said. “I’m fine.”
“You look like hell,” Sab said. “I said it.”
“You’re bringing in everyone today?” I asked Nash.
“Might as well,” he said. “Toby and that camera crew are coming too. He wants to capture the whole process.”
“Hey, this is good that Reed looks like death,” Sab said. “Keeps our image alive.”
“Our image is fine,” Nash said.
He looked at me.
I peeled my sunglasses up to my head.
The lights stabbed my eyes.
I didn’t flinch though.
“This song is going to change the world, Nash,” I said. “Everyone from happy couples getting married to horny teenagers touching each other are going to be listening to it. This is going to change everything.”
Nash punched my shoulder. “I know. Are you ready for it?”
“Look at me…”
“That’s why I asked,” he said with a grin.
I heard the echoing sound of the door slamming shut.
When I turned my head, I saw Abby.
Wearing sandals and jean shorts. A white sweater looking thing that had an extra big neck that slid down her right shoulder, showing off her tank top and bra strap.
Trying to look so fucking casual.
The other two singers we chose were in regular jeans, both wearing a FILTHY LINE shirt. Different logos and pictures on the shirts though.
It was Abby, Carla, and Dawn.
“Ready for this?” Sab asked me as he slapped my back.
“Oh, I’m ready,” I said.
I jumped off the stage and walked toward the front of the room.
Abby looked around, trying to act as though she couldn’t see me.
Stupid baby game bullshit for sure.
I closed in on her, just enough to get her attention, and then I made a quick move and slid my way to Miss Neon-Green Thong. I grabbed her by the waist and pulled her close to me.
I looked down her top and watched her tits bounce inside her shirt.
She didn’t like wearing bras.
And she had enough of a chest that she should have been wearing one.
Oops.
“Are we ready to sing?” I asked. “Anyone need to warm up their mouths? I mean… vocal cords?”
Abby’s cheeks blushed for a second.
“This is just sooo exciting,” Dawn said.
She was perky as fuck.
Carla, on the other hand, stepped away and folded her hands together. She straightened her back and started taking deep breaths.
Getting herself ready.
Abby wandered toward the stage.
Miss Neon-Green Thong moved to her toes and bit my fucking ear.
I jumped away from her.
She smiled at me. “Is she the one?”
“There is no one,” I said. “You were one of three, remember?”
I walked away, rubbing my ear.
If someone wanted to bite me, I better have my hands on their tits and my dick in one of their holes. Without that, it was just assault.
I breezed by Abby and jumped up on the stage.
The rest of the band did the same and before I had a chance to say anything to Abby, the doors opened again and Toby came in with everyone else.
The room was getting full.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.
There weren’t enough drugs.
Or booze.
And the women had way too many pieces of clothing on.
Abby climbed up on the stage and stood a foot away from me.
I pictured her that night.
Telling her to get the fuck off the bus.
Watching her actually get off the bus, thinking I was just pissed for a minute.
I picture myself shutting the door and telling Bill to fucking drive.
Only me and her knew the truth.
Or at least our own versions of the truth.
“I think we need to ditch the acoustic guitar,” Dex said. “It’s colliding with the piano.”
“You think so?” Sab asked.
“I agree,” I said.
“We have two guitarists,” Nash said.
“We need to keep the raw sound of the drums and electric,” I said. “Dex, trade your axe for another and keep it clean. I’m talking very clear. Add some reverb and work against my bass lines. Even if you just strum the chords, wait a second, and hit each note on a downstroke…”
“That’s the sound,” Jay said. “I can fill in with him too.”
“The piano has to dominate,” Nash said.
“It will,” I said. “But you’ll have these guitars in the background. Teasing throughout the entire song. Turn up my bass a little too. Let me really pop on the root notes.”
“Okay,” Nash said. “Let’s run it again.”
I looked back at Abby. “Try to sing this time, honey. Don’t just tongue fuck the mic.”
Abby curled her lip.
I smiled.
Sab hit his sticks together four times and we ran through the song again.
The sound came through much cleaner.
The backup singers were really good too.
But Abby’s voice was stronger than the other two. Way