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rather you save yourself for the fans." She tapped my left leg and I slid my foot into the boot. "When we get on stage, my spray is on your side of Jon's kit. Put it back or I might have to hurt you." When she had been sick last winter, an herbalist friend had given Rain an echinacea and licorice spray to lubricate her vocal cords. We picked on her mercilessly for her addiction to the stuff and for insisting on having it on stage from that day forward, but if it worked the way she swore it did, I would never bring it up again.
    "How did I get so lucky to have you in my life?" My head lolled to the side, every bit of energy having left my body back in the bathroom.
    "Short straw is my guess." She tapped my other leg and repeated the process of putting on and lacing my boot.
    Rain had come a long way since I met her but she still had self-deprecation down to an art form. It didn't matter how many times we fought over her tendency to see only the worst in herself, she still found ways to cut herself down. If I had an ounce of energy left, I would have gotten into it with her. Instead, I wrapped my arm around her shoulder pulling her into my chest.
    "Thank God for short straws then." I kissed the top of her head before she stood. "Come and get me when it's time to go?"
    "You got it, buddy." She called me that often, almost as if she was trying to remind me that I was so firmly set in the friend-zone that I would never be able to find my way out of it.
    When I felt her fingers caressing my cheek, I thought I was dreaming. Well, I knew I was dreaming but I thought the feel of her skin against mine was part of that dream.
    "Hey, time to go, rock star," she whispered into my ear. The feel of her breath across my neck made my cock stir in a dangerous way. I hated the fact that no matter how many times I reminded myself of her feelings on the subject, my body couldn't help but feel like we belonged together.
    She laughed when I mumbled and rolled over. "Hey, I can't do this without you. I need my right-hand out there." She pulled on my arm. She knew better than to think her size six frame could pull me off the couch but she gave it a good try. "Colton!" Her voice took on an almost scary tone. "Either you get up right now so we can go do a show or I'm getting a bucket of cold water." I opened my eyes and pulled myself up, certain it wasn't an idle threat.
     

     
    To say my debut on a national tour was less than I dreamed of is a huge understatement. I muddled my way through the set, and being new to the scene, it was unlikely the fans noticed, but it was one of those moments I would never get back. I felt like I was walking through clay, my fingers felt like I had been playing guitar for weeks instead of years and my voice cracked more than once.
    Although I was certain Jon and Travis realized how bad off I was, they didn't say anything when we came off stage. We had been friends since junior year of high school and they knew better than to bring it up. Rain handed me the bottle of ginger ale she had tucked under the stairs as we walked down the dark hallway.
    "Let's get you back to the bus." Jon and Trav had already ducked into the green room to hang with the rest of the bands on the tour but Rain stayed back with me. "You need to get some rest or you won't be able to go on tomorrow night. Keep going; I'll catch up. I'm going to let the guys know we'll be out there so they aren't looking for us."
    "Rain, I'm a big boy. You go enjoy the night." It was bad enough that I would forever have the memory of wanting to pass out the first night we'd made it anywhere close to the big leagues; I didn't want hers to be of taking care of my pathetic ass.
    She shook her head. "No. I'm not really the party type of girl and I'd rather not have to deck anyone for grabbing me tonight."
    "Does that mean I can't grab your ass?" I could be on my deathbed and still flirt with her. It had become almost as natural as breathing.
    "You're lucky you're sick.