The Hardest Set (Willow Son #4/Brothers of Rock #19) (4 page)

“
He
’
s right,
”
Ryker said.
“
Those
songs were important to me. I trusted these four guys with the music. They took
decent songs and made them hits.
”

“
No,
”
Colby said.
“
You brought us hits, Ryker. We
just got to play them.
”

“
So
you guys are like brothers,
”
Jackie said.
“
Deeply
bonded.
”

“
We
fight like brothers,
”
Jett
said.
“
Me and Ryker have
gone a few rounds.
”

“
So
I
’
ve heard,
”
Jackie said.
“
Now, talk to me about this
opening band thing. Seems a little commercial, right?
”

Van laughed.
“
I like you, brother. You
’
re honest. Truthfully? It
’
s such bullshit. But  we know
that there
’
s a band out
there waiting to be found. Hell, they
’
re
probably already found. They
’
re
just working and growing. They have a massive following. We
’
ve probably heard them before.
That
’
s who we want on tour
with us. Someone not to just be an opening band. Someone who can steal our
spotlight and steal our audience. Because when that happens and you
’
ve got two mega bands touring
the world, that
’
s when the
music matters most of all.
”

Van then stood up and patted the
table.

“
You
out?
”
Jackie asked.

“
I
’
m out,
”
Van said.
“
Listen
to the music.
”

Van walked to the poster in the
room. He was larger than life in the poster. He didn
’
t know what show it came from or what song the band
had been playing when the picture was taken.

“
I
’
ve heard rumors that another
album is coming soon,
”
Jackie said.
“
Care to
comment?
”

“
No
comment,
”
Jett said and
laughed.

“
We
’
re always writing,
”
Colby said.
“
We
’
re
always recording. That
’
s
just what we do as a band. It
’
s
our livelihood. We write music that we hope can connect with our loyal fans.
That
’
s what
’
s kept us going through the good
and the bad.
”

Van grinned and opened the door,
leaving the room.

Harry was standing there, typing
away on his cell. He looked up and raised an eyebrow.
“
Everything okay?
”

“
Yeah,
”
Van said.
“
I have nothing else to say.
”

Harry shook his head.
“
You
’
re really filling out those rockstar shoes lately,
you know that?
”

“
What?
Because I don
’
t want to
answer the same ten questions? Because I don
’
t
want to hear about choosing an opening band? It
’
s
simple, Harry. Just let us play some music and do what we want.
”

“
Van,
you guys have the world at your fingertips right now. Whether you realize it or
not. You want to go globally next? Portis has a blank check for you. Those
interviews keep you connected with the fans. They eat up the interview, buy the
album, come to a show.
”

“
Then
let us do something different. Let us grab the guitars and teach the fans how
to play a song. How
’
s that
sound? Give back to the kids sitting on their floor in their bedroom, wanting
to learn how to play a Willow Son song.
”

Harry nodded.
“
That
’
s not too bad of an idea.
”

“
Of
course not,
”
Van said.

“
You
know what I
’
m going to say
though.
”

“
What
’
s that?
”

“
There
’
s something you need to do for
me.
”

“
You
’
re getting more and more like
Portis, you know.
”

The door opened behind Van. Jett
and Ryker came out.

“
Don
’
t get too comfortable, guys,
”
Harry said.
“
Van wants to do something else.
”

“
Me?
”
Van asked.

“
What
now?
”
Jett asked.

“
I
want to play some music. Talk about a song. Teach kids how to play.
”

“
I
love that idea,
”
Ryker
said.

“
Jackie
still in there?
”
Van asked.

“
Yeah,
”
Jett said.
“
He and Colby are debating a top
five list of the biggest influences on Willow Son.
”

“
There
’
s a catch,
”
Van said and threw a thumb at
Harry.

“
What
now?
”
Ryker asked.

“
It
’
s for Portis,
”
Harry said.
“
I was going to talk to you about
it later. But if we
’
re here
now. There
’
s a party. It
’
s some kind of conference thing.
Basically, it
’
s a way for
Portis to show himself off. And that means showing you off. You
’
re the reason the guy has a
business right now.
”

“
Do
I have to dress up?
”
Van
asked.

“
Probably,
”
Harry said.
“
It
’
s
a catered thing.
”

“
I
’
m not dressing up,
”
Van said. He turned and walked
back to the room. He opened the door.
“
Let
’
s play some music, Jackie.
”

As the door started to shut, Van
heard Harry say,
“
He
’
s going to have to dress up.
”

“
Good
luck with that,
”
Ryker
said.

