“Eventually,” Forest spoke, chewing with his mouth open. He grabbed the pepper and liberally shook it over his food, spreading it across the chili mac, the broccoli, and the potatoes. “Ash asked to keep it loose. They’ve never done this before, and I think he wants something special.”
“Like what?” she asked.
“Hey, being manager of the band doesn’t mean they tell me shit.”
“But you have to know something,” Lyons piped in. “Shit, I wish we could see them. Hell, I’d give my left nut to jam with them.”
“You play?” Forest asked.
“Yeah, I play,” Lyons said.
Her eyes widened. “Really?”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, T,” Lyons said. “I’ve got lots of hidden talents. Someday, you might get to experience some of them.”
Forest looked up, his brow arching. He mouthed,I told you so, and gave her a wink.
A wink Lyons saw. Lyons’s lips twitched into a smile, which accompanied a suggestive arch of his brow.
She ignored Lyons and the low ache in her gut, turning the conversation back to grilling Forest about Angel Fire’s plans. “What do you think they have in mind?”
“I have no idea, but I have a surprise for you.”
“A surprise?” She swallowed cold chili mac, nearly gagged, and chased it down with water.
“Yep,” Forest teased.
“Are you going to tell me what it is?” she said.
Forest seldom volunteered additional information. He expected everyone’s brains to work like his and stitch vague inferences together.
“Yep,” he said.
“Like now?” She had to push him to fill in the gaps.
Forest was having fun with his one-worded replies. “Now, if I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise.”
“Okay, whatever.” He knew how much she hated surprises. “How about you toss me a bone? Maybe give a little something special?”
He cocked his head. “Like what?”
“Well, seeing as how you’re their manager, how about a little inside scoop?” She jabbed her thumb toward Lyons. “Evidently, he plays…what exactly do you play, Lyons?”
Lyons leaned back. He’d cleared his tray and was eyeing the serving line. “I play bass.”
“Guitar?” She knew little about music, except she liked songs.
In many ways, she was like Forest’s sister, Skye. They both knew what they liked but couldn’t name a song, band, or band member to save their lives. Unlike Forest who was a virtual walking encyclopedia of everything and anything music-related.
“Yep.” Lyons had mentioned writing poetry and singing songs. Maybe there was more to him than she thought. “I might not be Angel Fire good, but I hold my own.”
Forest shoveled the last of the chili mac into his mouth. “You think you couldhold your ownwith the band?”
Lyons’s jaw unhinged, and his mouth gaped. “Wait a sec, you don’t mean…”
“Hey, thanks to Tia, you’ve got an inside track to the band. I’m sure we could arrange something special. Like I said, they’re coming in tonight. They’re supposed to rest and prep for the concert. KnowingAsh and Bash and the rest of the guys, they’re going to want to see the base and talk to as many people as possible. And the PR peeps would be all over something like that.”
Lyons fisted his hand and bit his knuckles. “You’re totally shitting me right now, aren’t you?”
