MY FAVORITE BAND, page 58
“This or that?” she asks, holding up two outfits and playing the game we always play before we go out. We’ve never gone out to hang backstage with one band while they go on stage with another band, though. I nod to the one on the left, jeans with a red shirt as opposed to a fancy, sparkly dress. I’m feeling out of sorts because of this huge crush I’m harboring for Adam, and jeans tend to be my comfort zone.
“Really?” she asks, her face falling.
I roll my eyes. “Then why’d you ask?”
She giggles. “You think casual? I’m thinking it’s Vegas and we go flashy tonight. When will we have the chance to go backstage with Vail ever again?”
She has a point, though I have a pretty good counterpoint. “Considering your brother’s band signed with Ashmark, I don’t think it’s as far-fetched a fantasy as it would be for most people.”
“Touché. But I’m still going glam tonight.”
I sigh, but then I realize stepping out of my comfort jeans zone and glamming it up might be just what I need to impress the boy I’ve had a crush on for a very, very long time.
CHAPTER 6: ADAM
“What’s the plan for tonight?” My sister collapses on the couch in the main living area after setting the rum and Diet Coke I just mixed for her on the end table beside her. Emily sits next to her, margarita in hand, and Rascal pours himself a drink by the bar.
“We need to leave in about an hour.” I slide into a recliner opposite them and take a sip of my Guinness.
Amber sits up. “An hour? I only have an hour to get ready?”
“Didn’t you just get ready?” I ask, eyeing both women sitting across from me. Amber looks like she put a little more make-up on, and Emily looks perfect in a casual white t-shirt and jeans.
Perfect.
That’s not a word I’ve ever used to describe Emily before...not even in my head.
Has she changed? Is she different?
Or am I just really seeing her for the first time ever?
The last time I saw her, I was with Bree. I didn’t have eyes for anyone but Bree. And Emily was just a kid back then...at least that’s how I saw her, but now she’s all grown up, and she’s all woman.
I shake my head and attempt to focus. “We’re meeting with Vail to run through the song a few times before their show, and they said they’ll have food for us. We’ll perform there, and then we have a club appearance at ten. The night is ours after that.”
“What does that mean?” Amber asks, standing and chugging her drink.
“It means we can hang out at that club or go to another one, we can go to a casino, we can go downtown...whatever you want.” I nod to her empty glass. “Need another?”
“Yeah, and Emily will need another margarita, too.”
Emily looks back and forth between us, and then she shrugs. “Eventually.”
“I’m on it,” I say, and the two women head back to their room to get ready.
“Dude, did your sister get hotter?” Rascal asks when I join him at the bar.
“Were you just sitting back here creeping on her?” I ask.
He laughs. “Maybe a little.”
“I already told you, she’s off-limits.” I reach for the rum.
“You can’t keep making her forbidden fruit. It’s just going to have the opposite effect that you want it to have.”
He has a point, but beyond that, Rascal’s really not a bad guy. A little immature, maybe, but he doesn’t really sleep around, at least not like Dax and Brody used to, and he’s never had a serious relationship. We tease him a lot, but the more I’ve gotten to know him, the more I’ve seen up close the reasons why he’s never gotten serious with a girl.
It’s not for lack of women wanting him, believe it or not.
It’s because of the wall he puts up. Deep down, he has the same fear that I have: that a woman will only want us because we’re in a successful band.
I’ve learned over time that the fear was why I held onto my relationship with Bree longer than I should have. She was with me before MFB saw any real measure of success. It’s a revelation I had after long talks on a tour bus late into the night with Rascal while everyone else in our band was fast asleep in their bunks as they held their own girlfriends close.
He’d never admit that vulnerability to anyone else, though, and so instead he masks it with immaturity and insults and a generally cynical disposition.
“Does this look okay?”
Amber’s voice pulls me from my musing as I stare out the window, another beer in hand as I mentally prepare for tonight. I glance over in her direction, but I can’t look at my sister when my eyes fall on the vision beside her.
Emily wears a glittering gold dress that fits her like a glove. It’s a little short, a little tight, a little revealing, and absolutely perfect on her. The color accentuates her golden skin, making her brown eyes glow even from across the room.
She’s beyond beautiful, and as she tugs at the bottom of her dress, I immediately know that she doesn’t even know how gorgeous she is.
Maybe someone like me needs to be the one to let her in on the secret.
Shit.
Wait one fucking minute.
This is my little sister’s friend. Nothing more.
I clear my throat, trying to focus on anything other than sex as my dick traitorously hardens in my jeans.
My eyes move over to my sister, which definitely helps battle against those thoughts. “Yeah, you look fine.”
Amber blows out a frustrated breath, indicating that my answer was the wrong one.
Rascal saunters up beside me, a drink in his hand, too. “I think he means you look fine.” The last word drips with sexual undertones, and it makes me a little nauseous.
That’s not the effect it has on my sister, however, whose whole face lights up before she winks at him. “Thanks, Will. That’s more like it.”
Will?
I mean…I realize that’s his name, I’ve just never really heard anyone other than his mother use it.
