Jett:You’re getting your ass kicked in practice
Me:Bring it loser
Gray:Porter give you shit?
Me:Tried, I handled it. Also told Dad first, so you know, the ’rents will know
Gray:Okay. You have it handled. Don’t leave Ava alone and we’ll see you at practice
Me:Yup.
Me:Fuck, wait! Someone find a freshman to pick up Red, she doesn’t finish until 6, I’ll text you where
Jett:On it
Me:Queeny?
Gray:I’ve got her in between classes
Me:Are we overreacting?
Their answers came in immediately.
Jett:No
Gray:Fuck no!!!
Me:Agreed. Just checking. C U l8r
Turning back to look at the main office building, I thought about Red. Had I been too harsh with her? She’d had Gray and then Jett on her case over the last two days, her home wrecked, and some major upheaval.
I remembered what she said about her mom wanting her to get a job. It didn’t matter if she had a razor-sharp tongue, a fuck-you attitude, or the body of a stripper — she was facing her fear to sing on stage when it scared the shit out of her so she could pay her way. She may be pricklier than a bag of nettles, but the woman had guts, and someone with guts, that was something I could admire.
Chapter 23: Mia
My first official practice with the band was a good one. Wade had been busy writing two new songs, and Sticks and Shane seemed to be really on board with his changes. We sang a few classics, and I loved how they made the songs their own and how they altered the tempo to match my voice.
By the third song, I was completely relaxed singing in front of them, and it felt like I had been doing it for years. We all seemed to click, and when a guy turned up outside at six and loitered, I knew by the width of his shoulders he was a football player.
“You found a new boy toy?” Wade asked me as he unstrapped his guitar.
“Ah, no, it’s . . . you know, it isn’t even complicated, but just . . . yeah.” Grabbing my jacket, I hurriedly put it on as I watched the dark-haired guy stand outside, texting on his phone.
“Groupie?” Sticks asked as he walked up beside me and slung his arm around my shoulder. “I prefer the ones with bigger breasts.”
“You’re a dog,” I told him as I ducked out from under his arm. “And you smell bad, what is that cologne?”
“It’s au naturel Sticks,” he told me proudly.
“Yeah, it au naturel stinks,” I called out to him as Wade and Shane laughed at my dig. “See ya later, guys!”
Outside, I looked at the guy waiting. “Hey?”
“Red?” he asked me as he looked up from his phone. He saw my eyes narrow and hastily shoved his phone in his pocket. “I mean, Mia,” he amended as he held his hand out. “Captain says I have to walk you home.”
“Captain? I thought Jett was the captain?”
“He is.”
