Rock n Roll Baby Read online

  Chapter Thirteen

  Linc

  “Great set. Great, great set.” Treats beams as we exit the stage. Someone, I don’t know who because our entourage has grown larger in the last couple of weeks and I can’t keep track of everyone, throws me a towel. I wipe off a bucket of sweat and drape the towel around my neck.

  “Excuse me,” says a roadie. His hands are full with two mic stands in each hand and a bass guitar around his neck. I jump out of the way and narrowly avoid getting mowed down by a stream of other staff members moving equipment for the next band--Three Fingers Up--to take the stage. I’d forgotten there was one more band after us. We’ve been moving up in the set list at the gigs we’ve played. For the first week, we were stuck in the middle of a show as filler, but the crowds are loud for us and a few acts have had some trouble maintaining the same energy so now we’re near the end. We aren’t close to being headliners of any event, but being second or third to the last before a huge name is damn good.

  I should be flying high but I’m in this weird state of being exhausted and wired at the same time. The crowd noise boosts me up but the high never lasts. One minute, you’re the king on stage and the next, you’re just a body that needs to be moved out of the way.

  Treat tells us not to get used to the high life because it can all fade quickly. Cherry was wrong about us having to pay back the hotel fees. Treat covered everything for us up until we signed to the label. He pocketed all the money from the gigs we did during that time, but it felt fair. Since then, I’ve been trying to manage it myself with help from Benjy. We’re the poorest so we’re trying to save. Nick wants to spend every last dime. It’s hard when we’re not all on the same page. Benjy and I wanted to rent a tiny apartment downtown but Nick had a hard time giving up the taste of the life that Treat introduced us to. We compromised on a two-bedroom rental about five minutes from the beach, even though it now takes an hour to get to the studio. LA traffic sucks. I think I could walk from one end of the city to the other faster than driving.

  “Treat, let me meet your new boys.” An older man with a close cut gray beard wearing a suit with a pair of white Nikes strolls over.

  “Good to see you, Jeff.” The two shake hands. “This is Linc, our songwriter, Benjy on bass and Nick, the drummer. Guys, this is Jeff Humphrey. He’s a venture capitalist who dabbles in music.”

  “A three-piece set. I like it. Manageable numbers. What’s the plan? Singles? Opening act with some covers? You all look young. What are we thinking? Maybe some Nick at Night appearances?”

  Before Benjy can spit curse words in Jeff’sface, Nick and I step on his toes--literally. “We’re singers, sir. We’d look dumb as hell on a small screen. No offense,” I add.

  Benjy’s audible sigh of relief actually ruffles the hair at the nape of my neck.

  “I think album first. These guys have the capacity of building a rock fanbase which means they need to have an album.”

  “But you’ll need a good single and while I like what I’m hearing, I think you need something poppier. Have you considered a rap feature?”

  Jeff sounds like a nightmare. The three of us exchange a glance. Time for us to jet. “We need to pack up Nick’s kit. Nice to meet you, man. Treat, thanks for setting everything up tonight. We’ll be in the studio in the morning.”

  “The morning?” interjects Jeff. He laughs. “You are green behind the ears if you’re still getting up early. The morning is for one thing only and that’s fucking the side piece you brought home the night before. Am I right, Treats?”

  “Jeff, you’re going to get me in trouble. I’m married now.” Treat turns to us. “I’ll see you around lunch time. Why don’t you put together a couple of tracks for me to listen to?”

  “No problem.” The sweat I’d wiped away before starts dripping down my back. We’ve been working in isolation, but now the label president wants to come and hear what we’re laying down. But I want to get the album pressed. The sooner we get the album done, the sooner we can get booked at festivals, which means real income besides these club gigs and that brings me one step closer to Cherry. I’m not sure how much I need to support two people, but it can’t be a ton more than what I’m pulling in now.

  I miss her so fucking much. “Anyone grab Teddy?” I ask, looking around backstage.

  Nick shakes his head. “Why don’t you get it while Benjy and I pack up?”

