Page 31 of All That Remains
"Yeah, we thought Rome was the moody one!" Nate said, slinging an arm around me.
Levi pretended to pinch my nipples and I slapped his hands away. Soon we finished our huddle, singing the chorus to Eddy Grant's "Electric Avenue" to warm up, then the music started. That was our cue to line up.
"Look alive, bois!” Levi proclaimed. “It's go-time!"
As I sprinted up the steps into view of the roaring crowd, wielding Blackbird in the air like Excalibur, I had zero clue this would be the last time I ever stepped on stage with Rome again.
***
He looked at me mid-show, during Nathan’s sappy solo again, but I couldn't look back. Towards the end of the show, we stepped backstage for a break and I changed my shirt. I ran into him at the soundstage, and he wouldn't take his eyes off me. I missed his eyes. They were damn mesmerizing when he was sleepy, and tonight they seemed more tilted than usual.
"How long were you with her?" I asked.
"Fifteen minutes." There was no hesitation in his reply, which meant it was rehearsed. "No more than twenty, tops."
"What'd she do?"
"I told you."
"Tell me again."
"She just blew me, babe," he muttered beneath his breath, glancing around. "She tried to kiss me, but I wouldn't let her. I wouldn’t do that to you, Rafe, I swear to God. It was strictly transactional. You believe me?"
"Who was she?"
"No one, babe. Just some bird I met at a club. Chatted 'er up a bit. Nothin’ special."
"Why her?"
He averted his eyes. "She was just the first girl I saw when I walked it. That's it."
After the show, he followed me back to my room and waited while I showered so we could talk. When I came out in a dressing robe, I sat on the bed beside him, damp hair tumbling forward.
"You're always scowlin’, man.” He mimicked my frown and I pushed him. That sent him back onto the mattress, laughing hysterically.
"Babe, you looksomiserable, sometimes. Take it easy!" he grabbed the back of my neck and kissed my hair, blowing raspberries against my cheek until I laughed.
“You’re so annoying, mate!”
When we sobered, he asked, "Hey, baby...who's Han?"
"Who?"
"A manager or somethin’?"
"No one."
"Why's his card here?"
"What? Where?" I played dumb.
"There," he chucked his chin in the direction of the nightstand.
"He's just some guy."
"C'mon, Rafe, get the fuck outta here. Be real." Not much escaped him.
"Don't be stupid. It’s nothing."
