Pretend I enjoyed it? I thought the goofy grin I couldn’t get off my face was a dead giveaway of just how thrilling it had beentome.
I tried to come up with a quick response but was completely caught off guard by his comments. By the time I thought of something to say, he was long gone. I spotted him down on the floor laughing with a couple of the girls who’d been checking him out the whole time. I didn’trecognizethem.
“Don’t worry about him,” Matt said, walking over to me. “He’s more in love with himself than a girl taking pictures ofherself.”
“Everyone else in the band seems sochill.”
“Yeah, and everyone else sounds like a beached whale when they try to sing. We needed a singer. Owen not only fills that spot, but also gives one hell of a performance. The girlslovehim.”
“He said I was toostiff.”
Matt laughed. “Dude, you looked like astatue.”
“Seriously?”
“It’s your first time. I get it,” Matt reassured me. “Try practicing in front of the mirror orsomething.”
I could picture it now. Me downstairs in the basement with my guitar, practicing my moves in front of the mirror. Chances were, Sarah would pick that exact moment to come barging down. If she caught me, I’d never hear the endofit.
There had to beanotherway.
“Yeah,soundsgood.”
Matt laughed again. “Rainier, I can already tell you’re full of it. But seriously, figure it out. You’re a great guitar player. You just need to work on your stagepresence.”
“I will,” I said slinging my backpack over my shoulder and grabbing my amp. “But right now, I just need to get home and gotobed.”
“You’re the lamest rock starIknow.”
“Good thing I’m only an honorary member until Cooper gets patchedupthen.”
“Good point.” Matt put a hand on my shoulder before he walked back over to his drum set and started hisbreakdown.
It only took me two trips to get all my stuff into my car before I was able to head home. I didn’t want to unload my stuff when I got home, and I doubted anyone in our small town would take my stuff right out of our driveway. Who would think to rob an old station wagon anyway? But equipment was expensive, and I was a broke collegestudent.
I sighed to myself before opening the door to the backseat. I grabbed what I could and went to close the door, only to see Sarah standing next to me. I hadn’t seen her walk up, but I was too tired to bestartled.
“Since I couldn’t come to the show tonight, I can at least help you with your things.” She shrugged hershoulder.
“You really are the best sister. Did youknowthat?”
“Only because you tell me every day,” she said with a yawn. “Sometimes twiceaday.”
I handed her the lighter things, the backpack full of cords and guitar case. I grabbed the amp and speaker cabinet from the very back ofmycar.
“How was work?” I asked, as we carried everything to the front door of our parents’house.
“Long. I swear sometimes I don’t think working at The Farmhouse isworthit.”
“Yeah, but how else you gonna stick it to MomandDad?”
She smiled. “Speaking of, they stayed up so they could hear all about your show. You really should let them go next time. What’s the worst that couldhappen?”
I stopped at the door before opening it. I lowered my voice to a loud whisper in case they were listening on the other side. “Have you met our parents? I’m not sure if there’s any way to stand out more thaninvitingthem.”
“Don’t be so dramatic. Mom and Dadloveyou.”
“I don’tdoubtthat.”
