Page 3 of Serenade Me

Her face falls when I ask the question and I almost wish I hadn’t said it. I hate to make her feel bad. Before we’d lured her to come on our European CD launch tour with us, Cadence was a high school music teacher in Sydney, Australia. She’d always made it clear that come the school year, she’d be going to go back, leaving us without a pianist for the French leg of our tour.

“I’m sorry, babe, the school year starts up in Australia, and well, some of these kids are coming into their senior year. They’re going to need a lot of support and I just can’t abandon them after working with them all these years. I guess… maybe I can organize to come for some of the weekend shows? And take a few days off, here and there? I mean, the tour’s only got about a month left, right?

She looks at Seb who just shrugs. I know if he could, he’d be begging her to stay. For him as much as for the band. And the fans. She’s easily been the favorite of all the guest musicians that have played with us.

But it’s obvious she doesn’t want to leave her students. And I wouldn’t want her to. As much as she’s been a big sister to me while she’s been with us, as much as she and I have formed a pretty special bond, I wouldn’t want to take her away from what gives her the most joy, just as I wouldn’t want anyone to do that to me, or any of us for that matter.

“We’re really going to miss you,” I say, as I walk over to her. She climbs off her fiancé’s lap and pulls me into a big hug.

“I know. I’m going to miss your dumb-ass, smug faces and your brilliant music and your weird looking brown salads and late nights and early mornings and finding bras that aren’t my own in my laundry and…BED…” She turns and scowls at Jez who just grins.

“Speaking of other women,” Jez says as he pulls Cadence from my hug and slings his own arm tight around her shoulders, before pulling back when Sebastian growls, “I think I know someone who might just be able to take Cadence’s spot.”

“Who?” Brad asks, pouring himself a drink from the bar.

“Hang on, I have to ask one question first – Cadey, are you absolutely sure you’re not going to stay? Because I wouldn’t even dream of suggesting this if there was the tiniest chance you could come with us. You know that.”

She smiles at him and kisses him on the cheek, then rubs the lipstick stain off his skin. “Hey, I’m just the hired hand here. Well, hired hands.” She wiggles her fingers at us. “If you can get someone to come help out that you’re happy with, then I can go guilt free.”

“No one can replace you, Cadey,” I say, not sure if I’m ready to hear what Jez has to say. We’re a tight knit group, always have been. Infamous for our cliquishness. It’s taken some very special people for them to be accepted by us. We’ve been through too much, betrayed by too many on our journey to stardom, to trust just anyone.

Jez looks at me, knows what I’m thinking, and lays a hand on my shoulder before continuing. He knows, he knows that I might not say it, but after him, I’m the one who has the most trouble trusting.

“Look, if… IF we were to find someone to take over Cadey’s part, she’d have to be a freakin’ insane musician, right? Top of the bloody game. And she’d have to be discreet. Work hard, work long, not be a bloody diva on tour. And she’d have to available, obviously.”

We all nod, wondering where he’s going with all this.

Jez continues, “Well, I think I know someone who might just tick all those boxes. She’s just graduated from the London College of Music, she doesn’t have a lot of experience playing non-classical music, but there’s no reason why she couldn’t pick it up pretty quickly. She’s totally grounded and won’t let the attention get to her. And best of all, she can be here… tomorrow. Meaning, she can meet with everyone and can get some rehearsal in with Cadence before she goes back to Sydney.”

He stops, looking at all of us in turn, gauging our reactions.

Cadence looks happy, smiling wide, and Brad, at least, looks optimistic.

“But best of all, it’s someone we can trust, she’s not going to go spilling all our secrets to the paps.” Jez hits us with the closer.

Sebastian walks over to him and reaches out, grabbing Jez under his arm with two fingers and squeezes.

“Ow! What the fuck?” Jez yells, yanking his arm away.

“Just checking you weren’t dream talking, conjuring up the perfect person.” Sebastian says.

“Pffffft, she’s not perfect by any means, but she might just be who we’re looking for.”

“Who are you talking about?” I probe.

“Look, I’m not going to say until I ask her. If she says no, then it’s a non-starter. If she says yes or maybe, then I’ll tell you guys. But, I think she’ll jump at the chance. And she’s perfect for us. Trust me.”

“Why should we trust you?”

“Because you know me. And I know her pretty well.”

We all break out into groans, rolling our eyes.

“No, Jez, noooo. Not one of your cuddlefuckees. That’s never going to work!” I groan.

“No, Jerkwaffle, it’s not one of my ‘cuddlefuckees’ as you so eloquently put it. I said I know her well and I mean it. Look, just give me one day.”

“I think I know who it is.” Sebastian says with a twinkle in his eye. It looks like whoever it is, he approves.

“Then keep it to yourself, Doodlebrain,” Jez growls.

“Well, duh, since you ask so nicely.”

“Who is it?” Cadence asks, wrapping her arm around her fiancé’s neck, tracing her tongue along his jaw.

“Now THAT’s how you ask for a favor from me,” he growls, before covering the side of his mouth and whispering in her ear.

“Ooooh. Interesting.” Cadence’s eyes light up, nodding. “I think you might be right!”

“Ooh, tell me!” Brad begs, coming comes over, throwing his arm around Seb’s neck and pretending to lean in and kiss him.

“No! Get away from me, sausage breath!” Sebastian swats him away and hides behind Cadence’s back.

“Hey!” Brad stands up, sulking. “You said that’s how to ask you for a favor!”

“Fine… just wait a minute though…” Sebastian stands up and fumbles with his belt, then, pulling his jeans down as he bends over slightly, bares his boxers-covered butt. “I’m ready now, ask me for a favor.”

In the two seconds it takes me to run over and slap him across the ass with a banana, Cadence is already on the floor, holding her stomach in pain from laughing.