They hold each other’s gaze for longer than I’m comfortable with, and I look between them in absolute horror. Rascal may have shown his vulnerable side to me over the last few months, but in no way does that mean I’m down with the idea of him porking my sister.
My sister has always had crushes on my friends. First it was Dax, then Brody. Both of them have fiancées now. But never, not in a million years, could I ever have dreamed up the idea that she might be interested in William Rascowicz.
The thought is just...weird.
“All right, all right, enough,” I finally say, forcing myself to stop looking at Emily and to take control of the situation. “It’s time to head out.”
Dax and Kylie, our manager, have their heads bent close together by the table as they go over tonight’s plan when we get to their room. She isn’t just our manager—she’s Dax’s fiancée. Brody and Zoey, one of our backup dancers and his girl, and Kane and Sierra, his woman, are waiting on the couch for us with drinks in hand. We take a private elevator down to the main floor, where we’re ushered out a private exit toward the ride waiting to take us just over a mile down the road to the MGM.
We’re treated royally when we arrive at a private entrance for the Garden Arena, unsurprising considering we’re here to hop on stage with their special guests. We’re taken back through a series of hallways, and eventually we stand outside a door knowing that the four legends of Vail are on the other side.
Dax knocks, and the door is immediately thrown open by none other than Mark Ashton himself. My sister gasps beside me, and I give her a look that plainly says keep it cool. But this is my sister we’re talking about, and let’s be honest. She has zero chill.
“Oh my God, it’s Mark Ashton!” She doesn’t just say the words, she squeals them like a damn hyena, and I’m embarrassed for her. You’d think considering her brother is in a fairly successful band, she’d be semi-normal meeting celebrities...but she’s not. Mostly because my family life and my work life have tended to fall into separate categories over the years. I’ve invited Amber to MFB shows before, and she’s been there, even backstage...but I guess it’s different when it’s your brother’s band versus someone else.
“Ahh!” Mark squeals back, clearly teasing her. “And it’s someone with MFB!”
“Mark, stop,” his wife, Reese, scolds him, rolling her eyes. “Welcome, MFB!” She hugs each of us. This isn’t the first time we’ve met her, not by a longshot. She was involved with our season of Rock on the Road, the reality show developed by our record label that follows a band from album launch through the tour promoting it.
We’ve been lucky enough to tour with Vail in the past. My sister wasn’t able to make it out to any of the shows we had when we toured with them, though, which is one of her biggest life regrets.
“Sorry,” he says, giving my sister a hug. She looks like she’s about to pass out, and I can’t help my laugh.
“This is my sister, Amber, and her friend, Emily,” I say, making the introductions. “And this is Vail.”
Each member of the band introduces himself, but my attention is pulled away by Dax. “Are you good on vocals?” he asks while my sister finds herself in heaven.
I nod. I typically sing back-up for him, and when we toured with Vail, we performed this song with them almost every night.
“There’s food in the room next door,” Mark says. “Help yourself to anything in there, including whatever you want from the bar. Let’s rock this shit!”
We all respond with a resounding cheer, and then we’re off to the room next door for dinner. Long tables are set up along a wall with a buffet of all sorts of salads, pastas, chicken, and vegetables, and smaller round tables for five are set up around the room for us to sit and enjoy our meals. Amber and Emily trail close behind me, and I notice Rascal seems to be trailing close behind my sister.
I told him she was off-limits, and I thought Bro Code would mean he respected that...but this is Rascal we’re talking about. He probably doesn’t even know what Bro Code is.
On that note, I ask the bartender for some whiskey after I set my food down at a table. I need something stronger than beer if I’m going to witness Rascal attempting to hook up with my sister.
I grab a margarita for Emily and a rum and Diet Coke for my sister in an effort to be a good host. Rascal sidles up beside me at the bar, and I glance at the table where I left my food. Emily is sitting in the chair next to my plate, and Amber is on her other side. Another plate of food with an empty seat is on her other side, which tells me Rascal already claimed it.
“Didn’t I already tell you she’s off-limits?” I ask him.
“Does it really matter?” He rolls his eyes. “You’re gonna need someone to entertain her while you’re getting busy with her friend.”
I turn toward him with a glare. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
The bartender hands me my three drinks, and Rascal orders his next drink, another beer. I wait with zero patience for him to answer me.
I reach for the three drinks, but honestly it’ll be easier to just let Rascal carry one of them.
He finally turns toward me. “Dude, if you’re trying to make it seem like you’re not interested, do the opposite of what you’ve been doing.”
“Fuck off,” I mutter childishly.
“You want her?” he asks.
“No.” I make a face and shake my head like it’s a stupid thought when in reality I’m the stupid one for being so obvious. “She’s my annoying sister’s annoying friend.”
“Sure as shit doesn’t look annoying in that hot-ass dress she’s wearing.”
My hackles rise. I realize Rascal is one of my best friends, my brother in MFB, but talking about Emily that way makes me feel more than a little murderous.
“And, for the record, neither does your hot as fuck sister.”
“I’m literally going to kill you,” I say as the bartender hands him the beer. I shove the rum and Diet Coke at him.
