I’ve changed my mind about long hair being sexier. I kind of like Bria 3.0.”
She laughs. “I’m glad you approve.”
“Approve? I love it.”
“This is not what we agreed on,” Ronni says, looking displeased. “It’s so boring.”
“I didn’t like it the other way,” Bria says. “So I thought I’d compromise and go back to brown but cut it like you wanted.”
Ronni is pissed. I’m not sure why, because Bria looks fantastic.
“The car’s here,” Jeremy says. “We hardly have time to do anything about it now. Besides, I think Brianna is stunning.”
“You mean hot,” Liam says.
Bria smiles.
“What car?” Garrett asks. “I thought Bruce was waiting out back with the van.”
“You’re not going in the van,” Ronni says. “Come on.”
A stretch limo is parked outside. The driver is holding the rear door open.
I say, “We can’t afford this. Some of us are barely making rent.”
“It’s all about image,” Ronni says. “If you arrive in a passenger van with all your equipment, people think you’re a street band, working for pennies.”
“Ronni, we are a street band working for pennies.”
“Listen. If you show up in a limo, people will assume you’re important. Pretty soon, if enough people think you’re important, you’ll be important.”
“It won’t matter how important we are if we’re living on the streets.”
She motions for me to get in, then climbs in after me, sitting next to me and leaving no room for Bria. Bria sits next to Liam, who continues to tell her how hot she is, probably because he’s the only one who knew she resembled Abby. She looks nothing like Abby now. Relief washes over me.
“You’ll play two sets,” Jeremy tells us. “Ronni would like you to mingle with the club patrons after.”
“What exactly does that mean?” Brad asks.
Ronni says, “Be chatty. Sign autographs. Pose for pictures. Dance with people. Make them want more of Reckless Alibi.”
Bria cocks her head. “You mean flirt.”
“If that’s what it takes, yes,” Ronni says. “There will be a lot of money in that club. Important people. Influential people. You want them on your side.”
Ronni and Jeremy give us more instructions along the way. When we arrive, there is already a crowd at the door. The driver waits until he can pull up directly in front of the building. Ronni instructs him to stay inside the car for five minutes. “We need to build excitement. People will wonder who’s in the limousine, and the longer we wait to exit, the more hype there will be. I’ll text the manager and have him send out two bouncers, so it looks like you need security.”
When she’s convinced enough time has passed, she tells the driver to open the door. Ronni moves so she’s boxing Bria in. She puts an arm across Bria, preventing her from getting up. “Boys first. Crew, you go.”
I start to protest but Bria stops me. “It’s fine. Go.”
I flash Ronni an irritated look.
“Remember,” she says. “You’re stars. Act like it.”
I exit the car. People swarm closer to get a look at us. Phones come out to snap pictures, but I doubt they even know who we are.
The bouncers are overdramatic when they “hold” people back. I’m beginning to think this entire night has been orchestrated.
Ronni comes out of the limo before Bria. I step back, ready to go in and get her, but Jeremy hustles me forward. “Stars,” he says. “Come on. Brianna is a big girl.”
Bria is the last to leave the car. It’s ridiculous. I vow to talk with Ronni about this. We shouldn’t have to put up with this shit. Bria is as much a part of RA as I am.
Ronni stops, letting Bria by, and shouts to the crowd. “Reckless Alibi will be available after the show for pictures and autographs. Thank you all for coming.”
We’re led through the bar to a back room that is our staging area. Food and a few bottles of liquor are on a table against one wall. Large buckets of ice are filled with cold beers and bottles of champagne. Liam goes right for the drinks.
“Might want to limit yourself to one or two until after the show,” Ronni tells him.
“You trying to say something?” Liam asks.
Ronni ignores him, but it’s obvious she’s caught wind of his drinking habits. I might need to run interference where that is concerned. While I’m not excited about the amount of alcohol he consumes, I know why he does what he does, and it’s none of her business. Liam and I have had each other’s back since