Page 34 of Animal Beats

Last week, I pressed a wrong button on my phone and lost all my contacts. I would very much appreciate it if you could send his contact info to me so I can reenter it. Thanks!

What harm can this do? I reply with his phone number, since he clearly doesn’t do email. I bet he’s wondering why he hasn’t heard from her over the past week.

Getting to my feet, I return backstage, where Nese has towels and new shirts ready for the guys (except for Río) when they come off the stage. Jenna’s standing next to her, towels for Bennett at the ready, and I bump my shoulder against the stylist’s.

Nese hands me two for Río. “Here you go. Make yourself useful.”

“They were great tonight,” Jenna remarks. “Like always.”

“Agreed,” Nese replies.

I simply nod. Even though the guys are the ones performing, we’re on an adjacent high, especially Jenna. She’s bouncing on her toes. It’s nice to see someone in love. A wistfulness for what my parents shared brushes by me. I don’t have any room to add in the responsibility of love with my financial duties, and I promised I’d take care of my sister. She comes first.

The guys bound off the stage, and Bennett wraps his wife in a big hug. She pretends not to want it, but soon they’re kissing. Río materializes in front of me and I give him the first towel, which he uses to dry off. Then he pours a bottle of water over his entire body, spraying everyone when he shakes out his hair.

“Dude!” Coop jumps backward. “Are you a drummer or a dog?”

Río barks, “Woof!”

Next thing I know, Coop’s swatted Río with the towel. We’re about two seconds away from a full-on towel fight when Luke appears. “Seriously? Do this later.” He confiscates both the guitarist’s and the drummer’s towels.

“Don’t think this is over,” Coop readjusts his sunglasses.

“Never!” Río looks around for another towel, which I hold up. He approaches me, and I hand him the terrycloth, which he runs over his body.

These guys really are more like children. No wonder Río needed a babysitter. Although he was pretty awesome this afternoon.

Luke gets everyone’s attention. “Alright, guys. Are you ready for your encore? The crowd is fantastic. Río, they loved your call-and-repeat. What do you think about making this a permanent part of the show?”

Before my eyes, Río stands taller. It’s not like he doesn’t get enough adoration—both from the stage and off it—but this validation seems to reach him in a new place. The stunned and proud look on his face tells a bigger tale.

He turns to Bennett. “Would that be okay with you?”

“Hell yes. I could use that time to rest my throat. Maybe even sneak some lovin’ from my girl, too.” He squeezes Jenna again.

“Then it’s settled. Congrats, Río, you’re taking over that portion of the gig. Right now, though, let’s go out with a bang!”

The band whoops it up, then returns onstage. Bennett and Jenna lag behind for another kiss until he runs out.

When he’s center stage, Jenna joins Nese and me on the side. “I like you two together,” Nese notes.

“Thanks,” Jenna replies. “Been a long road, but we’re right where we should be.”

The light show accentuates the beat Río plays. Coop and 007 stand back to back, playing their respective guitars. Kieron Malone, the guitar tech, stops by to watch their performance. “They’re putting on a brilliant show out there,” I note.

He nods. “Yeah. They often play back to back, and the crowd loves it.” We enjoy the show for an extended minute. Then, on the keys, Tris does a run. Kieron turns, scowls, and walks backstage.

“That guy gives me the creeps,” Nese notes.

“He’s not my favorite either,” I agree. “Not sure I’d want to be in a dark alley with him.”

“Stop it,” Jenna chides. “He may be a little different from the rest of the band. But that doesn’t make him a mass murderer.”

“Fine,” both Nese and I grumble. Our attention is diverted when Río wails on the cymbals, marking the end of the encore. He tosses one of his sticks up to the rafters, then catches it. He spins it through his fingers and ends by pointing it directly at me. The lights cut out.

Nese leans over. “He has the hots for you.”

Tingles set off throughout my body, which I tamp down. I slow blink. “I don’t think so. I’m his babysitter,” I protest.