Once inside, we were instantly escorted up to a private suite, where an attendant was already prepping a dinner for us to have during the show. There was a big screen on one wall, a buffet on the other and a private bar in the back. A row of seats faced outward towards the stage, where the opening act was already warming up. I wasn’t going to see Auggie until his show began. I suspected that was by design.
It was also doing a serious number on my nerves. The whole day had been a series of events I had to go through to see Auggie again, which had kept my mind off seeing Auggie again. Now every time the door opened, I jumped. He could appear at any moment. The thought was deliciously exciting.
Despite the fact Auggie was nowhere to be found, his crew came in and out of the private luxury suite, both to check in with Audra and to grab a bite to eat. Some made introductions, most did not. It was a whirlwind of chaos as everybody amped up for the show.
Midway through, a man every bit as dark and beautiful as Audra came into the suite. He had the same bright smile and the same exquisite braids. They were practically twins. He was so striking both Fern and I did a doubletake. He likewise did a doubletake when he spotted Fern, which wasn’t that surprising. Most guys did a doubletake when they saw my beautiful honey-haired sister with the big blue eyes.
Audra did her part to walk him over to meet us.
“Ladies, please allow me to introduce my brother, Gavin Tremwell. Gavin, this is Fern and Peaches McPhee.”
He reached for Fern’s hand first, with an easy smile. She got a little uncharacteristically flustered as she placed her hand in his.
“Are you a Count, too?” she asked, because she could.
He smiled wider. “More like the Court Jester,” he winked. “I’m the lead choreographer for the Duke.”
Fern brightened. “You’re a dancer?”
Of course, he was a dancer. His rock-solid muscles strained against his skin-tight bodysuit, making it seem like he wasn’t wearing anything at all.
“I’m a dancer,” she said.
“I know,” he responded. “I’ve seen your videos.”
“No way,” she said. He laughed.
“Way,” he confirmed. “You should join us for rehearsals. I think you’d fit right in.”
I watched my sister’s jaw drop. “I would love to,” she stammered, before looking at me. “I mean…”
It was my turn to laugh. “We’ll make it happen,” I assured him.
He liked the sound of that. He turned back to Fern. “You’re coming to the after party, right?” he asked, somewhere between a question, an invitation and a command.
“Yes!” she blurted, then tried to compose herself. “I mean… I think so.”
“She’ll be there,” I assured again.
“I’ll see you there,” he said with that same wide smile. He waved goodbye before he grabbed a plate full of food and headed to parts unknown somewhere in the arena.
Fern turned to me. “What are you getting me into now?”
I laughed. “I’m not the only one whose dream can come true. You’re nobody’s lady in waiting. You’re a queen. A dancing queen,” I added. “So, dance, girl. You know you want to.”
Fern hugged me. “I told you that you were a superhero.”
“Just call me Captain Barfsalot.”
“Oh, no,” she said, pulling away. “Still?”
I waved the air. “Smells just… smell a lot right now.” We took our seats. She handed me a ginger candy. Ever since I started suffering morning sickness, she wasn’t caught without it.
But as the time ticked closer to the reason of this concert, and my entire new life, I found myself increasingly queasier from all the anticipation. It was an unwelcome byproduct on top of everything else, and I didn’t have nausea tricks like crackers or ginger tea at the ready.
Fern got me a regular ginger ale at the bar. We figured it was better than nothing. We sat together as the opening band Tonos de Oros took the stage. Originally from Los Angeles, this newly transported band had started over in New York, with two out, proud gay members, which ironically made them even more popular with the ladies. Their hard rock had a Latin flare, with songs sung in both English and Spanish. They also weren’t hard on the eyes, especially the potent Tony Rojas, the lead singer.
The shirtless guitarist, young, studly Rudy Renfro, wasn’t bad either. It was easy to see why they couldn’t resist each other.