A Little Bit Dirty - Jenika Snow Page 0,53

eyes, and sweat beaded down his face as he moved his hand up and down on the thick strings.

The song had turned into something harder, darker, and had a faster beat to it. Five and Matty were getting more into the song, moving along the stage back and forth, and Beats pounded on the drums like he was possessed. The guys were getting into the song, and Jacks was nearly screaming the lyrics out. It was a popular one, and Tanner found herself singing along to it and moving her head up and down to the beat.

One song moved into the next in a fluid motion, and the music was like an aphrodisiac. She didn’t know how long the band played, but it ended far sooner than she would have liked.

They headed off the stage, and there was a handful of staff that were there with towels, water, and firing off questions to the guys.

She stayed back and out of the way. It was amazing watching all of this on the sidelines and in the back. The guys’ faces took on an almost euphoric quality, and their grins were wide. They were sweaty, but looked intoxicated at the same time. Everything was a blur of motion, but Tanner kept to the side, partially hidden in the corner and watched the action all around her.

This was like another world. She could smell the sweat and salt in the air, felt the adrenaline and testosterone pulse all around her, and knew this was how it would always be.

She honestly didn’t know how much time had passed, maybe ten minutes but probably less, and then the guys were right back on stage for their encore. Tanner took her phone out and snapped several pictures of all of the guys playing so she could send them to Zoe.

Once they were sent she looked at the guys once more, and turned around to leave.

Once the show was officially over with they would come out, and when the show ended it would be even more hectic. No way did she want to be in the middle of that. Besides, she wanted to see if Zoe had gotten the images. She could even hear Zoe in her head squealing in excitement.

There were several rooms backstage, but she went to the one that the guys had hung out in right before they performed. There were a couple fold-out chairs around a small corner in the room.

Once the door was shut and she was sitting in one of the chairs she dialed Zoe’s number. It was nearing ten at night, but Zoe had always been a night owl. It rang a few times, and Tanner leaned back in her chair.

“OhmygodTanner.” Zoe’s excited voice filled the line instantly, and Tanner pulled the phone away.

She started laughing. “I take it you got the pictures.” She had to pull the phone away again when Zoe all but screamed.

“Yes. Oh my God, I cannot believe you are so close to them.” For the next five minutes Zoe did most of the talking, asking about what it was like being with the band, how the job was going, and if it was as exciting as Zoe had imagined.

“It’s great, but honestly it feels like I am back with them and hanging out in Jacks’ basement. Sure, things are different because of the tour bus, the concerts, and the entire atmosphere, but they act just like they did in high school.”

“I am so jealous that you get to experience that, but at the same time I wouldn’t have been able to handle it.”

“You should have just talked to Beats, Zoe.” She heard her friend sigh on the other end, but Zoe didn’t respond right away. “I’m sorry. It isn’t my business.”

“No, no it is okay. Maybe I should have said something, but I was too embarrassed—still am actually.”

The sound of raised voices right outside the door of the room she was in had Tanner turning in her seat and leaning over enough that she could see the door. She saw the handle turn, and the door was getting pushed open. The voices became clearer.

She knew right away it was Laura, and the older man’s voice Tanner assumed was her father. He seemed very angry, and the almost whiney quality in Laura’s voice was like nails on a chalkboard.

“Zoe, hold on.” Maybe Tanner should have made her presence known, especially since it was clear these two were in an argument, but wouldn’t that make it worse?

“Laura,