Chapter Two
Mason
Before
“You guys are still planning on coming to my show right?” I was dressed and about to head out the door. I’d been touring this year, mostly smaller venues. But this was the first time I was playing in my hometown as a headlining artist. I’d been to more concerts on the pier than I could count. And now I was the main attraction. Not to sound too sentimental, but it was surreal.
“Of course we are. We wouldn’t miss it for the world.” M Kat was wearing short shorts and a tank top that showed lots of skin, with a pair of expensive-looking cowboy boots. She looked hot.
“You’re going to get hit on all night, you know that right?” I pointed at her legs that were on full display.
She lifted her tank. “You see this?” She rubbed her hand on her slightly protruding stomach. “This is your baby sister and she’s only going to get bigger. I’m going to wear what I want while I still can.”
“I like this new little accessory of yours. I can’t wait until you’re huge, waddling and ready to pop.” My dad walked into the room and covered her hand with his, kissing her neck sweetly.
I shook my head. “By huge, I’m sure he means beautifully pregnant with his child.”
“Of course that’s what I meant. Is that not how it came out?” He winced and looked between the two of us.
“I love having you home, Mace. You keep your father out of so much trouble.” M Kat stepped away from him and grabbed her purse off the entryway table. “Can we ride with you? I rather be backstage than in the crowd tonight.”
They’d been to dozens upon dozens of my shows—before my big break and after. They were supportive as hell. My dad always had been, but until he met M Kat he was pretty much a workaholic and was gone a lot on location, so until he settled down his support was kind of long distance.
“Of course, let’s rock and roll.” Playing in my hometown with both my parents watching side-stage. I couldn’t really think of a better way to spend my evening.
***
The pier was packed and the crowd was singing along with every word. Nothing felt better than that. It was a high. Something I’d loved and craved for as long as I could remember. I looked over at my dad and M Kat and couldn’t help but laugh. My dad had his hands on her ass and his mouth at her ear. See? Horndog all the way. No wonder I was the way I was. Speaking of… I looked out into the crowd, searching for a girl to take home tonight. That was how I worked, every show, every time. I’d scan the crowd and someone would inevitably catch my eye. I’d then send someone to get her backstage and by the end of the night I’d take her home with me. Of course I’d send her packing with a smack on the ass in the morning. But for one night, it was just me and her. It was fun. And I’d never had any complaints because I was honest from the get-go, they knew the score before the clothes came off. No long term, no commitments, and no whining in the morning.
“I have a favor to ask of you guys tonight.” I spoke into the microphone and the crowd got even rowdier. “My dad is here.” I waited for all the females in the audience to cream themselves before I continued. “With his beautiful wife.” I winked when some of them let out dramatically sad sighs. “He made me learn to play this next song the second he realized I’d far surpassed him in artistic talent. I was seven by the way.” I smiled a devilish grin that the girls always seemed to like. “So I’m going to play it for him right quick. It’s an old one, so don’t feel bad if you don’t know the words.”
When I played the first couple of cords my dad started jumping up and down like some crazed fanboy, making me throw my head back and laugh.
Hey kid, rock and roll
Rock on, ooh, my soul
I played my guitar like a champ, the chords to this song as familiar to me as the way the ranch smelled during the dead of winter. This was my dad’s favorite song and I loved playing it for him, even though I liked to give him a hard time about it. How it showed his age. He had his arms around M Kat and he was singing her all the words. If I didn’t want a repeat of last night, I needed to find a chick to take home. I searched the crowd, looking for the perfect short-term love affair. My specialty.
My eyes landed on a gorgeous girl with long brown hair that was actually singing along. That hot-as-hell girl wearing a midriff tank and cutoff blue jean shorts knew this ancient song? Yep. That was the one for me. Well, the one for tonight anyway.
Still looking for that blue jean, baby queen
Prettiest girl I ever seen
Well, it looked like I found her. And she was all mine.
I called one of my roadies over and whispered the girl’s coordinates and description in his ear. He’d get her backstage, say she won something or whatever she needed to hear to feel good about it. And then after the show I’d work a little magic. Easy as pie. I finished up my set with another three songs of my own and then shouted good night to the crowd. I walked straight over to my parents and let them hug me. “Well, what did you two think?”
“You know we loved it. You were great out there.” M Kat grabbed my face and placed a motherly kiss on my forehead.
“Thanks for the song, punk.” My dad clapped me on the back. “And for announcing that your very old and less talented father was here tonight. It’s going to be chaos trying to sneak out.” He looked around backstage like he was already planning his exit.
“I have tons of security and a no access backstage, we’ll be fine.” I slung my arm over his shoulder and pulled him close. “I just need to grab a little midnight snack and then we can get out of here. Feel me?”
He laughed. “I think this is exactly the kind of behavior that Kate says I should discourage.” Then he shrugged. “But who am I to make you keep it in your pants, I never did.”
I turned to go find my little blue jean baby and stopped short. There she was. Talking to M Kat like they were besties. Well, wasn’t that just convenient as fuck? “M Kat, are you going to introduce me to your friend?” The girl I’d picked out from the stage was even more beautiful up close. She had a tiny nose and pretty brown eyes. She had high cheekbones and a slender neck. She was like ballerina beautiful. Like she belonged in a sponsored story for Coachella.
“Mason, this is Payton Adkins. Payton, this is my stepson, Mason.” M Kat looked between us, her eyes narrowed and suspicious. Yeah, she knew me well enough to see the excitement on my face. “Payton did a rotation in the ER a few months ago. She just graduated from nursing school.” M Kat still worked part time, even though she definitely didn’t need the money.
A sexy nurse and the prettiest girl I’d ever seen? Could this night get any fucking better? “Payton, it’s nice to meet you.” I took her hand in mine and held it for just a smidge longer than necessary. Not long enough that it was creepy, but long enough for her to know I was interested. “We were about to head out and get something to eat, would you like to join us?”
Payton smiled, but waved my words away. “Oh, uh, that’s really nice of you. But I don’t want to impose.” Her green eyes met mine and she bit at her lower lip. Fuck. I wanted this one bad. It was always the sweet, polite ones that I had the most fun with. It was like they were just waiting around for a reason to be bad.
Insert M Kat, with enough manners to cover the whole family. “Don’t be silly. It’s so good to see you, please come with us.” M Kat looped her arm through Payton’s. “Besides, it’ll be nice to have another girl around. It’s usually just me and those two.” She jerked her thumb in our direction, leading Payton toward the exit.
My dad and I followed.
Discreetly, he held his fist out. And discreetly, I bumped it.