“Sure. I’ll head back with you guys,” Karl says finally, though I know he’s a bit annoyed.
“Roger? Can you make the arrangements?”
“Way ahead of you. I’ll also look into getting a rehab center there so we can visit Adrian,” Roger says.
“Anyone want to work out in the morning before we fly out?” I ask.
Roger and Karl look away from me, saying nothing. “I’ll go,” Fritz says, rubbing his belly. “Don’t wanna get a beer gut.”
* * *
When I turnthe gym television on, Fritz and I keep the news channel on. We barely start a light warm-up jog when the band name on a news report draws our attention.
A female reporter in a red blazer speaks, “Adrian Köhler, drummer to the world-famous German heavy metal band,Industrial November, is set to return to rehab this week. This will be Köhler’s third stint in rehab since the band’s formation nearly eight years ago.
“An anonymous source claims Köhler allegedly passed out outside a Chicago nightclub. The embarrassing incident comes not two years after they replaced their original guitarist with the youngster Karl Sommer due to the former guitarist’s alcohol and drug addiction.
“We have confirmed Köhler is heading to a Kansas City rehabilitation center. The shows in Denver and Phoenix will be postponed until later in the tour. The band is expected to resume the rest of their planned American tour in Los Angeles after one week of treatment for Köhler.
“In a supporting move from the rest of the band, lead singer Brenner Reindhart, Friedrick “Fritz” Hartmann, bass, and Karl Sommer, guitar, will be staying in Kansas City until Köhler completes treatment.
“A statement from band manager Roger Kemp was released this morning as the news broke. ‘We are a family,’ Mr. Kemp said. ‘We will support Adrian in getting any treatment he needs for this disease, and we will stick together to see him through this tough time. We want Adrian to know we love and support him. His fans have been extremely supportive, and we ask that you continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers. We will return to Denver and Phoenix as soon as we can. And Los Angeles, we will see you next week.’”
“Shut that shit off,” Fritz groans.
“Wow,” I say. “Roger works fast.”
“Yeah. I appreciate he got ahead of it by being up front, but goddammit. Now every reporter in the world knows we will be in Kansas City. Kinda wish he hadn’t released the location,” Fritz says.
“If he hadn’t, it would only have created more intrigue, and we would have even more media attention. He did the right thing,” I say in approval of Roger’s management.
“Yeah. You’re probably right,” Fritz huffs.
I’m going to have a hell of a time keeping the band, and especially Karl, focused on work while technically having a week off. Luckily, Fritz has a good head on his shoulders, for the most part, and I can count on him to keep working during our downtime if he doesn’t sneak off on his secret Mexico trips as he tends to do. The same can’t be said for Karl.
We move on to weightlifting after our jog and are better able to talk through that part of the workout.
“So,” Fritz says nonchalantly, “are we really supposed to believe this little band relocation has nothing to do with our gorgeous waitress?”
I glance at him sideways and continue with my bicep curl reps. “Stop it, Fritz. I already gave my reasons.”
I’m annoyed that he hit the nail on the head. When I stormed out of her apartment after being kicked out, I swore to myself I’d never contact her again. But then I cooled off and realized that that was the first time anyone had kicked me out of their bed. I didn’t think I had many more firsts with anyone, and annoying as it was, it was also refreshing. I don’t remember the last time I had to work to woo a woman.
And fuck if the chase wasn’t exciting.
“So, if I were to look her up when we got back, you would be okay with that?” Fritz teases.
“Only if you don’t enjoy breathing,” I hiss.
Fritz laughs, and I want to slap that stupid grin off his face. “I knew it,” he says.
* * *
My only priorityshould be keeping my band together.Industrial Novemberis susceptible to loss of momentum after the lineup change with Karl. The kid hasn’t recorded with us yet, and this is his first tour—one interrupted by Adrian’s rehab.
The only thing I need to focus on is keeping it all together and getting us through this challenging year. Few bands last as long as we have, and I am not about to fold at the height of our popularity. I still have songs in me—albums—ideas I want to see realized before the band retires.
But I can’t focus because a waitress named Sofia in Kansas City occupies my every thought. Her beauty is the magnet that lands all of us in KC once again.