And that made the day absolutely perfect.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

A FEW DAYS after the New Year, Natalie tried on and cast aside several different outfits. “I have no idea what to wear!”

“I told you.” Tuesday pointed. “Wear those pants and that shirt with the boots. Supercute. They make your figure look fantastic. The boots are comfortable enough to stand in, and if anyone gets in your way, you can kick them in the face. It’s on trend but not trying too hard to be twenty. And then I’m doing your hair and makeup.”

She blew out a breath. “I agreed to having Paddy mention me in some interviews as the inspiration for the song. I am hedging on the picture and being interviewed myself, though. I am nervous about being pushed to the front. I’m not in the band. I’m not anything more than Paddy’s girlfriend. Why that means I’m someone people want to know about makes me superuncomfortable.”

“So why do it at all?”

“It’s good publicity. He never pushed me one way or the other, but it does help, and I want to help. I just want to be careful where it leads.”

“Fair enough.”

Tuesday looked awesome in leather pants and a halter top covered in sequins. Natalie could not have carried it off in a million years, but it looked casual and fabulous and the bronze of the sequins brought out the bronze in Tuesday’s skin, especially from the shimmer she’d rubbed onto her shoulders. Her hair had grown, too, so it was big and sexy and full-stop fabulous.

“God, you look like a magazine ad. Good call on the lipstick.”

Tuesday and Natalie both were of the opinion that there was a shade of red for every woman, and because Tuesday’s skin tone was so gorgeous, she could wear reds from coral to deep blue-red. She wore the latter and kept the rest of her makeup light.

Natalie took a look in the mirror at her outfit. She didn’t have leather pants and would have been totally uncomfortable in them. But she did have on shiny silver trousers, formfitting, the bottom slightly tucked into the booties she had on with them. Her shirt was pale blue and dipped down in the front deep enough that she wore a camisole that was a darker blue.

Tuesday returned with a great belt to wrap around Natalie’s waist a few times and a chunky cuff bracelet in blues with a little bit of earth tones in it. Warm to the pants’ cool tones. And it worked.

She added earrings to match the cuff. “We’ll let your boobs be the decoration instead of a necklace.”

“As one does, of course.” Natalie rolled her eyes, but smiled. They weren’t hanging out, but they were there showing more than she usually did. “The perfect accessory.”

“Truer words, Nats, truer words. Now into the bathroom so I can do your face.”

First there was hair. Tuesday did something to give the top some height and slicked the sides back.

She then held still while Tuesday did her makeup with dramatic smoky eyes and liner and a red that was more neutral and sheer so it didn’t work against the eyes or the hair.

Tuesday stepped back to survey her work, nodding approvingly. “You clean up nice. He’s never seen you so gussied up. You totally look like Paddy Hurley’s girlfriend. Like a woman a hot dude writes songs about.”

They stood side by side, looking in the mirror. “We totally look fabulous. Thanks for handling my face and stuff. I’m so nervous. Thanks for coming with me.”

Tuesday linked arms with her. “Duh. Where else would I be? Also, we look hot. I’m not gonna pass up a chance to go out looking hot.”

“Sure, and if Ezra sees you looking sexy as hell, even better.”

“Meddlesome.” But Tuesday didn’t deny it.

They headed down and Natalie grabbed her bag, checking for the credentials that would get them backstage and into restricted areas. Paddy and the guys went in separately. They had sound check and whatever else, including some publicity and interviews.

Tuesday drove, thank goodness, and they parked where Paddy told them to, and at the back entrance, she gave her name and showed her credentials. The guy marked them off the list and motioned them inside, telling her to keep the credentials where they could be seen.

It was sort of like what she thought it’d be on some levels. People milled around, some set stuff up, tested equipment, moved things.

“Where do you think they are? Or should I wait for them to go onstage?”

“What did he say?” Tuesday was calm, which helped keep Natalie calm.

“Come find me when you get there.”

“So, your answer is, we need to ask around until we find them. Look, your badge thing is different than the others I see, which means, probably, that you get in places most don’t.”

She touched someone’s arm as they passed. “Excuse me, have you seen Paddy Hurley?”

The person had an earpiece and a clipboard, and he looked at her. She held her badge up and he softened. “You’re Natalie, right? Paddy mentioned you might be looking for him. Come on.” He jerked his head, and they followed. “I’m Ross, Vaughan’s guitar tech.”

“Natalie, and this is Tuesday. Thanks for helping. I’ve never been backstage before.”

“No problem.” He pushed through a group of people all clamoring for the attention of a guy blocking another hallway.

Ross gave them all a look. “Blue badges. Taking them to the dressing room,” he told the tree trunk of a guy blocking access, who then moved to the side.