“You’re in, then?” Noahexulted.
Tristan sighed and smiled. “Guess so,man.”
“That calls for a celebration,” Noah shouted over the intro to one of U2’s everlasting anthems. When the martial beat picked up, Tristan joined in with his guitar, and Aidan jumped right in with thebass.
Aidan cut his stare to Tristan, a little before the first verse of the song, to gauge his reaction to Duke’s singing. Tristan didn’t disappoint. He snapped his head up and gawked at the Brazilian. Aidan smiled, and Noah laughed out loud. Duke had a hell of a voice. Perfect for rock and roll. It was rough where it needed and smooth where it counted. The songs they had played for Tristan didn’t have lyrics, since the poet in the band had just now joinedit.
They ended up playing a whole section of U2 songs, from different phases of the band’s long career. During Duke’s beautiful rendition of a classic ballad from the early nineties, Aidan had to stifle a girlish shriek when the studio door opened and in came his childhood idol. Izzie Anderson greeted them with a dip of her head, before leaning against the closeddoor.
Aidan searched Tristan’s face for his reaction only to find out he hadn’t seen her. Tristan had closed his eyes and seemed transported to that other dimension, as it often happened when he played. When they finished the cover song, Izzie’s loud claps filled the room. “When are you guys going into the studio? I wantin.”
“How do you mean?” Noah asked, grinning like he had won thelottery.
“I want to record a song with—what’s the name of your band?” She turned to gaze atTristan.
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m the last onein.”
“How about Noah’s Arc?” Dukesuggested.
“I don’t like it,” Noah deadpanned. “How does Knight’s Mensound?”
“Horrible. People will wonder if we’re a bad porn movie or a group of strippers,” Tristanreplied.
“I know,” Aidan squealed. He didn’t mean to do that, and his cheeks burned when four pairs of eyes zero in onhim.
“Dude, did you just scream like a little girl?” Duke made him feelworse.
“Fuck you.” Aidan chortled. “Knight’s Edge would be perfect. A play with the wordsnightand Tristan’s name,Knight. Plus, and I don’t fucking believe I’m about to say this, Tristan’s a better guitarist than The Edge, so it’d befitting.”
Tristan guffawed, but his laughter died out when the others didn’t join him. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You guys likethat?”
“The Edge is my personal guitar hero, man. If I say you’re better than him, I mean it. You’re a fucking genius,” Aidanexplained.
“I like the sound of it. Knight’s Edge.” Duke nodded, elongating the syllables as if savoring them. “It’s got a good ring toit.”
“I love it. It’s settled.” Noah smiled, then bowed to Izzie. “Ms. Izzie Anderson, I give you Knight’sEdge.”
