Pour Some Sugar On Me // Def Leopard

Lifting heavy shit blows.

"Where does this one go?" I grit my teeth as my biceps bulge with the load I'm carrying.

"On the truck. Same as the one before. And the one before that. And before you ask about the next load, it goes on the truck, too." Archie, the big boss sounds irritated with me. To be fair I've asked a shit ton of questions. But now I'm asking the dumb questions for the reaction I get. Archie doesn't disappoint. He adjusts his hat while grumbling something about newbies.

Damn, this is taking hours. Needling Archie has been the only fun part of this job. We spent an entire day setting up before sound check, during sound check and still more after sound check. During Brianna's show it slowed down for a bit but not much. We still had things to move. Now the show's been over for hours and we're still taking everything down and loading the truck to take it to the next venue. The tour hasn't officially started but this is a decent preview of my life for the next few months. If there's some kind of roadie privilege to working with rock stars that keeps these fuckers coming back for more, I haven't seen what it is, yet.

Makes me want to wring the neck of that casting director that passed on me.

"We'll see," I grumble to myself, remembering the comment he gave meant to string me along.

"We'll see your ass at the unemployment line if you don't keep hauling." Archie barks from the loading area. Looks like his hearing hasn't been damaged from the decibel level of the concerts he's worked over the years. Good to know.

"Sure thing, boss." I salute the man and put a little more effort into my current load. I'm not as sold on this job as I was a few days ago. I haven't even seen Char around here at all today, which is the entire reason I signed on for this. To be near her. To work past whatever bullshit got in our way and get to the woman who gets my heart racing. I could use some excitement in my life. I'm tired of the hook ups. I haven't had nearly as many as Char makes it sound. A girl here and there, sometimes it leads to a second date, but more often than not I'm bored out of my mind. These Hollywood girls need a ton of ego stroking.

Yes, I think you're pretty.

No, that girl isn't as hot as you.

Of course, you're good enough for this part.

Maybe I sound like an asshole, but a guy can only reassure a girl so many times before he taps out. Although I'm starting to understand their neediness after this last round of auditions. Trying to make it in this industry tears at your self-worth more than I realized.

I take a deep breath, because the last thing I need is a guilt trip about the ghost of girlfriends past. I can't change how I've been before. I can only deal with now. And right now, I'm itching to get more alone time with Char. To make her smile. To hear her rip me apart a little. To watch the shock on her face when she's underestimated me. That happened a couple of times at the coffee shop. Now I need it like a drug. I'm addicted.

"Hey, you've got to see this." One of the other roadies calls to us. "Some guy just proposed to his girlfriend up in the nosebleeds." The guy holds out his phone, waving for us to gather around.

"The show's been over for an hour. Why was he still here?" Another guy asks. I think his name is Randy.

"Apparently he's got an in with the resort owner and Brianna's people. They were at the after party up the hill with her and the Citizen One guys, that event center we had to carry Brianna's keto meals to."

Zack's keto meals. Brianna eats like a normal person. But I guess no one cares who the stuff belongs to if Brianna's the one paying the crew. Her entourage has taken over this entire mountain resort which is in the thick of a three-day music festival. Brianna was the headliner so the energy at this show was pretty epic. The performers and their guests are all partying at a fancy event center on the resort grounds not far from the on-site concert venue. Zack invited me to join them after we finish breaking down.

"I was out there tearing down the sound booth and saw one of those photojournalists following the couple, so I figured I'd record it too. Maybe TMZ will pay for a scoop."

The group of us lean in to watch the footage on his phone. A guy in a plaid shirt, dark jeans and boots leads a girl wearing a similar outfit up the steps to the seats. They talk a little, but the audio doesn't pick it up. Then they don't say more until they get to nearly the last row.

They stop and face each other. He points a few rows down. She nods along as he speaks. He leads her back down a few steps then stops. The guy keeps her in the aisle while he moves next to the closest seat. He reaches into his back pocket before getting down on one knee.

"Jeff," the girl shouts, covering her mouth. "You told me it wasn't the question." This we can hear clearly on the video.

He opens a small box. We can't see the ring from the distance its being filmed, but the girl squeals so it must be decent.

Sounds of cheering erupts from an unseen audience as she nods yes and cries. He puts the ring on her finger and stands up only to pull her into a bear hug. They descend the stairs to more cheers from a group of people who've gathered at the bottom.

"Back to work, people," Archie bellows. "These amps ain't gonna move themselves."

"Calm down, old man," the guy with the phone says. I, on the other hand, say nothing. Instead I grab a length of cord and begin to wind it up. When I finish I do the same for another cord. And another. And yet another one when that one is finished. The cords and cables are endless. By the time I finish I bet I've wound enough cord to get from Salt Creek to London and back.