  “Okay.” But when I get out front, the stool where Teddy sat during our songs is gone and so is the giant stuffed animal. I push my way through the crowd to the bar. A bartender holds up a finger to let me know he’ll be with me in a minute but one stretches into five. Anxiously, I scan the large venue but don’t see anything remotely resembling the bear. When the bartender finally comes over, I want to grab him by the neck. I settle for squeezing the edge of the wooden bar top so hard I’ll probably get splinters. “The stuffed animal that was on the stool? Where is it?”

  He shrugs. “Some couple walked off with it. Didn’t realize it was yours, man. Sorry about that.”

  “Why’d you let that happen? It wasn’t theirs. We set that up when we came on stage.” I’m heated and my voice is getting loud.

  “Dude, it’s a bear. Buy another one.” He starts to walk away. I lunge over the bar top and grab him by the back of the collar.

  “It wasn’t just a bear,” I seethe. “That bear represented my girl and I can’t fucking play without it.”

  “Dude, I just pour booze here. Tell someone who cares.”

  Two burly security guards come over and drag me away.

  “I’m with the band,” I tell them. “I need to go back and get my crew.”

  “Right.” The humorless men dump me on the curb and ban me from re-entering. My phone is in the back with the equipment because I don’t carry the thing on stage with me. A half an hour later, a furious Benjy and a resigned Nick come rolling around.

  “Where the fuck have you been?” Benjy yells. “We’ve been waiting for you.”

  “I got thrown out and no one would allow me back in.”

  “For what?”

  “Someone stole the bear.”

  “Someone what?”

  “Someone stole my fucking bear!” I yell. I thrust a hand through my hair and kick an empty beer can. I know I sound ridiculous, but I miss Cherry so fucking much. “I have to go,” I tell them.

  Nick sighs. Benjy hasn’t caught on yet. “Go where?”

  “To Cherry.”

  “What? We have to play some tracks for Treats tomorrow.”

  “Play what we have. I’ll be back in two days.” I hold out my hand and a cab rolls to a stop. Benjy jumps out of the truck but I’m inside the back of the cab and tapping the driver’s shoulder before he can reach me. “LAX,” I say.

  I don’t have my phone or any luggage, but I have my credit card. I have to see my girl. I just do.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Cherry

  I lean up against the side of the car, my eyes on the airport exit. Benjy called me hours ago to tell me Linc was headed my way. He’d had a little panic in his voice but I assured him that I would send him back. The thought of seeing Linc excites me. Even if it’s only going to be for a few hours, I plan to enjoy each of them. I don’t care if it means getting no sleep tonight. I’ve missed him so damn much.

  A moment later the doors slide open and Linc comes strolling out. His eyes widen in surprise when he sees me. I think he had plans to surprise me, but I’ve beat him to it. I run, throwing myself at him. He catches me and I wrap my legs around him. His hands go to my ass as I kiss him deeply. I fight back tears as he kisses me back. We’re a mess with all teeth and tongue but neither of us care; we just want to feel connected again. I hadn’t realized how much I needed this.

  “Missed you so damn much,” he says, breaking the kiss for a moment, sounding out of breath. I know I am, but I don’t care. I go back to kissing him. Who needs oxygen? This is all I need. He carries me over to the car. I bury my fac
e in his neck. I need to get it together. I was supposed to be the strong one here, telling him to turn around and get his ass back to California, but too many emotions burst free when I saw him. I decide to be selfish for a little while. I just want to feel him against me, to have him hold me, even if it’s only for a short time.

  “I love you,” I say into his neck. He puts me in the passenger seat of the car and buckles my seatbelt before running around and hopping into the driver seat, taking off.

  “There.” I point to the back road that heads into the country behind the airport. “Let’s park.” I don’t want to go to either of our homes. Not that we would even go to mine. My parents are so unpredictable that I don’t want to ruin the little time Linc and I have together with their nonsense. While his parents are nice, I want to spend time with only him. I don’t want to share him with anyone today.

