A Voice to Love (Fallen Tuesday Book One) (A Brothers of Rock Novel) by Karolyn James Page B

asked.
“They’re the luckiest fans right now for this.”
    “Whatever works,” Jake said.
“Count it off.”
    Trent looked at Jake with
a snarled lip.
    “Just play something,”
Luke yelled.
    The fans clapped and Gray
kicked into another favorite Fallen Tuesday song. Everyone cheered. The room
felt like it was going to explode. Luke couldn’t believe that neither security
or hotel employees had come up to break up their little party. If they did,
they’d be faced with some pissed off Fallen Tuesday fans.
    The song continued and on
the second chorus Luke stood on the table and belted out the lyrics with his hands
cupped around his mouth. Suddenly, at the end of the note, he felt like
something had snapped in throat. His voice was gone and the pain between his
ears was enough that he put his hands to his ears and bent over. He jumped from
the table and rushed to the kitchen. When he looked at his band, they were
concerned. He waved at them and motioned for a drink. Luke grabbed a bottle of
vodka and took a sip. It burned like it had been poured on an open wound… and
maybe it had been.
    What kind of damage had he
just caused to his throat?
    Luke then started to hear
something he never thought possible. The, out of nowhere, the fans in the room
started to sing. Little by little they all joined together. Luke turned and put
the vodka bottle on the counter. He watched as they were all getting into the
song, including the band. The connection between Gray, Jake, Trent, Mack, and
the fans was intense. It took Luke’s breath away for a second and then he felt
his throat tighten and he tried to swallow the lump that threatened to make him
cry in front of his hand band and fans. This was a moment in the band’s history
that would stick with them forever, but it was also the kind of moment Luke
feared losing if he went into seclusion and relaxed his voice. The fans wanted
Fallen Tuesday. The wanted to sing their favorites songs and they wanted to
hear new ones.
    Luke joined the band and
opened his mouth to start singing again. He made it through half a line of
lyrics before his voice broke up. He could feel the words scratching against
his vocal chords. He pointed to the fans and smiled.
    “You sing it!” he yelled.
    Everyone started to sing.
Everyone except the lead singer of Fallen Tuesday. A wicked mix of anger,
regret, and guilt shot through Luke’s body.
    He needed to get out of
the room.
    He patted Mack on the
shoulder and then motioned toward the door. He cut through the fans as they all
tried to touch him. Hand after hand on his shoulder, back, chest, and stomach.
Men and women called his name, sang his lyrics. It was a come true, but it was
Luke’s nightmare though. One he faced alone by choice at the sake of his band
mates hearts.
    In the hall he saw that
the crowd stretched down the to end. He pushed through, shaking hands,
accepting hugs, taking a few pictures along the way. He managed to get to the
elevators and a few fans looked at him like they were going to chance jumping
on for a ride. Luckily, everyone stayed to hear the music. The doors shut and Luke
pressed for the ground floor.
    When the doors opened, a
few people stared, trying to make sense of the sight before their eyes. Before
anyone could say anything, Luke darted from the elevator and went to the side
door that led to the emergency steps. He went out the backdoor of the hotel. He
held it open and looked for something to prop the door open. A rock did just
fine ensuring the lock didn't engage and lock Luke out of his hotel. He leaned
against the building and took a deep breath. In the distance he could hear
life. He couldn't hear his band playing, but he could hear people living.
People walking, talking, laughing, driving. A normal evening for all of them.
He heard the distant rumble of a motorcycle and it made him think of Mack and
his love for bikes. Luke had considered getting a motorcycle. He used to ride
dirt bikes all the time when he was