Read Online Cadence (Ruby Riot Book 1) by Lisa Swallow - Free Book Online

be like at the after party.
    “Big kids,” says Ruby as she appears from the dressing room.
    “We are kids. You’re spending too much time with the new, serious Jem.”
    Ruby adjusts the strap on her black cherry-printed halter dress. “Don’t start on Jem again.”
    I want to say to her that less than two months ago he ripped her heart out, and ask how she could forgive him, but I don’t. Ruby has her combat boots on and she wears those on days she means business. Days you don’t want to piss her off.
    “How you feeling about tonight?” she asks.
    “Bloody terrified.”
    Ruby nods. “Me too, but we’ll be fucking awesome.”
    I admit my biggest fear. “I’m worried people only came for Phoenix, and won’t be interested in us.”
    “Seriously, Jax? They fucking love you!”
    Last night, at the club, reinforces Ruby’s words, but I don’t mean chicks. I don’t want to be the pretty boy guitarist who’s looked down on by established musicians because I appeal to the teens; I want to be known for my talent. Not that I’m complaining about the girls – perk of the job.
    “Yeah. I guess.” I shake my hands out and take deep breaths. “What time is it?”
    Ruby pulls a face to indicate she doesn’t know.
    “Five minutes.” The stage manager, Barry, hold his palm up, fingers spread out and my stomach lurches.
    As I step toward the stage door to take a look at the crowd, Ruby grabs my arm. “Don’t. You’ll feel worse.”
    “Will! Nate!” I turn and yell. When there’s no response, I yell again.
    “Jesus, man!” Nate appears from the dressing room and strides toward us.
    Seconds later, Will appears and charges behind his brother, jumping on his back. Nate stumbles, but Will locks his arms around his neck and legs around his waist. “Go, go, go!” he calls out.
    Nate laughs and the pair approaches before Nate tips Will off his back. “Oh, serious face!” he says to me and juts his bottom lip out.
    I glower and Nate taps me on the head with his drumsticks. “Have fun! This is going to be a night we’ll always remember!” He looks over my shoulder. “You okay, Rube?”
    “Yeah, I’m good.” Breathing deeply, she turns and heads to the stage door, pausing. “Let’s do this.”
    The brothers are physical, but Ruby never is; she retreats into a weird zone of her own before we go on stage and shuts out everything around her. Will and Nate flank me, arms across my shoulders and mine around their waist.
    “We made it, man!” says Nate. “We fucking made it!”
    Stepping onto stage, I squint into the darkness, up at the half-empty rows of seats. The venue lights are dim, the audience hard to see, but the stadium floor is half-empty. A murmur runs through the crowd followed by a cheer as I turn to grab my guitar. Our equipment sits in front of Blue Phoenix’s so everything can be cleared quickly for the main act, and I check for the taped mark on the floor by my mic stand, looping the strap across my shoulder.
    The stadium floor may be half-empty, but still three times as many as our usual audience; the cheer echoing around is louder than I expected. Used to small spaces, I’m worried the intimacy and interaction with the audience will be lost. Anxious excitement batters my stomach and chest as I snapshot this moment in my mind. I nod at a smiling Ruby and look back to Nate who taps the opening beat to ‘My Kinda Disaster’.
    A shout goes up rippling through the people pushed against the nearby barrier, and a voice yells the first line.
    They recognise the song.
    They know us.
    These people came to see Ruby Riot.
    This crowd will walk out of here tonight buzzing with the energy crackling through the room.
    Yeah, we fucking made it.

 
     
    Chapter Eight
     
     
     
    TEGAN
     
    I don’t notice the extra bodies filling the space because I’m so engrossed in Mac’s tales of touring. Mac assures me a lot of the time on tour is mundane, but he tells some funny stories about the young Blue