  The car rolls to a stop when we get to a secluded area. Before Linc even finishes shifting the car into park, I’m unbuckling my seatbelt and climbing into his lap. He scoots the seat back, making plenty of room for me. His hand comes to my face, tracing his finger down it, as though he’s memorizing every part of it. I lean into his touch, enjoying his affection. God, I’ve missed him so much.

  “I don’t know if I can continue going this long without seeing you, Cherry. It’s killing me.” My thumb reaches out to sweep across his cheek. I lean down to give him a quick kiss. I want to tell him that I feel the same. That I want him to come back. That I’m carrying his baby. But I don’t say any of those things. Tonight is not the time for that.

  “You can and you will. You’re doing it for the both of us. So that we can have a better life and future. I know it’s not easy. Believe me, I miss you like crazy.” I drop my forehead to his. “Our love has been so easy, if you think about it. People go half their lives without finding their other half. Not us. We’re crazy if we don’t think there might be times we have to be apart for a little, but we’ll get through it.”

  “You always make me feel better.” He brushes his mouth against mine. “You’re right. In the end we’ll be together.”

  I nod my head in agreement. “If we can get through this we can get through anything.” I run my hands down his chest. “You have to go back.” I don’t tell him Benjy already booked him a flight back. We have a little time.

  “What I’ve got to do is make love to my girl.” I unbuckle his belt. His hands slip under my dress to my ass. “Want these.” l gasp when he rips my panties right off me.

  “They're all yours.” I pull his cock out from his jeans, giving him a few strokes while his fingers go to my clit.

  “You’re fucking soaked for me already.”

  I moan my response. It’s been too long since he’s touched me. My body is more than ready for him.

  “Put me in,” he demands. I shift, lining him up with my entrance. I want to go slow, but the moment the head of his cock breaches me, we both lose it.

  I drop down onto him, taking him deep inside of me. He grabs my hips, groaning my name. He takes over, moving me up and down on him. He’s as hungry for me as I am for him. He jacks himself in and out of me, unable to wait for me to come fully down onto him. The orgasm hits us both quick and hard. I fall on top of him, wrapping my arms around his neck. I hold him as tight as I can. His warm release feels so good deep inside of me. I’ve missed this connection.

  “I should be embarrassed with how fast I came but who can blame me?” His hands drift up and down my back. His cock is still hard inside of me. It doesn't matter how fast he comes; he’s always ready to go again. We have a few hours. We’ll be using them all. I sit up. He groans again, his cock jerking inside of me.

  “We’re just getting started.” I smile. He grabs me, taking my mouth in a kiss. I kiss him with everything I have, knowing it will have to be enough for now.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Linc

  The car is cramped and I stopped having feeling in my legs about an hour ago, but Cherry’s sitting between my thighs, her back against my torso, her sweet ass snugged up against my finally quiescent cock, so this is the best I’ve felt in weeks. A pleasant exhaustion has set in. I got into Shindale by morning, had sex with Cherry twice before lunch, ate a gas station egg salad sandwich which was better than it sounds, swallowed a cup full of mouthwash, made love to Cherry again, and finally passed out. When I woke up, the sun was setting and Cherry had fallen asleep on my chest. She woke up because her stomach was rumbling.

  We still had some convenience store food—a couple slices of pizza that had gotten cold, two water bottles, the mouthwash, a pack of gum, and a bag of Doritos. I’m really showing my girl the high life.

  “You’ve got to come to LA,” I tell her, rubbing my chin across the top of her head. “You should have seen me last night. I went out to get your teddy bear, but someone had stolen it. I nearly attacked the bartender who was supposed to keep an eye on it. Two security guards dragged me out. Not to be dramatic, but it’s pretty obvious I’m not going to make it without you.”

  “You’re going to have to make it sound a lot nicer if you want me to leave Shindale,” she teases.

  At least I think she’s teasing, but then I think back to how all our conversations have gone and is it just me complaining about how shit the life is in LA? Have I made it sound so bad that she doesn’t want to come? I never even thought about that. Damn. What an idiot I am.

