Page 57 of The Twisted Beats

“Yeah, right. I’m just comfortable talking to you. I don’t seem to have a filter.” He gestures to my beer. “Take it easy on those. If your parents think I got you drunk, they’ll kill me.”

“They let me drink. You know that.”

“They let you have one.”

I take a swig, giving him a defiant side-eye as I do. He places his bottle down on the counter, wraps his hands around my waist, and lifts me. He sits me on the granite island.

I sit down my beer as he spreads my legs and steps closer so he’s standing between my knees.

He gives me a quick peck. “Tell me about what happened at the studio today.”

He rests his hands on my thighs and his face turns red. His grip on my legs intensifies.

Oh, he must be jealous of my new love interest.

He has nothing to worry about, but I’m not about to tell him that. If I have to have pictures of him and other girls in my head, he can have the same kind of suffering.

I shrug. “We did a few practice runs. It was like any other day.”

“Uh-huh.” He burns his stare into mine. “What about the new guy?”

“He was fine. He seems to fit right in.” I take another sip to give Callum time to process that.

His chest rises and falls a little faster. “I’m sure he does.”

“Oh, there are two new girls on the show. One is named Gia Armstrong. I like her. The other is named Zara Blackthorn. She’s playing the lead singer of my rival band. Gia’s her sidekick.” I place my beer down. “Something about Zara rubs me the wrong way.”

“Why do you say that?”

“All she wanted to talk to me about was Ur Boyz. She figured out Bren is my brother and wouldn’t leave me alone about it.” My stomach grumbles.

“She’s probably a groupie.” He steps away and turns toward the refrigerator. “Sounds like you’re hungry. What should we have for dinner?”

I push off the counter and follow him. “My mom left us spaghetti.”

“Where is it?” He pulls the fridge door open. “I’ll prepare it for you while you talk to me about your rehearsals.”

He must still want to know about the new guy and this is his way of trying to get information. A smile grows across my face, but I lower my head so he can’t see it.

Bren appears in the room wearing navy sweatpants and nothing more. “What are we eating?”

“Spaghetti.” Callum glances at him. “Where’s your chick?”

“She had to leave.” Bren brushes beside me and grabs a beer from the minibar.

I step aside. “Are you going to see her again?”

“Yeah.” He pops the lid off his bottle. “We drink at the place where she works.”

“Where’s this?” I reach past Callum and take our dinner out of the fridge.

“A dive bar near the recording studio.” Bren gazes at Callum and laughs. “You missed out, bro. That girl can fuck.”

“Why did Callum miss out?” My chest burns for fear I won’t like how he answers.

Bren takes a quick swig. “She was flirting with him and he was checking her out. He could’ve had her if he wanted.”

“What the fuck, mate?” Callum slugs Bren. “Shut your mouth. Livianna’s standing right here.”