AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The grizzled man sitting on one of the equipment cases next to her shot her a look of approval.
“You’ve got an excellent natural ear.” Dan’s voice was rough. Probably from the cigarettes he puffed on multiple times a day.
A smile tugged her lips up. “Thank you.” She stood and carefully racked the bass, then turned back to watch Fractured’s senior guitar tech finish tuning the one he was working on.
“There you go.” Dan stood and handed it to her to rack next to the other three.
“I really appreciate you keeping me company,” Cassie said, as she made sure all the nylon guitar straps were securely attached and the wireless transmitters were plugged in.
“I enjoy talking to you new techs. Makes me feel young again, seeing everything through fresh eyes.” He chuckled.
Cassie smiled. “I’m notthatnew. I’ve been doing this since I graduated three years ago. Although thisismy first national tour.”
Dan snorted. “Three years is nothing. Talk to me again in thirty years.”
Cassie turned away from him and fiddled with the guitar rack. She wasn’t sure being a guitar tech in thirty years was what she wanted. But then again, she wasn’t exactly sure what shedidwant to be doing. The only thing she was certain of was that she loved the music industry and wanted to stay in it. And it wasn’t like she didn’t enjoy being part of the backline crew. In fact, she loved the feeling of being part of something bigger than just her. Sometimes it was almost like what she imagined being part of a family might be like. Not a particularly close and loving family, maybe. But having so many people around meant she rarely felt alone when Bryan was busy.
Bryan.
Cassie surreptitiously looked at her watch. He and his band Blacklite were due on stage as the opening act for Fractured in just over an hour. Dan helping her out with the final check of Zac’s bass guitars meant she’d finished early enough she might be able to spend a few minutes alone with her fiancé before he had to go on stage.
Dan must have noticed her checking her watch, because he grinned. “Got some spare time?”
Not wanting him to think she was slacking off, she gestured over at Fractured’s other instrument racks. “Do you need any help with Tex’s and Connor’s guitars?”
“Thanks. But me and the boys have it covered. Why don’t you go see that fella of yours? I know what these rock stars are like. I’m sure seeing you before he goes onstage will be just what he needs to help him relax.” He waggled his eyebrows, and Cassie’s face heated.
Not that he was wrong. Bryan was always a ball of nerves before a performance. Even more so now that Blacklite had gotten its big break—being signed by Hazard Records and touring with Fractured. Bryan hadn’t stopped talking about what an incredible opportunity it was for months.
“Well, if you’re okay with that? It’s hard to get a lot of time to ourselves traveling on the bus with everyone.”
“Off you go, then,” Dan said. “I’ll catch you during the show.”
Cassie gave him a grateful smile, then headed backstage. Bryan and the rest of the band would probably be in their dressing room getting ready, but if she was quick, she might be able to steal him away for a little one-on-one time. Something that had been all too rare in the week and a half they’d been on tour.
Cassie made her way through the maze of corridors, dodging the crew members rushing past her on last-minute errands. She glanced at the door to Fractured’s dressing room as she passed, a small thrill zinging through her. She still couldn’t quite believe her fiancé was part of Fractured’s opening act. Or that she was actuallyworkingfor one of them.
She’d spent the last few years doing double duty as the tech for both Bryan, Blacklite’s lead guitarist, and Toby, their bass player. So, when Bryan had told her the amazing news—that they would be opening for Fractured—she’d just assumed she’d keep doing it. But the label’s tour manager had decided he didn’t like the idea of Bryan’s guitar tech also being his fiancée. Given that it was such a huge opportunity for Blacklite, Bryan hadn’t pushed the issue.
Even though she understood, Cassie had been devastated, imagining lonely months at home without him. But a few weeks later, out of the blue, she’d received a call with the offer of working for Fractured instead. ForZacFord. Only one of the most famous bass players in the world. His long-time bass tech had unfortunately had to pull out of the tour due to health issues.
It had been Dan who had called her with the job offer. Apparently, she had received a glowing recommendation from one of the band’s audio engineers. Someone she’d worked with previously on one of Blacklite’s regional tours. In the relatively small world of backline crew—the people responsible for taking care of a tour’s instruments and electrical equipment—your reputation could make or break you, and word of mouth was king. And it seemed like they didn’t have a problem with her working on the tour, as long as it wasn’t directly for Bryan.
Plus, she was pretty sure that with the start date so close, and other guitar techs already hired for tours with conflicting schedules, she’d been the easiest option.
Whatever the reason, Cassie had been over the moon. But meeting Zac for the first time had been nerve-wracking. He’d been gracious, if slightly reserved, and she’d seen the look he’d shot Dan after they were introduced. It wasn’t like she didn’t get it—she was younger than most other techs. And a woman. But she was good at what she did, and obviously, he trusted Dan’s recommendation since she’d gotten the job.
Still smiling at the memory, Cassie reached Blacklite’s dressing room and tapped lightly on the door. There was no answer, but the low beat of music came from inside, so she tried the handle. It swung open. No one was in the main dressing room. The guys and Stella, the band’s lead singer, should’ve been prepping to go onstage by now.
Cassie looked around the vacant room, frowning. There were empty beer cans and what looked like a recently stubbed-out cigarette in an ashtray on the table. They must have been here recently. Cassie made her way to the adjoining wardrobe room, following the muted sound of the music. She tapped again. “Bryan?”
There was no answer, so she cracked the door open, keeping her eyes averted, just in case one of the other band members was changing.
“Bryan, are you in there?”
“Cassie?” It was Bryan’s voice, but it sounded strange, almost strangled. “Don’t come in, baby!”
Cassie wavered, not sure why he sounded so panicked. It couldn’t just be that one of the guys was changing. Traveling on the tour bus with three men meant there wasn’t much she hadn’t already inadvertently seen.
