Higher Octave (Heavy Influence #2.5) Read Online Free PDF

be, I supposed; he was my driver. A
handsome Clint Eastwood-lookalike, he’d worked for the same limo
service for over twenty years, which catered to studio executives
and A-list celebrity clientele. Gabe was directly recommended to me
by one of the new producers I was working with on my solo project.
He was also the driver for several rock and music legends when they
came into town. Gabe and I developed a similar relationship as I
had with Marty, part friendship and part business.
    It was nearly show time.
    The famed Hotel Café in Hollywood with its
dramatic red curtains was the stage backdrop. That’s where Notting
had arranged for me to play my debut solo gig. I had to admit I was
excited, and a bittersweet sensation crawled over me as I thought
about Dump. I was thankful Bobby was back home from his last tour,
and he was more than stoked when I asked if he’d play with me. We’d
practiced, and then hired a guy Bobby recommended, Trev Stoneham,
aka Stoney, as a drummer. It was nearly like old times – in my
garage at first; then we moved to a rehearsal space.
    Six weeks later, the day came. Load in at
Hotel Café was at 5:30 PM, and it was about 4 PM on a Thursday in
mid-March. Cool and breezy, the trees rustled with each bluster of
wind, and dark clouds began to roll in. I hoped it wouldn’t rain
too hard or too long. I didn’t want the fans to get soaked. I’d
heard there was a line at the venue trailing down the street. It’d
begun forming at around noon. I was elated and relieved. There was
a bit of fear in me that no one would come, since I’d fallen off
the face of the planet in complete scandal.
    I’d arranged for Gabe to
drive me for the evening, and he’d pulled up right in front of my
driveway. I stood in my garage, packing my very first acoustic
guitar in its case, and rubbed its glossy surface. Every time I
picked her up, she sang to me in an authentic, fine voice, so
different than any of my other guitars. It would be the first time
I’d be performing on stage with her, she was my most prized
possession, and I thanked God I’d left her in her case that one
time, thinking back to when I’d busted my other acoustic guitar in
a doped-up mad rage over something stupid – well, I didn’t think it was stupid at all, but still. She was the one that wrote all those hit songs
with me, and now the world was going to finally meet
her.
    As I was loading my guitar and backpack into
the backseat of Gabe’s black Escalade, time stopped. A car I didn’t
recognize pulled into Aly’s driveway. My mouth went instantly dry.
I didn’t notice the driver, only her in the passenger seat.
    Was she with Nathan?
    I leaned into the back seat and unzipped my
backpack, pretending to look for something, peering out the back
window. Then relief flooded through me when I saw Allison, Aly’s
older sister, step from the driver’s side.
    I backed out of the truck and looked over at
them. Allison was waving wildly at me, smiling cheerfully. I
couldn’t really place Aly’s expression, but it sat between shock
and joy. I waved back, shutting the door and slowly trudged back
toward my garage. I wanted so badly to go say hello to them, but I
didn’t want to be intrusive.
    “What?” Allison’s voice sparked, and I
turned, smiling. She threw her arms out. “You’re not gonna come and
say hello? I haven’t seen you in like…years!”
    My heart raced so fast that I couldn’t feel
my feet as I walked toward her. She was bursting with elation in
her prim office attire. It warmed my heart that she was so happy to
see me. Allison met me halfway on the sidewalk and hugged me
tightly when she got ahold of me. I closed my eyes. When I opened
them, I couldn’t help by look in Aly’s direction. She’d moved to
the trunk of the car, throwing me a gingerly smile. I wanted to
kill myself. She’d gotten more gorgeous, if that was even possible.
She was in workout gear, as usual, showing every bit of her natural
beauty.
    “How