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Luckily, they were near the end of their set because from that moment on I found it hard to concentrate on the music and stood mesmerized by my rock star man practically owning the stage.
When the band came off stage, each grabbed a water and downed it, dried their faces, arms and hands with towels and stood talking in a huddle together. Meanwhile, the crowd stomped and chanted “Encore.” Jamie smiled at me but didn’t approach me and as they prepared to go back on stage Bernie and the girl she was with arrived beside me. She gave me a friendly smile, but the noise from the performance made it impossible for either of us to strike a conversation.
It felt like an age as I stood beside them because the other woman with Bernie clearly had a dislike for me. Each time I looked at her she scowled and had a scrutinizing stare in her eyes. It told me all I needed to know; we’d be having words before the night was over.
At the end of the gig, I couldn’t have gotten near Jamie if I’d tried. Swarms of people appeared from nowhere, and they carried the band in a wave of people as we walked behind them toward the dressing rooms again. As we neared the doors, we got ushered into the hospitality room instead.
Once inside, I realized I knew no one and scanned the room looking for my sister. When I realized she wasn’t there, I stood awkward trying not to hug myself and allow my sudden insecurity to show. It felt like one big party as people greeted one another and hugged like family. I had expected to feel awkward in a setting such as this, but I hadn’t banked on virtually being ignored.
Relief washed through me when Felix brought Lottie to the hospitality room along with a select few other fans to meet the band, I signaled to Jamie’s bodyguard to allow her to come over to me.
“Well, that was an experience I will never, ever forget. I’ve been to concerts before, but I’ve never gotten this close to the stage. It was a once in lifetime experience. Thank you.” The smile on Lottie’s face was reward enough for doing her a good turn.
Suddenly she clutched her chest, reached inside her bra and took out her mobile phone.
“This has been going nuts,” she informed and began scrolling through her messages.
Her eyes opened wide and her eyebrows nearly raised up to her hairline as she let out a series of statements of bewilderment.
“You’ve got to be fuckin’ kidding me! I’m an idiot. As if, sneaking into Jamie's bed wasn't bad enough.”
“What?” I asked, immediately sensing this had something to do with me.
“I put up a Social media post saying I was going to the DistRoyed concert with my new bestie, Daisy.”
“Okayyyy” I replied tentatively.
“I’ve had five hundred comments, most asking if you’re a barmaid from Dublin.” I saw Bernie and her friend leave the room as I absorbed this information.
“Damn,” I snapped, too confused to think how I was going to manage the pub now Jamie’s fans knew where I worked.
I was still reeling from Lottie’s disclosure when Felix approached us, “Hi Daisy, Jamie sent me to take you back to the dressing room.”
“Go wait with the others, I’m sure the band won’t be long.”
As we negotiated the corridors leading down to the dressing rooms backstage, I turned to look at her and rested my hand on her forearm. “Behave and don’t mention that we met in our Hotel suite,” I warned. “And keep the details of this evening to yourself. Don’t you dare broadcast anything on Social Media, other than you met the members of the band? No further elaborating about me either.”
I knew my demand was unreasonable, because my picture was everywhere, according to Bernie, and I’d most likely be identified by someone who’s claim to fame would be that they knew me.
Pushing through the door of the dressing room, I immediately felt the post gig buzz of excitement as the band members reflected on various aspects of their performance. Bernie had left earlier with her friend and was already sitting with Paddy and Ticker by the time I arrived. My eyes sought Jamie out, who stopped mid conversation and turned to look at me, like he felt my presence.
He tapped Hogs on his forearm, excused himself and made his way over.
“Hey gorgeous, how are you holding up?”
“I’m making it,” I lied, because for someone who was usually sociable and chatty, I struggled to fit in.
“Liar,” he said, dipping his knees to stare into my eyes. “What’s wrong with you?”
I could hardly point out that I thought Bernie’s friend already hated me. So instead, I asked, “I just don’t know who everyone is yet,” I replied with a shrug and a tight-lipped smile.
“Half of them you don’t want to know,” he said with a chuckle. “You met Hogs, Ticker, and Fingers yesterday, and you already know Paddy and Bernie, he added. The rest are crew and their family, a few people’s relatives from here at the venue and a couple of people from the label.”
“Who’s that with Bernie?” I asked, summoning up the courage to ask without sounding suspicious.
“Delphine?” Jamie questioned, his eyes lingering longer than I’d have liked in her direction.
“Did you two have a thing?” I asked, suddenly unable to contain my suspicions.
