Saxon
When Tee didn’t message back last night, I assumed she fell asleep. I wonder who she went out with. At least she made it home safely.
Alone.
I f**king hope so anyway.
“Sax, we gotta head to the photo shoot,” Ryder yells from somewhere on the bus.
“Yeah, give me a minute!” I call out, patting my jeans to make sure I had my phone and wallet. I walk out, the other three standing there ready to go. “Let’s go.”
Kidd looks like he hasn’t slept, with a pale face and bags under his eyes. “What’s going on with you?”
He glances at me and scrubs a hand down his face. “Nothing bro, just tired.”
I call bullshit.
Kidd and I have a weird relationship. I wouldn’t exactly say that we are close, but at the same time we always have each other’s backs. He’s the only family I have, and that means something to me.
“How’s things with my baby cousin?” Ryder asks me on the way to the shoot.
“You’re a f**king gossip, you know that?” I reply in a dry tone.
He grins crookedly. “We have a nosy family, you should probably get used to that.”
To have Tee, I would put up with her overbearing family plus more.
Jet whistles. “Good luck with that.”
Kidd decides to add his input. “I remember when we were playing at Steele one night, and she threw her drink on that guy. That was f**king funny.”
My head spins to him. “What?”
I don’t remember that.
He chuckles. “Yeah. I don’t know what he said to her, but she was pissed. She threw her drink on him then picked up a pool cue and waved it around, threatening him.”
Ryder groans and scrubs a hand down his face. “Yeah, that sounds like her.”
It definitely does sound like her. My lip twitches.
Jet laughs, shaking his head. “You find it cute that she’s crazy? You have it bad, man.”
There was no point in trying to deny it.
Ryder stares at me, a thoughtful, almost searching look on his face. “Maybe you will be good for her after all.”
Looks like I get Ryder’s approval. Although not completely necessary, it definitely makes life easier. I wouldn’t want to jeopardise the band or cause any more drama.
Even though she would be worth it.
I pull my phone out of my pocket and send her a message.
Saxon- What are you wearing?
Tee- Granny underwear and a giraffe onesie.
Her reply makes me grin.
Saxon- Sounds sexy.
Tee- There is something seriously wrong with you.
Saxon- I miss you.
Tee- Groupies not keeping you busy?
Saxon- No groupies. Saving myself for a feisty lawyer with the body of a goddess.
Tee- My body is pretty damn phenomenal.
I shake my head in amusement at that. The phone beeps with another message from her.
Tee- But so is yours….
Saxon- Are you flirting with me?
Tee- If I was flirting with you, you’d know it.
“Saxon, we’re here,” Ryder says. I reluctantly pull my gaze away from my phone and slide it back in my pocket.
Time to do this photo shoot.
*****
Ryder tells me Tenielle doesn’t like flowers because they die. So I send her an edible bouquet of chocolates and strawberries. I think food is a safe bet with her.
“Saxon! Can I have your autograph?” a woman asks as I’m standing outside the front of my hotel.
“Sure,” I tell her, pulling my hat down over my head before taking the pen from her. She holds out some kind of diary, and I guess that was just what she had on her.
“I’ll be at your show tonight,” she says, smiling at me and batting her eyelashes. “I love Morning Alliance so much! You’re my favourite band right now.”
“Thank you,” I tell her politely. “I hope you enjoy the show tonight.”
“Could I take a photo with you?” she asks, pulling out her phone and using the front camera.
We take one photo.
“Thank you! Maybe we could meet up after the show? Or I could come back to your hotel room,” she suggests.
Wow. I guess she’s not shy at all.
“Thanks for the offer but I’m kind of with someone right now,” I tell her, smiling, trying to be gentle.
“Oh,” she says, frowning. “I didn’t hear that about you.”
What do I say to that?
“It’s kind of private right now,” I try and explain. “I gotta head up but it was nice meeting you.”
I walk into the hotel lobby and get into the elevator. I don’t like being noticed on the street. I’m one person when I’m on stage, but off it, I’m just Saxon. I know recognition comes with fame, so there’s no point complaining about it, but I really wish I could keep some things private. My phone vibrates.
Tee- Thank you for the bouquet! It was almost too pretty to eat. Almost.
Saxon- Glad you liked it
Tee- Do you send all your friends delicious, fancily presented treats?
Back to that again.
Friends—nice try.
Saxon- Did you read my note?
Tee- I did.
Saxon- And?
Tee- And you’re making it really hard for me to resist you.
Saxon- Resistance is futile.
Tee- Don’t underestimate me.
Saxon- Never. I miss you. Gotta head out to rehearsal. TTYL.
I realise I’d gotten off the elevator and was standing there like an idiot in front of it messaging her. I walk to Ryder’s room where the rest of the band is, and then we all head out together. It feels good to be off the bus. We get to spend two nights at this posh hotel in Sydney before we drive to our next city. I love everything about touring, but I find myself looking forward to getting my ass back home.