"Good conferencing today?" I tried to sound like I genuinely cared. Lily was nice and despite the shitty demon interruptus, or her lofty status in Rohan's eyes, she didn't deserve me being bitchy to her.
"It was." Her hands did half the talking for her. "Do you know how many physicists these days are studying cloud movements and wind? It's so cool. Oh, and this morning I got invited to a rocket launch when I get back to the States as part of an experiment they want my expertise on."
That was pretty awesome so I stuck around to ask more about it.
"I was going to get a drink." Lily pointed over to the bar. "Want to join me?" She included both of us in the conversation.
"Love to," I said. I'd drink with Satan himself at this point.
Rohan didn't answer her. He watched us converse with an odd expression on his face. Like this was the first time he'd really looked at us side by side and the differences were staggering.
The world blurred. I tossed off, "Give me half an hour to change," then barreled across the lobby, blinking rapidly. Stuck waiting for the elevator behind a porter and a cart of stacked luggage, and painfully aware of Lily and Rohan standing behind me, I lost my battle with my cool facade. I ran into the washroom next to the restaurant, slamming and locking a cubicle door.
I used a steady stream of toilet paper on my stupid leaking eyes, familiar with this emotional overload. Same thing used to happen to me before a show, when I'd been pushing myself too hard. Breathing was key. I closed my eyes, embracing the emotions, drawing them inside myself to fuel tonight's performance. A good night's sleep and one healthy meal and I'd be dandy.
Three flushes of toilet paper later, I ran dry. Shoulders slumped like Quasimodo, I contemplated opening the lock, not yet ready to walk past Rohan. That moment before I went on stage was an intensely vulnerable one. The last flash of me in my most honest state before I pasted a smile on my face, stepped through the curtains, and dazzled.
Giving myself my "I am fabulous" rallying cry wasn't going to provide the jolt I needed to get out there. Yanking down my underwear, I plunged my fingers inside me. My head tipped back at the sweet ecstasy.
I rubbed Cuntessa, arching my hips for better access.
Someone knocked on the door of the stall.
"Occupied," I said, trying not to moan. God, yes, it was happening. I rubbed faster, harder. My muscles tightened, my body trembled.
Again with the knocking. "Someone in here!" I bit my lip, closing my eyes and trying to keep out all distractions as I reached for the shiny finish.
The woman on the other side of the door rapped again.
"Find a different fucking stall," I snarled. With that, I came hard, muffling my groan with the flush of the toilet. I sat there a second, letting my racing pulse subside enough to be able to pull my underwear up and straighten my dress.
My entire body was infused with a calm, centered clarity. Now I was ready to step into my role once more. I flung open the door, my sharp retort dying on my lips at the sight of the elderly man staring at me. Two other guys twisted around from their respective urinals to glance at me.
Whoops.
"Ladies was full." I marched over to the sink, refusing to rush the washing and drying of my hands. The glare the desk clerk shot me as I strode through the lobby to the elevator barely rated. I was re-upped and ready to shine. Except I needed a quick make-up and wardrobe fix.
Once showered and changed, I got to the bar to find Lily sitting alone, checking her phone. I sat down across from her, a red glass lamp casting a mellow glow over us. "Where's Rohan?"
Her perfume, light and sweet, teased my senses, making me feel like I was in a meadow on a bright sunny day. "He got a call from the director about something."
Me and Lily alone? Oh yeah, shots were in order big time. I ordered vodka for me and Lily asked for a rum and coke. Not even diet because she didn't need to worry about the calories.
Meow, Nava.
"How do you know Ro?" she asked.
We'd never prepared an answer to that question since most people weren't interested in how a groupie came into a rock star's life. Lily was not most people.
"We met at an industry thing." You know, amazing chick kills first demon, annoying dude accosts her and presents self as leader forcing chick to show remarkable restraint in not clocking him. That kind of industry thing. "What about you?"
Was I going to satisfy my curiosity about her? You bet.
"We went to school together. I've known him since first grade."