Free Rocked All Night (BBW New Adult Rock Star Romance) by Clara Bayard

performance, pulled even with us as we approached the back door of the club. “I can come along, if you want.”
    “No,” Rick said, a bit too forcefully. “No point making all of us leave early and miss out on the fun.”
    Matthew looked at him and then over at me, but didn’t say anything. He just nodded and wandered slowly back towards the dance floor.
    “Slick Ricky, very slick.”
    “Shut up, Jules.”
    He called me Jules again. I grinned and there was a spring in my step as we left the club and climbed into the waiting stretch limousine. We sat next to each other, not touching, but as far away from Dex as possible. Once back at the hotel we’d have a few hours of night left to be alone together and I planned to make every second count.

Seven
    The next evening I was sleep deprived but really, really happy. I’d gotten up at some time after noon following another multi-orgasmic session with Rick, had lunch with Becca as promised and listened to her complain about some little tiff she and Dex had, which explained the state I’d discovered him in the night before. It said something that a tiny disagreement could make him feel the need to get hammered. I wasn’t sure if it was good or bad, but something, for sure.
    Now I was heading over to the venue for our first show. It sat thousands and was one of the smaller ones we’d be playing. But it was the first and I could barely keep from bouncing in my seat on the way. Even the presence of my mother yapping bullshit into my ear couldn’t contain my excitement.
    As soon as we pulled in and a PA handed over my pass, I practically sprinted inside. The arena was huge. And in two days’ time, it would be filled with people – all looking at and listening to me singing my songs. I could barely believe it was finally happening.
    I had to calm down enough to get a tour and run of the day’s schedule, but I was so energized it felt like I’d had a dozen cups of coffee. I noticed my backing band helping to load in equipment for rehearsal and I got even more excited, if that was even possible.
    Making my way out in front of the stage, I noticed one problem. Instead of two platforms extending into either side of the standing-room section, there was just one in the middle. That made some of my choreography dicey and I realized I needed to check in with the stage manager, Adam. I asked a venue staff member and he said Adam was in a meeting but would be backstage when he finished. So, I decided to check out my dressing room and wait there. I wandered down the line of labeled rooms but didn’t see mine, so I went back in the other direction. On the way I heard Rick’s voice coming from the green room and waffled about whether or not to go in.
    Part of me wanted to, of course. To see him and touch him. And, I was somewhat surprised to realize, just to hang out with him. I’d come to enjoy his gruff demeanor and the moments of humor that snuck out when he wasn’t paying attention.
    I was about to just go for it when I heard another voice, this one raised in anger. Becca. Knowing their history, I was going to break up the inevitable argument when Rick’s words stopped me cold, mid-stride.
    “Becca, wait,” he said. “I know it isn’t your fault they’ve fucked up the dressing room assignments.”
    “That’s right, it isn’t. Not everything that happens wrong in the world is my fault.”
    “Hey, what the fuck, I…” He paused. “No, you’re right. I deserve that.”
    “Yes, you do. Wait, what?”
    “I’m sorry.”
    There was a long silence.
    “Did you just apologize to me?” she asked, clearly floored by this unlikely occurrence.
    “Yeah.”
    “Oh. Um…oh. Okay. Well, I’ve got a call into the house manager and I’m sure they’ll correct it before tonight’s technical rehearsal.”
    “Okay. I’ll leave you to it, then.”
    “All right.” Another pause. “Rick…”
    “Yeah?”
    “Thanks. For apologizing. We’re all under a lot of pressure and