Free The Loneliest Tour by Karolyn James

get this? ” Jett asked.
    “ Are
you kidding me? ” Colby
asked. “ Bro, that ’ s one of a dozen pictures that ’ s been shared a million times
today. You ’ re actually
trending. ”
    “ Trending? ” Jett asked.
    “ People
are sharing it and talking about it, ” Van said. “ Portis wanted to
know if it was a PR move. ”
    Jett crumbled up the paper and
dropped it to the floor.
    There was a knock and then someone
asked, “ Everyone dressed? ”
    It was Portis.
    Standing next to him was Andrea.
She had a leather folder with her. She smiled and winked at Jett.
    “ Seriously? ” Jett asked. “ What do you want, Portis? ”
    “ Just
checking on my favorite band. What do you have for me? ”
    “ We ’ re setting up, ” Ryker said.
    “ Okay.
Well, this is Andrea, ” Portis said. “ She and Jett
know each other already. ”
    Brantley hit a few cymbals.
    “ Dude! ” Jett yelled. “ Cut it. ”
    Andrea laughed. “ Well, the shirtless thing is
viral. Nothing we can do to stop it. So I have an idea. ”
    “ What ’ s that? ” Jett asked.
    “ How
about a shirtless picture of the band? For a pre-release thing for the tour? ”
    “ Are
you serious? ” Jett asked.
    “ Thanks,
man, ” Colby said and
slapped Jett on the back. “ Now
we have to get half naked because of you. ”
    “ You
don ’ t have to, ” Andrea said. “ But it would be smart. ”
    “ No,
they have to, ” Portis said. “ I have a photographer
coming in thirty minutes. ”
    Portis winked and left the room.
    “ Just
great, ” Jett asked.
    “ Don ’ t blame me, ” Andrea said. “ I get paid to come up with good
ideas. ”
    “ Technically
it was my idea, ” Jett said. “ You ’ re welcome. ”
    Andrea smiled. “ And you ’ re welcome I don ’ t
tell anyone about your bedroom problem. ”
    She left as the rest of the band
clapped and yelled.
    “ What
the hell happened? ” Brantley
asked.
    “ Did
the little Jett forget to show up? ” Ryker asked.
    “ Fuck
you guys, ” Jett said.
    He took out his guitar and plugged
it in.
    The band kept pestering him.
    “ Well,
if his name is Jett, ” Colby
said, rubbing his chin. “ Then
I guess you could call his package … a puddle jumper? ”
    “ Puddle
jumper! ” Van yelled and
cracked up. “ Holy shit.
That makes sense. Jumping puddles? You know … cause they ’ re wet …”
    “ Shit,
we get it, ” Ryker said.
    “ Wait, ” Brantley said. “ The PR lady couldn ’ t get up a good story …”
    Colby gave a thumbs down.
    Jett finished tuning his guitar. He
then folded his arms and waited.
    “ So, ” Van said. “ Wait. Jett was grounded. Not
cleared for take off. ”
    “ That ’ s a good one, ” Colby said. “ I like that. ”
    “ He
couldn ’ t get clearance, ” Ryker said. “ No, wait, that doesn ’ t make sense. Hmm … he couldn ’ t get hard …”
    “ I
could get hard! ” Jett
growled. “ I didn ’ t want to sleep with her.
Dammit. I was drunk. I just wanted to crash and get the night over with. Now
let ’ s do this. ”
    Jett flipped the switch on his amp
and his guitar came to life. He quickly started to  play something, anything.
He warmed up for a few seconds and then started to play the guitar solo from
the new song. Ryker quickly caught up with Jett and started to play his part.
Van was next. Then Brantley. Once the solo was done, Colby stepped to the mic
and started to sing. They ran through the last part of the new song.
    “ Are
we warmed up now? ” Van
asked.
    “ Are
you done with the dick jokes? ” Jett asked.
    “ Hey,
come on, ” Colby asked. “ We ’ re
just fucking around. ”
    Jett sighed. He nodded. “ Okay. I ’ m just nervous. I mean … dick jokes … buying pills …”
    There was an uncomfortable silence
until Jett smiled.
    “ You
ass, ” Ryker said. “ Was that your attempt at a joke
about yourself? ”
    “ Maybe, ” Jett said.
    “ Stick
to guitar playing, ” Van
said.
    “ Good
idea. ”
    The band ran