He looks at the bartender. “You heard it here, barkeep. If I wind up dead tonight, it’s on this guy.”
I roll my eyes, hoping this isn’t foreshadowing at its finest.
CHAPTER 7: EMILY
“You didn’t have to do that,” I say softly when Adam sets a margarita down in front of me.
He presses his lips together like it was no big deal, and flutters race across my chest. Good God, this man is handsome. “Came free with dinner.”
“Well thanks for getting it for me.” I attempt a smile, but his eyes are focused down on his plate.
“Of course. There’s more where that came from, and you’re in Sin City, so help yourself to a good time.”
His tone is a little more clipped than it was earlier, and of course I immediately blame myself. Is it weird that I took the seat next to him? It wasn’t my idea, actually.
When we went to take our seats, Amber admitted she’s into Will—or Rascal, or whatever his name is. He definitely bulked up since the last time I saw him when he was just a skinny band nerd with fiery red hair, but now he’s grown into a man...so of course I told her to go for it. It leaves her brother’s attention wide open, which means maybe I can continue what I thought was a connection earlier, or at least I could try to form one now.
I didn’t tell her that, of course. No one wants to hear about your conquests with their siblings, but I’m sure she’d green light it if she knew my intentions.
Probably.
“What’s wrong?” I ask him.
He finally glances up at me, and when his eyes meet mine, I see a little turmoil there. I can’t help but wonder what changed. He was happy-go-lucky and flirty what seems like just moments ago, and now he’s conflicted, something obviously playing on his mind.
He shakes his head a little, and then he says, “Nothing. It’s fine.”
“You sure?” I ask, ducking my head a little as I try to get him to look at me again.
He does, and his eyes soften. “Yeah.”
“You know, you and I have something in common,” I say, my heart racing as I decide to just go for it.
“Oh?” he says. “What’s that?”
“Recent break-ups.”
He gives me a rueful smile. “Welcome to the club. How recent?”
I twist my lips and clear my throat. “Two days ago.”
He winces a little. “Oh Jesus, that’s fresh.”
I nod. “Yeah, it is, but can I tell you a little secret?”
A smile plays at his lips and he leans in a little conspiratorially. “I like secrets.”
I lower my voice to a whisper. “I think I’m already over that cheating son-of-a-bitch.”
He lets out a loud bark of a laugh, and I can’t help it when his laugh makes me laugh, too.
“Are you over your ex?” I ask.
He looks thoughtful for a beat. “There are more easy days now than there used to be.”
That doesn’t really tell me anything. So is he over her or not? “That’s good to hear, but the hardest part is going to be when I get back to San Diego and have to move all my stuff out of his place.”
“Ouch. Need help?”
I arch both brows. “You offering?”
He shrugs.
“Aren’t you on tour?”
He nods. “Yeah, but we’re in Vegas tomorrow and the next night, and then we have almost a week off.”
“Oh. So you actually can come help me.” I glance over at him with more than a hint of curiosity in my eyes. Does he really want to help me move? Or is he just being polite? I tend to think the latter because no one really ever wants to help someone move. But I’ll take the help because not only do I not want to face Chad alone, but having Adam there—someone I know Chad will be jealous of—makes it feel that much sweeter.
“Yeah, I really can.” His eyes meet mine and something passes between us that transcends the words we’re speaking. It’s something hot and unfamiliar and definitely not just in my imagination this time.
And somehow it breaks the inexplicable ice I didn’t realize had formed between us.
He further breaks that barrier with his next question. “Are you really doing okay?” His voice is low, like it’s just for me, but it’s also full of concern.
I shrug. “Yeah.”
“How’d you find out he was cheating?”
I shake my head and roll my eyes. “The idiot left his phone next to me unattended and she texted him. Turns out the girl he’s been banging behind my back is one of my closest friends.”
“Was.”
I glance over at him. “What?”
“She was one of your closest friends.”
I can’t help my laugh. I should be embarrassed about the fact that someone cheated on me, like somehow it’s my fault. Deep down I know it’s not, but the freshness of finding out still sits over me like a cloud.
“Right. I don’t exactly see myself hanging out with that cunt for thirsty Thursday anymore. Or my fuckwit of an ex.” My eyes widen at my use of the “C” word, a word that isn’t part of my usual vocabulary but nonetheless accurate here.
He barks out another loud laugh at my word choice, and my stomach flips. I adore the sound of his loud laugh, and I love being the one to cause it.
But I also love that I can confess how I really feel to him. Maybe I shouldn’t be telling him these truths, but he’s just easy to talk to. The words seem to tumble out of my mouth unfiltered as I express to him things I haven’t even told his sister—the person who happens to be my best friend in the whole world.
“It’s just weird to think that I don’t have a boyfriend anymore. You know?”
He nods. “I remember that same void when Bree and I ended things. I still feel it sometimes.” He focuses his gaze down on his drink for a beat before he looks back at me. “Dax and Brody have been trying to get me to hook up with randoms, but it’s not my thing. I think I’m just more of a relationship guy, you know?”
