4
Liam stood in the doorframe, guitar in hand.
He hadn't changed in the few months since I'd seen him. He had the same wavy brown hair, same green eyes, same gorgeous smile. He wore dark denim that looked artfully ripped, as if they had been designed that way. His tight t-shirt was some brand name logo I vaguely recognized.
His eyes scanned the room. They landed on me. He blinked. His gaze flicked back to the guys, then back to me.
"Isn't this the audition for Hairy Tits?" he asked.
"No," Gael said, sounding confused. "This is the audition for Cherry Lips."
Liam pursed his lips. “Huh.” He flicked his eyes to me again. "Never mind." He shook his head. "It must have been a mix up. I didn't expect to be auditioning for a band like yours.”
“What do you mean, like ours?” Gael spoke up, a frown crossing his lips.
"You're one of the most popular rock bands to debut in the last year,” Liam said.
Gael and Nate tilted their chins up smugly. They liked having their egos stroked, my brother most of all.
But it was a lie. Liam didn't know Cherry Lips because we were popular.
He knew Cherry Lips because of me.
"Why are you here?" I asked.
"I'm auditioning."
"That's not what I'm asking."
"You're looking for a temporary session guitarist to join you on tour, aren't you?"
He was serious. Liam was actually here to audition. I didn't think he'd planned this. He had been just as surprised as I had been when he walked through the door.
I couldn't help but remember the way we had left things between us.
And now he was here, in front of me, asking to join my band.
This couldn't be a coincidence.
No. There was no way I was letting this happen.
I owed this man everything. There was no way I'd be able to keep my cool around him. I'd already let my guard down around him too much.
I couldn't let this happen.
"Liam, right?" Gael asked, unaware of my panic. "Why don't you show us what've you've got?"
Liam nodded and hefted his guitar strap over his head. "You guys mind if I play one of your songs?"
"Go ahead." Gael waved his hand easily, indicating for him to start.
The moment he began to play, I knew I was in trouble.
Because Liam was amazing. He played as if he'd been born with a guitar in his hands. His fingers spidered up and down the fretboard easily, perfectly mimicking the way I played.
Although I hated to admit it, he was better than me.
They were going to choose him.
