Making my way back to the hotel after an interesting night, I flop down on my bed. Picking up my cell I dial Ryan’s number.

He answers quickly. “Fuck, dude! I haven’t heard from you in a month, I thought you might have died or something.”

With a chuckle, I roll onto my back and sigh. “No, not dead. Drunk… a lot, but not dead.”

There’s a short pause, and I wonder if he’s hung up before he speaks again, “How are you? You sound drunk now.”

“Because I am… slightly. I was drunker earlier, but I met a biker and he gave me a coffee.”

“You met a biker and he gave you coffee? You sure you’re not still completely wasted?”

I start laughing. “I know it sounds weird but it happened. His name’s Steel, and he was actually a really great guy. I got talking to him and he offered us something.”

He pauses again, and I roll my eyes waiting for him to talk through the deafening silence. “Us?”

“Yes, the band—”

“There is no band, Danger. I thought I made that clear. You fucked us over, remember?”

“I know, and I’m trying to fix it.” Sighing, I roll on my side. “You know how you always wanted to see Australia? Well, get Matt and Nate and fly over here. Steel says we can play in their clubs, and his friend will try and set us up in the Aussie music scene.”

Ryan exhales loudly down the phone. “Why would we uproot our lives and come to Australia. If and I mean if we were entertaining the idea of getting the band back together, why wouldn’t we do it here in the States and play to a larger crowd?”

Wincing, I chew on my bottom lip. I need to think of something and fast. I want this, and obviously Ryan’s been talking to the boys about the band if he’s entertaining the idea.

“Well, because we tried the States. We tried the UK. We’ve had a break, and now we need to regroup and try a different target audience. Steel says his friend Techie knows guys in the Aussie music industry, and he can help us along. If we can get a helping hand, try a new scene, shouldn’t we take a shot at all the avenues we can? I mean think about it… look at the bands that have made it who are from Australia… INXS, ACDC, Jet, Powderfinger… need me to keep going?” I sit up taller on the edge of the bed hoping my argument is working.

He huffs. “Okay, so some Aussie bands have made it big. But we’re not Aussie, we’re Americans going to play there. That’s a big difference, Danger. The Aussies accept home grown talent far better than some Yanks, who think they can break into the Aussie music scene.”

Shit! “Ryan, I see your doubts, I understand them, but I can also tell you’re aching to get the band going again. If you’re anything like me, music’s in your veins, and I know you’re like me because we’re like brothers. You’ve been my best friend for a long time. Music floods your soul and encapsulates every molecule in your body like it does mine. Sure, I had a year off and lived my life but, Ryan, I wasn’t living. I had my girl and had my nine to five, but I wasn’t playing to packed out stadiums and rocking to the beats of our best songs. We make music together… you, me, Matt and Nate. And man… we’re fucking great at it. We need to be together, Recoil needs to be reformed, and we need to be making new and improved music. I’m drunk, yes… but I’m seeing perfectly clear. Ryan, we need this. Music’s in our blood, it’s our life and I’m not living… are you?”

There’s a long pause, and I grit my teeth together as my chest rises and falls quickly hoping I’ve been convincing enough. Everything I’ve said is the truth. I’ve missed music. Sure I was working in the music industry, but that’s not the same as making, producing and performing your own sound. I live for that, and fuck I’ve missed it.

I need this.

I need Recoil.

And I know Ryan does too.

“You can tell you’re the writer of the songs, you fucking poetic douche bag,” Ryan quips with a slight chuckle.

I smirk and roll my eyes. “Shut up, cock face, you love my lyrical genius.”

He chuckles again. “Yeah, I fucking do. What do you say boys?” he yells out confusing me.

“He’s pretty fucking convincing,” Matt’s voice comes over the phone.

“Matt?” I murmur.

“Yeah, I think I’m convinced, too,” Nate chimes in.

A broad smile swipes over my face as I jump up and down slightly on the bed like a child.

“I didn’t know you guys were there,” I call out.

They chuckle. “Yeah, we were here discussing the band and how much we’ve all missed it. How you came to Ryan wanting back in and then left for Australia. You have a habit of running away, Danger,” Nate says.

“Ryan made it clear to me that Recoil was dead. But now we have an opportunity to reinvent ourselves in a new country. We can hone our sound, write new tracks, meet the right people this time. I have a good feeling, boys, just need you onboard.” I wish this was a video call so I could see them all because this silent treatment they all seem to be giving me is really annoying. “So?” I ask, breaking the tension.

“If we do this no more running,” Ryan demands.

I smile so wide my cheeks hurt. “No more running, I swear. We get settled in Australia, maybe do a tour here, then extend back out to the world as we build our fame again. We can do this, boys, as a group, as a band, as brothers.”

“Fuck, yeah!” Matt and Nate call out.

I chew on my bottom lip and breathe through my nose. “Ryan, you in?”

There’s another fucking pause, my heart leaps into my throat as it pounds ferociously. Recoil is nothing without its lead guitarist.

He sighs. “Yeah… I’m fucking in.”

I stand up from the bed in excitement and throw my hand in the air, but don’t say anything as I grin so wide I almost want to cry. It finally feels like something’s going right. Something’s changing, the tide’s going out and suddenly my head is above the water.

I can breathe again.

“This is going to be epic,” I say and the other guys laugh.

“So what’s the Aussie pussy like?” Ryan asks making me throw my head back in a fit of laughter—he hasn’t changed.

“Oh dude, you wait and see, these babes are stunning.”

“Good, I need something foreign,” he says.

