renewed excite the dozen or so fans until they exit Chloe’s outfit today consists of skintight lowrise jeans, wedge heels, and a low-hanging peasant blouse that would look h school And I don’t o outside to authorize theh set security, a couple of the fans holler, "Emma!" I turn and wave, surprised they knoho I am
The afternoon’s schedule consistsTim Warner and Leslie Neale as Lizbeth’s parents, a fact that sends Chloe into insufferable enthusias the interaction they’ll be file fan since she was a little girl Tiasted, and Leslie stares at Chloe for a , "Thank you dear, and who are you?"