As the last of the equipment is loaded and locked on the truck, we're given the okay to clock out. I'm beat. I haven't worked so many hours of hard labor in...ever. It's a damn good thing Zack's been kicking my ass in the gym otherwise I would have passed out by now. I grab my stuff from the crew area and start the walk to my car. As I leave the venue, I see Zack walking towards me.

"Hey man, you finished?" He nods at me when I get closer.

"Yeah, just now." It's past two in the morning. I had no idea what goes into being a roadie. Some of the crew still has breakdown of the specialized stage Brianna's using for this tour, which will be an all-nighter, but they don't have grunts like me on that job.

"Hang for a minute and I'll walk to the party with you. Bree forgot her favorite lipstick in the dressing room, so I came back to grab it."

"Listen, I'm dead on my feet. I'd love to party with you guys, but I don't think my eyes will stay open much longer. I'm heading to the room." The crew is being put up in a motel in town. Four to a room is worse than the college dorms but its only one more night.

"You sure?"

I nod, disappointed that I've had zero face time with Char but too tired to do much about it.

"Have fun." I wave him off and keep the path to the far parking lot.

I get to my car and unlock it. Muffled music filters through the trees from the event center. I look up to see the back of the building in the distance, close enough to make out the lights and the music but not to see into the windows.

Movement on the side of the building catches my attention. I lean over trying to make out what it is when Char comes around the corner. My vision focuses in on her, watching as she paces. Her hair is pulled into a signature boss babe ponytail, sleek and sexy. A dark pencil skirt accentuates the curve of her hips and a silky blouse similar to what she wore for coffee with me is somehow hotter than if she was in something skimpy. It's hot librarian porn and I'm here for it.

The first time I met her she looked totally different. Her hair was in wild curls, a brighter red than it is now, more natural. She wore fun, chunky jewelry and bright clothes. She was bubbly, cheerful, even if she was a little scary in her intense protection of Brianna. I'll never forget how she glared at me when she thought I was hitting on Bree. I'd never do that to Zack, though. Bro code. But now she's all business, no more playful outfits and quirky smiles.

Char's on the phone, gesturing wildly, clearly upset. I'm curious, can't really help myself so I sneak closer. Careful to stay in the darkness of the trees, I move slowly toward her. Once I'm close enough to hear some of the convo, I stop.

"How can you do this to me?"

I hold my breath as I watch. She continues pacing, clenching her fists before spinning back toward me and holding her hand to her forehead.

"I've followed the stipulations of the contract to the letter. When are you planning to keep your end of the agreement?" Another pause in conversation. I watch as she pulls the phone away from her ear, looking at it with her jaw dropped. She puts the phone back to her ear, looks at the sky and takes a breath.

"Are you done?" Pause. "Well, that is a breach of contract. And a shitty way to treat someone." Pause. If steam could emit from her ears it would, based on the fury pouring from her body. I'm yards away and I can read it loud and clear.

"I can't believe you. Of course, I'm not going to the press. This isn't over. Stop being such a crap human being." A few seconds go by before I watch her move like she's going to throw the phone. Char does the last thing I expect her to do. She bends over at the waist with her mouth wide open, screaming without a single sound.

Something inside of me snaps, ignites and burns. I want to know who she's talking to. Who is upsetting her this much? I start to take an unconscious step toward her but catch myself because she pockets her phone. Then she straightens her back, takes a deep breath and lowers the mask. The woman I see now is the woman I'm used to. The picture of strength and business. Detached, a little cold and a lot capable of handling her shit.

Char returns to the event inside while I trek back through the trees, slip into my car and drive away. This is not the moment and tonight is not the night. But there's no way I'm skipping out on this tour now. I may not get much time with Char on the day to day but there will be chances. I'm not missing mine.

My need to know the woman I just watched fall completely apart then put herself back together is exponentially stronger. A primal call I can't ignore.

Wow! Jacob is the man... next week we hit the road and the drama really starts. I can't wait!! Also, you may have noticed a familiar name being dropped in this one. Yes that was Jeff proposing to Alison! And I'm planning to post a bonus epilogue to their story with all of the heart warming details so keep an eye out for it!

Music help: this song didn't hit the right boxes but it feels like a roadie song so I went with it. I'm still happy with the playlist but on this one it's meh. Did any of you have a song in your head while reading? Share it with me if so and I might add it in!

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

Check out this series line-up banner!! I'm so excited to get back into the Hollywood story series and hit these characters with the love bug. PS I may be updating Diva with some new content and hotter spice soon.