“No take-backs. I promise.” He smiled.
The elevator dinged again and everyone’s head turned toward the doors expectantly. When they opened, Brody stepped out. Mina felt all of the oxygen get sucked from the room. Or that is what it felt like, since she’d forgotten to breathe. He wore simple jeans and a button-down white shirt, but the way he wore them made them seem extremely stylish. He looked around the expansive living room and took in all of the inhabitants in one quick motion. His face lit up when he saw them in the kitchen.
“You ready?” Brody sauntered over to them with his hands in his jean pockets.
Robert scowled at Brody. “Ready for what?”
Brody looked somewhat taken aback by the attack, but he countered easily with a knock ‘em dead grin.
“For the concert tonight. I’ve got backstage passes.” He held out his hand toward Robert and introduced himself.
Robert stared at Brody before finally giving in and shaking his hand. He turned toward Nan, and he began to lose his casual demeanor.
“Concert. You didn’t mention anything about a concert tonight. Or that you would be going with boys.” He tried to sound neutral, but it came off as being overprotective.
“Lay off, Robert,” Nan shot out. “I already cleared it with my MOM.” Her tone left no room for argument; it purposely reminded him that he wasn’t her father, at least not yet. Robert’s mouth opened and closed like a fish. Nan didn’t give anyone time to respond before she grabbed her purse and headed toward the elevator. Mina quickly followed and Brody tipped his head in farewell before trailing them.
When the elevator closed and they began the twenty-three floor descent, Mina couldn’t help but feel claustrophobic being so close to Brody. Nan tapped her foot to the music of Seven String Quartet coming over the elevator speakers while pulling out her phone to text someone. Brody leaned against the wall looking them over.
“You both look nice,” he spoke quietly. He looked at Nan and then Mina.
Mina’s eyes lifted for a moment and caught his. Her cheeks burned and she could only whisper the word, “Thanks.”
Where was her resolve to be charming and confident? It had disappeared the moment he walked into the room. She could smell his cologne and she had to concentrate just to breathe.
Nan turned around, raised her eyebrows toward Brody, and gave Mina a knowing smile when he wasn’t looking. They left the lobby and walked out to Brody’s S.U.V. Nan immediately slid into the backseat, forcing Mina to take the front. The twenty minute drive to the concert was filled with Nan’s constant chatter about Dead Prince Society. How many tours they go on a year, which song is her favorite and Brody jumped in with all sorts of little known facts.
Nan gushed about how cute Valdemar was, while leaning between the seats to put their CD into Brody’s stereo. They started to sing out the words to the song, ‘Beauty’s Dead’ and when their voices blended perfectly they laughed at each other and Nan hit his shoulder.
Feeling somewhat pressured and left out, Mina blurted out the only thing she could think of, “Did you know that Valdemar isn’t his real name?”
Brody laughed out loud, “Yeah, I called him Peter growing up.”
“Oh right, I forgot, cousins and all.” Mina wanted to crawl into the cracks of the leather seat and disappear. Thankfully, Nan stepped in again and pulled the attention away from Mina.
“Thank goodness! I don’t think Peter is a good name for the lead singer. Valdemar sounds much more mysterious.”
She hung back and let Nan and Brody banter back and forth the rest of the car ride, which thankfully, was almost over. They were able to find a parking spot within a few blocks walk of the venue. Brody walked up to the will call booth and gave his name.
An overly plump man in a black tank top with a dragon tattoo on his arm made a quick call on his phone. He nodded his head, and handed them three vinyl tags on lanyards. “Don’t lose these and don’t sell ‘em,” he grumbled.
Brody handed out the backstage passes. Nan could barely contain her excitement as the man got off his worn stool in his small booth and led them to a metal side door. He knocked, and what looked like a bodyguard opened the door. The bodyguard and ticket attendant spoke in low tones before motioning them forward.
Not really knowing what to expect, Mina stuck to Nan’s side like glue. They walked down a back hallway and were directed toward an elevator. Taking the elevator up, they walked out into a large open room filled with couches, food, makeup artists, photographers, and fans.
“Where are we?” Mina asked in hushed tones.
“The green room,” Nan said in awe.