Page 107 of The Girl with No Name
“Oh.” His expression changes from hard-ass to polite. “Of course. Right this way, sir.”
He opens the door, and I smile. I can’t help but feel a surge of pride at seeing my name in lights, even if I’m just the opening act. Is this what it feels like when you’re a big-deal musician? I could get used to this. Walking into this gritty music venue certainly gives me a better feeling than walking into some big ugly skyscraper, I can tell you that much.
Inside, I’m greeted by the buzz of crew members setting up equipment and the Red Lemons on stage tuning their instruments.
“Yo, Reed.” Henry bobs his head my way. “Thanks for coming.”
“You kidding? I appreciate the opportunity. I won’t let you down.”
“Everyone needs an opportunity occasionally. I’m a fan of your stuff.”
Violet steps down off the stage and gives me a hug. “We got our big break opening for someone back in the day. Now you get big and return the favor to someone else.”
I grin. “I need to get through this show first.” The Red Lemons aren’t some haughty, full-of-themselves band, which endears them to me even more. I’ll love them forever, no matter what happens with this show. “I do have a favor to ask,” I add.
“Oh?”
“Yeah. It’s a special request.” I step over to whisper in Henry’s ear.
“Oh yeah?” He nods. “Love that song, even from the little rough recording you sent me. I’m absolutely down for that.”
Thankfully, the musicians who will be playing with me show up a little while later, the bassist and drummer who have spent the last twenty-four hours learning my songs to play tonight. We do a quick run-through, check sound, and then it’s time to get backstage and wait to go on.
“Nervous?” Henry asks.
“Honestly? Yeah, a bit. Not worried though.”
“That’s good. If you’re not nervous, you don’t care enough.”
“You still get nervous?”
“Oh yeah.”
“Wow.”
Henry takes a swig of his beer and grins. “And then I remember I’m Henry fucking Cooney. After that I’m not nervous anymore.”
I laugh as I peek out onto the stage through the curtain. The crowd is getting progressively louder as more and more people fill in.
I scan the crowd, looking for Luna. I suspect there’s a non-zero chance of her coming to this show, whether she knows I’m opening or not. Having exhausted every other possibility, this seems like the last shot to find her.
“She there?” Violet asks, peeking over my shoulder.
“Who are you talking about?”
“The girl you’re looking for.”
“How do you know I’m looking for a girl?”
She shakes her head. “You had insane chemistry with that girl at Railfest.”
“It was that obvious?”
She laughs and pats me on the shoulder. “Yes. And Henry told me you apparently didn’t get her name? How’d you mess that one up?”
“Long story. I’ve looked all over for her these past couple of weeks.”
“Well, here.” Violet takes a selfie of us. “I have an idea. This is one of the benefits of being social-media famous.” She pulls up a little video she took during Railfest. It’s a backstage perspective of Luna and me singing. She hovers her finger over the post button. “Before I post this, I have a question for you.”