Page 28 of Before the Encore

Chapter Eight

Madison

What started as a two-night trip to LA quickly evolved into recording with Bonnie Bloom, pretending to date Bonnie Bloom, and now, rehearsing for a tour with Bonnie Bloom.

The last two months had been the Bonnie Bloom show. Structured interviews, staged dinners, hours and hours of practising their music until Madison could sing the damn set backwards.

Bailey had many flaws, like that terrible combover, but his plan worked. The four-show tour to generate excitement for Bonnie’s upcoming album sold out in a day. A day. The London venues had already been upgraded to a bigger capacity with fans asking for more dates. Fans were elated, desperate to hear their collaborations. All this media bullshit actually worked. Madison would’ve kissed the man’s abnormally large forehead if he weren’t such a dickhead.

Because Madison noticed the digs and the patronising tone, the way Bonnie shrunk a little whenever he entered the room. She didn’t get it. Bonnie would have a million managers fawning over her if she gave him the boot. Why settle for less?

Madison didn’t understand a lot of things about the pop star. Nor did she want to. She was here to do a job, and that was it.

Madison bobbed her head to Frank’s bass, letting it build beneath her ribs. She jumped across the stage, imagining thousands of screaming fans looking up at her. The rehearsal space Bailey acquired was small but still larger than some venues Lipstick Fever played. She bounded towards Kamaria, hands blurring across the drums, braids flying out around her. Kam grinned, completely in her element, then Madison swung the electric guitar from behind her back and dived back into the rhythm.

Into the microphone, she belted, “You want me, you touch me, then treat me like a bad dream and wish it away.”

Adrenaline surged through her, the feeling coating her head to toe. “It’s my fault, you want out, broken heart and lousy mouth. Who is there to blame?”

When the set drew to a spectacular close, Madison held last note whilst Frank and Kam played every last second to perfection. Roberto whistled, throwing his hands together in applause that echoed throughout the room.

“I don’t know how you do it.” He rested his hands on his hips. “But that set was even better than the last one.”

Chest heaving, she slapped her bandmates on the shoulder, then turned back to Roberto. “We good to go?”

“Yeah, go rest up. We’re back at it same time tomorrow.”

“Sweet.” Madison jumped off the stage. “See you losers later.”

“Wait,” Kam called. “Do you wanna smoke and catch a movie with us?”

Madison’s feet moved on autopilot. “I can’t, sorry. Got some media stuff to do.”

She snaked down the hallway and slipped inside the next door, the slight squeak of the door buried beneath the loud music. Madison pressed herself back against the wall, eyes immediately finding their target.

Bonnie moved in rhythm with the dancers, steps in sync as they glided across the wooden floor like one body. Baby blue leggings shaped her full thighs, a matching vest revealing cleavage and bare skin. Madison let her eyes appreciate her form as the dancers lifted and spun her, all without missing a note.

Impressive.

Her gaze drifted to Bonnie’s hair, drawn tight into a sleek ponytail that snapped through the air as she turned, before falling back into step with the dancers. The sharp motion sent a strange current through Madison—a reckless urge curling in her fingertips, itching to wrap around the length and give it a tug.

Luckily, before her thoughts went rogue, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She knew who it was before she looked. Her sister was the only person she left notifications on for that wasn’t in the building. Social media had officially gone mad, and Madison needed a break. The influx of attractive women sliding in her DMs was particularly testing for a practicing nun such as herself. She had to avoid the temptation; she wouldn’t be like her dad.

Ruby: Thanks for the monies

Gonna get myself a nice denim jacket

Madison: Don’t u dare. That’s to fix Mum’s car

I’ll get u that jacket when my next money comes in

Ruby: Promises promises

How’s the not dating Bonnie Bloom goin?

Are you in love w/ her yet?

Madison: U wish