“How the fuck? You’re not even that fat, dude?” Danger scoffs.
He’s not wrong. “Genetics. Pre-disposed to everything. So even though I’m notthatoverweight, my lifestyle is the contributing factor.”
Lunar shakes her head. “The alcohol and bad food?”
I dip my chin in response while Danger runs his fingers through his hair.
“Right… right! So we get you eating properly,” Danger states, his eyes filled with fierce determination. “First up… you’re on a diet. You eat what I eat. And second, you exercise with me.”
Slumping back against the counter, I wonder what it would be like to have a sculpted body like Danger, Matt, and Nate. We all know I’m the odd one out. Those guys are beefed up and good-looking—I know I’m not bad-looking, but my stomach lacks definition.
Maybe if I take some pride in myself, I’ll feel better.Who knows?
Maybe it’s time to work on me.
Maybe it’s time to stop drowning and startlivingagain.
“Okay, Danger, put me on your fitness regime. I gotta be healthy again. I need to eat and live a lot better than I have been. I want to be a better me.”
“We can do this, Ry. We’re gonna get you a six-pack instead of you looking like a keg.”
I manage a smile with a quick shake of my head. “Get me fit before our next tour?”
“Exactly. We will start this afternoon when we get back from our meeting with Oliver.”
“Shit! I forgot all about that. Do we even know what it’s about?”
Lunar picks up the tray of rolls and moves to the trash.
“Lunar, no!” Danger calls out, but she empties the tray straight into the garbage can. “Why’d you do that?” Danger sulks.
She stands tall. “If Ryan’s on a health kick, we are too. To support him.”
Danger groans, and she glares at him. “Okay… fine! Support it is.”
I look at Lunar and tilt my head. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome, fuck face.”
My smile grows before I turn back to Danger. “So this meeting with Oliver?”
“It’s in twenty minutes.” He shrugs. “We’d better get going. You coming, babe?”
“Yup.” She turns, grabs her purse from the counter, and says, “Let’s go.”
***
We pull up at the office block—our headquarters, where we rehearse and run our business—and make our way inside. Matt and Nate are already seated at the giant oval table when we walk in. I smirk at Nate as he eyes Danger and Lunar holding hands.
He’s still not over the fact she chose to come to America with us. Nate was convinced she would ruin the band, but she’s actually the one holding us together. It wouldn’t surprise me if Nate actually has a massive crush on Lunar. He’s always watching her, thinking we don’t notice. Maybe the others don’t, but I do. I see the glances and the deep, longing looks he sends her—it’s not healthy. Poor guy, pining for a woman he can’t and will never have.
We take our seats around the table, waiting for thegreat manand our new boss to arrive. To say we miss Luke is an understatement. He was a fantastic agent slash manager, but his heart is in Australia, and he didn’t want to leave his family. So he remained there to help our original opening band, Luminous, and recommended an agency and manager here in LA. That led us to team up with Oliver Reade. He’s a cool guy, a little reserved, but he gets the job done.
Oliver walks past the spotless glass windows looking out over the city and smiles as he strolls in, wearing a button-up shirt, a dress jacket, and slacks sans tie.
“Afternoon, guys.” Oliver takes his seat at the head of the table. “We all know how successful your Australasian tour was with Luke at the helm, so it is time to replicate that over here in the American market. You’re already playing on the airwaves thanks to Ryan’s excellent public relations work, but we need more…”
I take a breath. “Okay, I’ll see what other PR I can wrangle. I’m sure I can get us some press interviews and shit.”
