Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“That doesn’t sound like a bad thing to me, Drag.”
“No. I mean, I could use the cash for sure.”
“You and me both.”
“What I mean is that when you’re famous, people want to know about you.” He pauses and lights up a joint, takes a long drag. “They look into your stories. Into your life. I don’t need that shit hauled out.”
“It won’t be.”
“Can you guarantee me that?”
I pat his shoulder. “There aren’t any guarantees in life, bro. I can’t guarantee that I won’t be hit by a truck tomorrow.”
Dragon flinches. “Jesus, Jess. Way to go dark on me. Isn’t that my job?”
I chuckle. “Listen, Dragon. Everything’s going to be fine. Seriously, what are the chances we’ll ever be as big as Emerald Phoenix? Kind of a million to one, whether we open for them or not. What this is going to do for us is get our name out there. We’ll be more than just some bar band who goes on tiny little tours. We might actually get some downloads of our songs. Make some decent money. Go on a few regional tours even. We’re not going to be Emerald Phoenix, Dragon.”
The truth of my words hits me like a brick.
We will never be Emerald Phoenix. Opening for a big name is never any guarantee, and while it will lead to some publicity, most opening acts never make it big.
Then there are the one-hit wonders. A band has a big hit, and then you never hear from them again. That could be us as well.
Whatever happens, I won’t let Dragon get lugged through the mud. I’ll always have his back, just like he’s had mine.
The two of us have been through some shit together. Shit the rest of the band doesn’t even know about. Shit my sisters and my parents don’t know about.
And they never will.
I tilt my head back. The stars are easy to see through the bare branches of the cottonwood tree we’re sitting under.
“You ever wonder if fame is worth it?” Dragon asks.
“Honestly, bro? I’m not sure I was ever looking for fame. I was looking to make a living doing what I love. I watched Rory give up on her dream of being an opera singer. She became a teacher. A good one. But I never wanted to give up. Eking out an existence as a rock band made me happy, even if it didn’t make me rich.”
“Rory’s with us now,” Dragon says.
“Yeah, she is.” I look back into Dragon’s eyes that look more green than brown in the light of the moon. “She completes the band, Dragon. The only thing we need now, if anything, is a bass player so Cage doesn’t have to pull double duty. But even without a bassist, we rock, man.”
“Yeah, we do. It’s just…” He takes another toke.
I shake my head. “Dragon, you’ve got a major fear of success.”
He lets the smoke out of his lungs and scowls. “What the hell does that mean?”
“It’s kind of like a fear of failure. Except it’s not.”
He wrinkles his forehead. “Exactly how high am I? You’re not making a lick of sense.”
“Fear of failure keeps you from trying. Fear of success is worse. Once things start to happen for you, you rebel against them. We can’t do that, Dragon. We’ve got to see this thing through.”
Dragon is silent for a moment as he watches the ashes burn on his joint. “Maybe I am afraid of success. You and I both know why.”
I’m not the hugging type, but I pat Dragon’s arm. “It’s going to be okay. You’ve got to remember that rock bands are an entity. Fans don’t think of us as individuals. They think of us as a unit.”
“That won’t stop the tabloids from doing their research.”
“Then we’ll just have to erase everything about your past. You’ve already done that for the most part.”
“As much as I could.”
“Listen. Two of my sisters are engaged to Steels. They have access to all the Steel resources. I’ll see that you’re covered. Okay?”
Dragon shakes his head, chuckling. “Listen to you. I never thought I’d see the day where you might ask a Steel for a favor.”
“Not for myself. But for a good friend? You bet I would.”
Dragon brings the joint to his lips. “Brothers to the end. Sure you don’t want a toke?”
“I’m sure.” I take the joint from him and put it out with my boot. “And you don’t need any more.”
“When you’re right, you’re right. I guess it’s time to get back to the party.” He rises and rubs his hands together. “Besides, it’s fucking cold out here.”
I stand as well. “Dude, that’s the smartest thing you’ve said all night.”
Chapter Five
Brianna
Once the Emerald Phoenix band members take their leave, Angie and Sage find me near the gazebo Jesse vacated.
“Where’s Gina?” I ask.
“She went home,” Angie says. “She’s still… You know, digesting everything about her dad. About her newfound grandmother.”