The Ballad of Johnny Bishop III
A few hours later John lay in his bed at the hotel. Exhausted, angry, and wishing he could sleep. The girl sleeping in the bed next to him had done nothing to distract him from the pain of seeing Grace at that club. Damn, he thought he was over this, that he could be ok with never being with her again. He had not seen her during their set, and it was a great set. The band was razor sharp as always and the crowd was electric. When they walked off stage Bryan had allowed a few special guests to come backstage and meet the band and Grace and her husband were in that small group. John shook a few hands and then shot a text to his manager Shelly standing on the other side of the room.
"Get me a car to the hotel now."
He saw her glance at her phone, and then look up at him, and the question that was in her eyes disappeared. Shelly had been with Full Circle since the beginning, she was actually the original drummer’s girlfriend. As it turned out she was much better at her job than he was, so John fired him and offered her enough of a percentage to get her to hit the road with them.
As always she was discrete and efficient and fifteen minutes later the text came through.
“Car is here, room is ready, bottle on the nightstand. do you need some company?"
John looked up at her and shook his head with a smile. Shelly knew him as well as anyone, she was a good friend, insightful and compassionate. He slipped through the room towards the loading entrance grabbing up a pen off of the table near the door. He knew what he was going to do and as much as he valued Shelly's friendship he did not want her to have to see him like this.
As soon as the side door opened the group of fans that were standing outside the temporary barricade that security had put up to keep people away from the stage doors and tour bus pressed against the barricade. John gave them what they wanted he walked down the line of extended hands signing autographs and giving hugs. He tolerated being pulled at and having his picture taken until he saw exactly what he was looking for. About three-quarters of the way down the line, he saw a girl, young, petite, red hair in a severe pixie cut. Her cheap jewelry and tattoo work looking even worse in parking lot lights.
All attitude and no class, exactly the opposite of his Grace, and just what he needed tonight. He made eye contact and smiled and got the reaction he was looking for. Glancing behind her he saw a young man not really watching him but looking protectively over the girl his hand on her shoulder like some kind of leash.
Better to learn this lesson now my friend, he thought to himself as he approached the girl. He leaned over the barricade past the security guy and got in close to her ear like he was going to ask her name for an autograph.
Instead, he whispered, "do you want to go to the after-party with me?"
She glanced over her shoulder at the boy standing behind her and he leaned in closer to her until his lips were almost brushing the side of her cheek and said, "Just you, you're the one I want, come with me."
It took less than a second for her to ponder the question, biting on her lower lip before she nodded yes. He leaned to the security guard at his side and said "I'm leaving with that redhead right there, do not let anyone else over the rail."
With one smooth motion, he leaned over the rail and hauled her over it. She was small and compact, and it took very little effort to lift her. The young man behind her started to follow and the guard already impatient and working overtime put a hand in his chest and pushed him back into the crowd. He led her past the bus and into the waiting car.