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Personally, I found Frankie to be far too smooth and polished for Iain’s usual taste. Then again, he was a friend of Zoe’s and probably worked in PR, so that was his persona. Charming, pretty, effortless.
Everything I was not.
For some reason, Frankie irritated me, but I didn’t have time to stop and think about why. It didn’t matter. Iain could fuck whoever he wanted. As long as the guy didn’t encourage Iain’s subterfuge, I didn’t care.
Once I finished warning Frankie, I escorted him to his seat. The hall was filling up fast now that showtime was only ten minutes out.
Then, I made my way backstage again. The curtain was still closed, and the guys were in place, chatting and getting ready for their opening number. Iain sounded like his usual jovial self, but I could tell by his pacing back and forth that he was worked up. I could’ve sworn that earlier, he’d been about to tell me something important. But he refused. The guy could talk and joke for days, but ask him a serious question, and he evaded it as he did with every security measure I put in place.
“Do you think they’re okay?”
I turned to find Van, Brodie’s husband, standing behind me. Van was a forty-four-year-old songwriter and the band’s former manager. There was a fifteen-year age gap between him and Brodie. Not that it made any difference, given their intense chemistry both on and off the stage. I’d been a first-hand witness to their love story. It made me a bit envious, if I was being honest.
I’ve never been in love like that.
Not that I wanted or needed to fall in love.
Putting that ridiculous thought aside, I wondered how Van had gotten the drop on me. I hadn’t heard his footsteps, and the floor of this venue wasn’t exactly soundproof.
“What do you mean?” I asked, startled not only by Van’s stealth but by the question.
“The guys. They seem subdued compared to usual.”
“Your husband sounded like himself in the VIP room earlier.”
“Oh, the snark is still there. That hasn’t changed.” Van smiled, and the crinkles at the corners of his eyes deepened. “Don’t mind me. Maybe it’s my imagination or something.”
“I don’t think so. You’ve been around them as long as I have. What’s up?”
Van sighed and crossed his arms. “Ronin and Faise have been quiet since they got back from visiting his brother in California.”
“Well, dealing with a family member in crisis puts a huge strain on anyone.”
“True, but Faise has been more silent than usual. He never wants to go out or even stop by our place. He wasn’t like that even when he was fresh out of rehab himself.”
I took that information in. “He still looks tired. Or perhaps being in the recording studio nearly every day for the past month has worn them out.”
Then I thought about Iain and my instinct about something being off.
“But you’re right,” I continued. “Something’s going on, at least with Iain. Look at him pacing. He’s been acting nervous these past few weeks. But naturally, he won’t tell me what’s going on.”
Van looked around, stepped back into the farthest corner of the wings, and motioned for me to do the same.
“Iain’s phone was buzzing non-stop in the studio. Even when he turned the notifications off, he checked it every five minutes. And when he’s not playing, he’s always staring at his phone.”
“Maybe an ex is harassing him?”
Van shook his head. “That’s not likely. Iain doesn’t date.”
“What about before they hit the big time?”
“He’s never mentioned anyone.”
“I’m keeping a close eye out. If you notice anything off, you tell me.”
Van grimaced.
“I’m not asking you to break any confidence, Van. Only if you think they’re in danger.”
