Chapter 28 Bed Hopper
Men and women are openly crying in the audience. And I can’t help the tear that runs from my eye.
I quickly wipe it away.
Natte returns back to the mike stand with his much right in the pocket. He fits his mike in the stand. Dennis climbs back into his drum sticks Matt is wandering back to his place on Natte’s right hand side.
And for this moment, all three of them look a little lost, together.
It makes my heart ache with love for Natte.
Natte leans down and puts his right hand by the mike stand.
I see Sam quietly reappear back on stage to Natte’s left.
“This song we’re playing next is one Bonny and I wrote before his last days. It was the one Bonny was most proud of … his favourite, and I know how much it meant to him when I released it on his burial and you guys loved it too, when you took a chance on us … it’s one I’m sure you’ll all be familiar with, so I want you stretch your lungs out and sing this one with me for bonny.”
Natte swings his guitar around to the front, bows his head looking down at his guitar as he strums a few chords, then Dennis kicks the beat in and Natte lifts his head and starts to sing one of their last biggest hit, ‘ down to you’.
Down to You
The coffee’s cold on the kitchen side
The ghost of you has nowhere to hide
I catch myself turning to say your name
But your silence hits me just the same.
We drew the maps, we planned the flight
Now I’m just a pilot in an empty jet.
(Chorus)
And it all comes back, it comes down to you
In everything we did you left no clue
I’m singing the words that we used to write
You’re the only person I’ll ever believe
I’ll lift my voice till the sky breaks through
Because everything I am... comes down to you.
I get goose bumps all over my skin. Listening as the crowd goes wild. And I stand here, transfixed singing along with the words, watching Natte. I can see how hard it is for him to get through this song, and I know he’s thinking of Bonny the whole time.
I wish I had been there for him when Bonny died. I wasn’t then, but I want to be every day from now on.
Natte and I will always be friends. No matter what. I’m never losing him again.
I’m at the after show party which is being held at this upmarket club. It’s packed to the rafters with showbiz like people from concert
I’m glad I dressed nice for tonight as most of the women here are glamorous and classy. I went for something a little different though, well I always wear different.
I’m wearing a pair of high waisted pinstriped trousers that fit like a second skin, paired with a fitted black velvet waistcoat worn with nothing underneath. To finish it off, I have on my vintage leather biker boots that are scuffed just enough to look cool. It was love at first sight and I just had to have them. I know most of the woman here are in dresses, but I like to be a little different, and technically I am working, so it’s like I’m wearing work clothes.
I’m at the bar with a couple of Natte's guards and Garry who I was chatting to earlier, drinking a margarita.
I haven’t seen Natte since the show. He had some interviews to do straight after, so when he exited stage he was swept off by steve
I was going to hang around and wait for him but Garry came over and said they were heading straight for the party, and did I want to catch a ride with them; normally the guards have to stay on and pack up after the show, but Natte, being the good boss he is, lets them pack up in the morning so they can enjoy the party with everyone else. So of course I accepted, better than hanging around the stadium like a spare part.
“So how long have you worked for Natte?” I ask one of the guards. Gary is busily chatting to one of the other guards, Jack is I think his name is.
The guy is a cute guy, short dark hair, about six foot, quite muscular, and I'm sure must be from all the heavy lifting he does on tour.
“three years on and off,” he replies in his strong American accent, leaning back against the bar, resting his elbows on it.
A lot of bands have crews for abroad when they concert, but Natte has a set group of guys he trusts that do shows everywhere with him.
“You must have seen a lot of the world.”
“A few places,” he grins. “It’s a good gig working for these guys … so how did you land up here?” he asks.
“Oh, I er …” I’m just about to reply, when I see the guards eyes flick up, and I instantly feel Natte’s presence behind me.
Turning, I almost come face to face with him, he’s that close.
“Hey,” I say beaming.
“Hey, beautiful.” He kisses my cheek, and rests his hand on my waist and stares across at the guard.
I feel a little heady under his touch.
“You want a drink, Natte?” the guard asks.
“Beer,” he replies. His tone is stony.
He turns to the bar to order Natte’s drink for him.
Sliding out of Natte’s arm, I retrieve my margarita from the bar, feeling a little annoyed by his big brother attitude again.
“You shouldn’t leave your drink unattended like that,” he comments. “Anyone could slip something in it.”
I glance down at my drink, then back up at him. “You saying your staff are untrustworthy?” I grin over my glass at him, as I take a sip.
He shakes his head, slowly at me, his eyes already gripping mine.
“You forget your shirt tonight?” He gestures at my bare arms, and waistcoat.
“Funny.” I roll my eyes at him. Then pouting, I say, “You don’t like my outfit?”
He moistens his lips with his tongue. “No, I do, it’s really nice.” His eyes flicker to my boobs, then back to my face; I don’t miss that. “I just happen to know every other guy in this place is gonna think so too, and I’m gonna spend most of tonight kicking their asses.”
Sighing, I shake my head. “You can quit with the big brother act, Natte. I'm not kids anymore. I can take care of myself.”
He presses his lips together, grinning. “Big brother act?”
“Yeah, the whole ‘hands off shia she’s got a boyfriend’ thing you keep doing. I’m pretty much the only girl on your team here and if you scare off every guy who talks to me, I’ll only be left with you to talk with.”
“Suits me.”
“Natte!” I exclaim, feeling quick to exasperation. “I’m not a bed hopper you know. I’m not going to sleep with all these guys just because I talk to them. I’m not going to cheat on Will, it’d just be nice to have people to talk to when you’re not around.”
And it’s kind of annoying, and hurtful that he thinks I am to be honest.