She didn’t notice her thumb brushing the ring. She didn’t see Jax go still in the shadows of the far seat. A second later, his fingers began moving over his phone.
[THE STERLING SITUATION]
[9:24 PM]
Caleb:I got Chad an audition.
Caleb:Real casting director. Real room.
Jax:Did he get the part?
Caleb:He got humiliated on camera.
Caleb:Which is technically a part.
Liam:I need to see this.
[9:28 PM]
Caleb:[VIDEO FILE: “CHAD_AUDITION_FINAL.MP4”]
Caleb:Enjoy.
[9:32 PM]
Jax:i’m actually crying
Killian:He’s so confident.
Arthur:Funny.
Caleb:The casting directors asked if it was a prank.
Caleb:I said “No, he’s just very committed.”
Mateo:That was great
Jax:this is art
[JAX REED RENAMED GROUP TO: “APRIL’S REVENGE SQUAD”]
[9:36 PM]
Liam:Much better.
Caleb:I regret everything.
SEVENTEEN
Meet The Team
April
The club was called something April immediately forgot. Probably "Lux" or "Noir" or some other one-syllable word that cost extra to say out loud.
They didn't wait in line. Caleb walked up to the velvet ropes like he owned them, and the bouncer's face did this thing where it rearranged itself fromabsolutely nottoright this way, sirso fast April was pretty sure he pulled a muscle.
Inside, the bass hit her like a physical object, deep enough that she felt it in her teeth. The club was all purple light, packed with people dancing like their lives depended on it. Arthur had already coordinated everything, and they were escorted past the main floor to a VIP section that overlooked the dance floor from behind a wall of velvet and exclusivity.
