A tech wandered by with a clipboard. As he came close, the radio on his hip squawked that the show was all set up. "Hey, Jo. The show's starting soon, so I'm going to go. I'm really stoked!"
"Go get 'em, you lucky dog. Talk to you later." She hung up.
I noticed the band gathered together over by the side, so I approached with caution. The boys were all dressed up and looked quite fine. Chuck still wore tattered jeans and an unbuttoned long-sleeve shirt, but now he didn't have a T-shirt under it, and his bare chest flashed all kinds of desire. River was down to jeans and a sleeveless white T-shirt with a black leather vest over it. His shoulder muscles alone made my knees weak.
Buck and Gabe were much more dressed up. Buck wore black slacks and a black jacket over an untucked white shirt with the top button open and a loose white tie. The sleeves of his shirt and jacket were rolled up like a businessman on the Wall Street trading floor. And Gabe was looking the most impressive, with black pants, black calf-boots, and a black Nehru jacket with two rows of gold buttons marching down the front. The boys looked hot and ready to rock.
Gabe nodded at me and they all turned to look, so I smiled bashfully and gave them a thumbs up. Regardless of their personal issues, they were still my favorite band of all time, and I wanted to show them that I was good. If it made a difference to anyone, that is.
Nobody said a word, but Chuck blew me a kiss by way of reply. Gabe and Buck fidgeted with their guitars while River casually tossed drumsticks from hand to hand. I took a step back to give them space.
Jason paced back and forth by the edge of the stage, peeking out every minute to check on the audience. Each time he looked, Chuck would ask if it was time to start the show. He really was a child, complete with are-we-there-yet nagging. Like a patient parent, Jason set his hand on Chuck's shoulder. "Wait for it. I figure ten more minutes."
Jason might not like having me there, but he had at least been civil to me, so I felt like I could talk to him. "How do you know when it's time to start the show?"
He grinned. "I like to wait for it to get restless and loud. Right now, it's a bit too quiet for my boys."
"Your boys?" There was that swagger again, his I-am-God attitude.
Gabe laughed. "We're back under contract, so he owns us until the tour ends."