Van grinned. He liked playing this
rebel card right now. It kind of all fit with the whole broken heart thing
still going on.

**

“
You
got dressed up?
”
Colby
asked.

Van tugged on the black jacket.
“
I compromised.
”

Van wore black jeans, black shoes,
and a black suit jacket over a white t-shirt. He made sure to wear some
necklaces and the t-shirt wasn
’
t
too clean looking. It also had a rip along the collar, making the ensemble look
gritty and edgy. After all, he was a rockstar.

The catered affair was Portis
’
s way of drinking with high
profile music executives, movie producers, some big time actors and actresses,
and a lot of people with a lot of money who wanted pictures with famous people.

“
Hey,
”
Colby said as they stood alone.
“
You know the deal with
this. You can
’
t get crazy
tonight. We have to be there, wander around, take some pictures, and then
split. I was thinking maybe getting into the studio if we have some time. Just
keep the ball rolling.
”

Van opened his jacket.
“
Look, bro, I
’
m not hiding anything. I
’
m good. Order me some expensive
water and I
’
m happy.
”

Colby laughed.
“
You
’
re an asshole, Van.
”

“
I
know. It
’
ll pass.
”

“
It
’
s still bothering you, huh?
”

“
You
wouldn
’
t get it. You have
Tessa. You two were destined to be together. Always bumping into each other
until it made sense.
”

Colby put a hand to Van
’
s shoulder.
“
Don
’
t forget, Van, at one point, we were chasing each
other. We wanted each other. We made it happen. It wasn
’
t easy. It
’
s
still not easy when I
’
m
away. I hate to say this because you
’
re
heartbroken right now
…
but
if it
’
s meant to be, it
will.
”

“
And
that
’
s my point,
”
Van said. He patted Colby
’
s cheek.
“
I thought it was meant to be. That
’
s why she kept the ring. That
’
s why she said she was waiting.
”

“
You
knew she had someone.
”

“
She
had my fucking ring, bro.
”

The rest of band piled into the
room. Everyone almost looked about the same. The attempted dressed up look with
a touch of rockstar.

“
You
look like you
’
re about to
kiss Colby,
”
Brantley said.

“
I
’
m actually closer to knocking
his teeth out,
”
Van said.
He then whispered to Colby.
“
Don
’
t put yourself in my shoes right
now. Don
’
t put me in your
shoes.
”

“
Okay,
brother,
”
Colby said.
“
Do what you need to do.
”

Van turned and tugged on his suit
jacket. He whacked Jett in the shoulder.
“
You
ready for this? Kick some ass at this catered affair?
”

“
What
are the chances that we end up playing a song?
”
Ryker asked.

“
Pretty
good,
”
Van said.
“
You know Portis. And Harry. Hey,
all I need is you guys to let me the hell down and the cycle is complete.
”

“
You
need to find someone else,
”
Jett said.
“
I
’
m not going to hide it, man. You
’
re so hung up on a damn ring.
And a damn woman that doesn
’
t
want you. Get over it.
”

Van turned and let out a sigh. A
second later he lunged at Jett, taking him to the ground.

So much for looking nice.

4.

The band arrived with some sense of
style. Someone opened the car door and they all got out. Fans were there
screaming. People were taking pictures. People reached out, looking for an
autograph. Van looked around and wasn
’
t
sure what to think. This was far beyond some kind of catered affair. Portis
wanted this. He wanted the fanfare and the parade. It helped his brand.

Asshole.

Van slapped hands with everyone he
could reach.

At the door to the hall, two men
opened the doors and said how much they enjoyed Willow Son.

Inside, it was even more wild. The
entire room lit up with applause for the band.

“
Is
this for Portis or for us?
”
Van whispered to Brantley.

“
Who
cares?
”
Brantley said.
“
Just look for the women. A lot
of dresses are going to end up on my floor tonight.
”

Van laughed.

Portis rushed to the band and
quickly cut between Colby and Jett. Cameras appeared, snapping picture after
picture.

“
So
glad you made it,
”
Portis
said as he patted Colby
’
s
chest.

For a second, Van thought Colby was
going to punch Portis. That wouldn
’
t
have been the first time it happened.

“
Glad
we
’
re here,
”
Ryker said.

“
There
’
s a lot happening tonight,
”
Portis said.
“
Plenty of people we can get to
know. Work on sponsorships, touring partners, financing opportunities.
”

“
You
know none of that matters to us,
”
Van said.
“
That
’
s between you and Harry.
”

“
You
’
re right,
”
Portis said. He pointed at Van.
“
But I need you here to entertain
the people.
”