to him, like a pumped up flyweight boxer before a prize fight bout, was almost as scary as the trapeze.
He was pathetic and he knew it. All Jake wanted was a shower and a cold cloth on his forehead, but that afternoon the rest of the band was arriving to tour the stadium, the stage and backstage area. He had to be on deck at least imitating effectiveness. Rielle might’ve said she wasn’t going to sack him, but since he’d have sacked himself in other circumstances he wasn’t holding her to it.
He stood with Rand, Glen and Bodge waiting for the other members of Ice Queen to walk on stage and meditated on the coming end to this shocker of a day, a cold beer and the firm, close-to-the-ground mattress of his hotel bed.
First to reach the stage area was bass guitarist, Stu South. He looked like Jake felt—hung-over. He kept his aviator style sunglasses on while he and drummer How Deerfield reviewed the front of house area. Guitarist and keyboard player Roley Mac and vocalists Jeremy Dugan, Brendan Green and Casey Dee had only flown in that morning, and all three looked slightly stunned by the heat.
“Hello Australia!” Roley, obviously the comedian of the group, yelled to the empty stadium, throwing his arms in the air.
Ceedee and Brendan made ‘haaah’ sounds meant to approximate the cheers of fifty thousand screaming fans and the three of them laughed.
Jeremy flapped his t-shirt away from his waist. “Is it always this hot here?”
Rand slapped him on the back. “It’s summer, dude.”
“Think of what the chicks won’t be wearing,” said How, with a big grin and Jake heard Glen snort in agreement.
Roley rubbed his hands together. “We shoulda toured here years ago.”
“Where’s Rie?” asked Ceedee, turning to Rand.
He shook his head. “Around, maybe with Jonas.”
“How is Jonas?” asked Stu, joining the conversation, his voice low and gravelly, his question laden with meaning.
“What do you know?” Rand asked, suspicion narrowing his eyes. Jake looked at Glen and Bodge. What were they about to learn about Jonas?
“Only that he was looking worse for wear when I last saw him,” said Stu.
Ceedee smacked Stu’s arm. “And you can talk.”
“Don’t start,” Stu bit back.
Rand rolled his eyes. He turned to Jake as if he was a welcome distraction and started the introductions. They got down to the specifics about instrument placement, and romantic entanglements, hangovers, jetlag and professional and personal humiliations were kicked aside.
When Rielle and Jonas arrived, Jake had his first look at the whole band together. Rielle took a running leap and jumped into How’s arms, straddling his waist, and hugging his neck. She kissed Jeremy, Brendan and Ceedee, thumped Stu on the arm, and climbed on Roley’s back. He galloped a lap around the stage with her, braying like a donkey while the others laughed. This was a new side to her. She could be playful. She had a great laugh. Jake might’ve appreciated it more if his head didn’t feel like an overripe melon.
“Happy to be in Australia, are we?” said How, when Roley deposited Rielle back with the group.
“No!” she barked and then laughed. “But it’s only Adelaide, so it’s all right so far. I’m just happy to see your ugly face again, How.” She grabbed his jaw and he made a slobbering dog sound as she pulled his cheeks out from his teeth.
“I’m happy to be home,” said Rand. “I might be able to get my Aussie strine back if I try.”
“Don’t you dare!” Rielle rounded on him and the group laughed.
Glen nudged him. “Did you hear that?” he said quietly. “I’d have thought she’d be happy to be playing her home country?”
Jake shrugged. It was odd she’d seemed so adamantly unhappy to be home.
“She’s just nervous that’s all,” said Bodge.
Glen laughed. “You fell quick this time, fat man. You’d defend her if she was a mass murderer.”
Seeing the band together, Jake got the impression Rand was the functional leader, the one who made plans, made things happen, quietly, calmly and without fuss. And Rielle was the creative spirit, the one whose energy and passion held them together. They were a formidable combination. He was beginning to see where their success came from, not simply genuine talent, but foresight and dedication on Rand’s part, and dynamism on Rielle’s.
He was beginning to see new sides to her, new ways to interpret how she acted, and didn’t that just make his meltdowns in front of her something extra special to be proud of.