  “Maybe I’ve exaggerated a tiny bit,” I admit.

  “I do want to be there with you, you know that, right?”

  “Yeah, but I also know you want to finish with school, which is smart because one of us has to have a college degree or what will we tell our kids? Stay in school unlike your pops who made millions after dropping out?”

  “Millions is it?”

  “Nothing less. I’m going to buy you a big house in Malibu. You should see Treat’s place, baby. It’s incredible. Three stories of windows overlooking the ocean and it’s so fucking blue. I couldn’t believe it. But also cold as hell.”

  “Really? I never would’ve guessed that.”

  “I know! I was shocked. He threw us this big dinner at his place and then afterwards, we went down to the beach. Benjy and I stripped down to our undies and ran into the water. All the while, Treat is yelling something at us but we’re screaming our heads off in excitement so we can’t hear a word. We race into the waves and it’s not until we’re in the ocean waist high that we register how fucking arctic the water is. We crawl out, our balls shriveled into tiny raisins, and find Treat nearly asphyxiating from laughing so hard. He has pictures and says it’s going into our first album photo book.”

  She giggles and the sound is so pretty that all I want to do is tell her stories that will make her laugh. I bury my face in her hair. “Do you have any idea how much I love you? It’s probably unhealthy, but I wake up thinking about you and when I see something new and cool, my first thought is to share that with you.”

  “I love you, too.” She ducks her head to kiss my arm that’s wrapped around her chest.

  “Tell me everything I’ve missed back home.”

  There’s a prolonged silence and then, “It’s Shindale. I don’t think there’s anything here to miss.”

  There’s a note in her voice that I can’t quite make out. Suddenly there’s an uncertainty that I’ve never experienced with Cherry before. It strikes me that all I’ve done is talk about what I want—Cherry in LA, but I’m not giving enough consideration to her needs and wants. I mentally slap myself across the forehead. What an ass I’ve been.

  “Have you considered going to some other college than the local one?”

  “Not really. I can’t afford it and”—she holds up her hand like a stop sign—“no, I’m not taking your money to pay for school.”

  “Why not? What’s the point of making it if I can’t spend it on you?”

  “Because it’s one thing to buy me roses and a teddy bear, but it’s an entirely other thing for you to pay
my tuition. Do you know how much it is?”

  I have some vague idea, but even if it was as much as a house, it would benefit our family in the end. I try to point that out. “Me paying for your education is like an investment. When you get out of college, you’ll get a job and you can support both of us.”

  “What about our kids? I’d rather have you save for them.”

  Kids? I like that she’s thinking about our future. “Point made.” What would it be like if Cherry was pregnant? I run a hand over her bare stomach, imagining it round with our baby. “What if—“

  She twists in my arms, pushing her knee into a small space between my hip and the back of the car seat so she’s straddling me. “A baby? Really, Linc? You want a baby right now?”

  It’s hard to think with her hot cunt so close to my dick. “Yes? I mean, okay, maybe not right this moment because you’ve got school and we’re a thousand miles apart, but I definitely want a baby with you.” I reach between us and rub my dick head against the wet opening of her pussy. She makes a sound as I push into her. “You okay, baby?” I ask, rubbing her back. She nods and drops her head to my shoulder. Slowly, I ease into her, parting her swollen tissues with my broad head. Blood pumps through me like a steady drumbeat. As long as we have each other, no distance can separate us. “One day, we’ll make a baby. You’ll be the best mom ever.”

  “Not right now, though, right?”

  I’ll say yes to anything she wants. “Right.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Cherry

  “That man of yours is really blowing up.” I take another sip of my strawberry milkshake. It’s become an addiction of mine. Luckily I get them for free here at the diner or it would be eating into my tips. I was actually a little surprised with how much I was making in tips. It’s working out way better than I thought it would. School is almost over and I could spend the summer racking up extra money. I’m not sure how the college thing is going to work with me being pregnant, but I’m going to do as much as I can. I’ll end up having the baby right in the middle of a semester which isn’t the most opportune time, but I’ll plan ahead for it.