I pace the floor with an excited spring in my step. “So when will you guys leave?” I ask.

“I’m checking flights now,” Nate says.

So this is really happening.

The band is getting back together.

“There’s one that leaves in two days in the evening. That should give us enough time to prepare and get our affairs in order, right Ryan?”

My band will be here soon.

No, my friends… no, family, will be here soon.

“Yeah, just gotta quit our jobs, tell our families and pack. That’s about it. Oh… and we already have the right visas.”

Nodding, I smile. “What? How?”

“When you rang and told me you were leaving for Australia a few weeks ago, we all decided we were going to come and see you, just to have some guy time so we applied for visas. We were going to surprise you, but now we have a real reason to come.”

“Well then…” I chuckle, “… I guess I’ll see you all in about five days.”

“Yeah, I’ll let you know when we’re at the airport. Can you make arrangements for the hotel you’re at for us?” Ryan asks.

“Of course, leave that side of things to me.”

“Oh… and Danger?”

“Yeah, Ryan?”

“It’s good to have you back, dude.”

“It’s good to be back.”

“Right, we gotta go. Got lots to do. Talk to you soon, later dude,” Ryan says as the boys call out their goodbyes.

“See ya, guys!” I call out then hang up. I walk around the room smiling wide as my chest heaves. I did it! I actually managed to get my band, my brothers, to agree to not only reform, but to come to Australia to try and get us back on track. Not only that, but I met that bombshell Lunar, and she’s managed to get my cock to function again. This is probably the best day of my life.

I race over to the mini bar and even though I’ve drunk a lot tonight, I feel a celebration is in order. So I pull open the tiny fridge and grab a bottle of beer, twisting the top and taking a long sip. The cool liquid refreshes my throat, and I grin against the seal of the bottle as I take in all the events of today.

What a day it’s turned out to be.

It can’t get any better than this.

Unexpectedly my cell beeps, so I pull the beer away from my lips and bring my cell up to eye level and notice a message from Lunar. I swipe the screen while smiling wide and check out the text message.

 

Lunar: I don’t have much to do tomorrow. I think I’ll be bored. Wanna hang?

 

Letting out a half laugh, I walk back over to the bed as my cock twitches in my pants just thinking about her and I type back my reply.

 

Me: I might be able to manage to fit in some time between my crazy hectic schedule. If you’re lucky, that is. ;) When and where?

 

I hit send and sit back with my head on the headboard and my feet crossed over each other as I take another sip of my beer.

 

Lunar: Thought I might come to you. I need to get away from this club for a bit. I’ll come about lunch time? Just text me what hotel and room number you’re in. I’ll show up about midday. We can order room service?

 

I grin slightly and wonder if there’s a hidden meaning in that, or if she just wants to have lunch with me. I’m not sure how to take it so I figure I’ll just be my usual self.

 

Me: You can come all you like ;) I can help you along with that if you need, or I can just watch. I’m not fussy. LOL. Or we can just have lunch. Second option is tamer but I’m cool with either. ;)

 

My finger hovers over the send button, my overly sexual nature gets me into trouble sometimes, and I don’t want to scare Lunar off, but I have the feeling this will only excite a girl like her.

Fuck it, I hit send and take a courage filled gulp of beer.

She replies quickly.

 

Lunar: How ‘bout you watch as I come all over your face! How’s that for tame, big guy?

 

My mouthful of beer flies out in surprise at her message. I chuckle as I wipe the beer from my chest and begin to reply, but another message comes in as I am typing.

 

Lunar: You may not be fussy, but I like my men with the guts to say what they think, and you have that. You’re cool, but don’t take my sexual nature for a done deal. I’m harder to tame than you think. ;)

 

Smiling, I nod my head in acknowledgment. She’s saying that even though she’s brash and says sexual stuff, she’s not going to just give it up to me tomorrow. I get that. I like that. I might have to work for it. It makes her more intriguing.

 

Me: Well, you know how to make a man spit out his drink. You’re cool too, and although I get the way you talk might be a front, I won’t push things with you. You’re safe with me, Candy.

 

I hit send trying to be as honest with her as I can be, no bullshit, no innuendos, just genuine honesty. I think that’s what she’s looking for right now.

 

Lunar: Good idea, ‘cause otherwise you’ll have an entire biker club come after you. And that, pretty boy, would not be good for your gorgeous face.

 

Chuckling to myself, I type back my reply.

 

Me: Meh… I could handle those bikers. But the main issue is… you think I’m hot as fuck and you wanna fornicate with me!

 

Lunar: Fuck you, and… maybe. ;)

 

Laughing, I chew on the side of my cheek. It’s nice to have someone into me again, even if I’ve only met her once. I loved Ella, I probably still do in some ways, but even though we were getting married and going to spend our lives together, I never really felt that same level of love back from her once I asked her to marry me. Something was always a little off. I know now that something was fucking Chad, but in the end, I’m better off without her. And my point is, it’s nice that someone is showing a genuine interest in me. It’s the confidence boost I’ve been needing for the past two years.

 

Me: Okay, well, you’re as hot as fuck too. But I’ll see you tomorrow with no expectations other than lunch. How’s that?

 

Lunar: Perfect. Night, big guy. xo

 

Me: Night, Candy x

 

Taking another great big gulp of my beer, I smile and shuffle down the bed. Meeting Lunar was great, she’s awoken something in me. Sure I’m not looking for anything serious, but if she’s down to fuck, so am I. Things are looking up, and finally, it’s my time.

It’s my time to shine and fuck am I going to shine bright!