Pathetic.
“Let me let you in on a secret, Bambi. You weren’t chosen to succeed. You were chosen to fail. An amateur playing for Bound is a pipe dream. It’s time to wake up. You were never meant to get what you want, so I suggest you take that bass out of your voice and do what the fuck I tell you.”
Before I could ask what Houston meant because all he’d given me was more questions than answers, he turned away and returned to the couch. This time, he sat forward, bracing his forearms on his thighs and watching me with an intensity that should have frozen me on the spot. And then his lips moved.
“Do it again.”
Several hours later, I was shown to the door with the order to return even earlier the next morning. My poor, cramped fingers and abused feet screamed at the atrocity of it all. As I stepped outside, my phone pinged, letting me know that my Uber had arrived. I decided to splurge since there was no way I could make that walk a second time.
Which reminded me…
Turning on my heel and prepared to march back inside, I found Houston, Loren, and Jericho crowding the doorway, stopping me in my tracks. They’d gotten their kicks making me play the same song for ten hours straight until I hit every note the way Houston wanted without fail.
“I may not play as well as you, but I’m not stupid. There’s a reason you agreed to this, and I may not know what that reason is, but I do know something. I was either your only choice or your best chance. That means you need me.”
“Your point?” Loren asked. It didn’t escape my notice that he didn’t bother to deny it. None of them did.
“My car broke down yesterday.”
“Ah, so that’s your price. I can’t say I’m surprised. Just disappointed.” Sliding his hands in his pockets, Loren gave me a jaded look. “What will you have? A Jeep? A mini Coop? A BMW? Let me guess…roof optional, am I right?”
“I don’t want you to buy me a new car, jackass. I want a ride.”
Loren blinked. “Excuse me?”
“Until I can save enough money to fix my car, I’m on foot. The buses do not come this far uphill. I had to walk a mile this morning to get to you.”
Loren shrugged, unimpressed. “So call an Uber.”
“Every day, round trip, for the next three months? I don’t think so. I bring home minimum wage as a hostess for rich prom queens like you. I can barely afford my bills, let alone catering to your petulant whims. No ride, no Braxton. You can explain to the label why I didn’t work out.”
“Anything else?” Houston inquired in the most unaccommodating tone ever.
“Yes.” Lifting my chin, I didn’t let my gaze waver. “I take my coffee black. That shouldn’t be too hard for you to remember.”
“The fuck?” Loren spat. “Do we look like we give a damn?”
“Do I look like a punching bag? If you want me here before the sun rises, I’ll need coffee. Until the three of you see me as your equal, you’ll be fetching it until further notice.”
My phone pinged again with a warning that my ride would be leaving soon, so I turned and left, leaving my new bandmates without the last word. By the time I made it down the drive, got into the backseat of the Uber, and closed the door on another complicated day, I had three new notifications on my phone. All direct messages on Instagram.
[thebassistLo]: I’m so turned on right now
I frowned at that since I didn’t recall unblocking him. I did recall leaving my phone unattended when Houston finally let me have a bathroom break. What kind of needy prick unblocks themselves from someone else’s social media? Shaking my head, I checked my other messages, not bothering to block Loren again.
[_richnoble]: ;-)
[Houston_Bound]: A car will collect you at six thirty
Ignoring the first two, I responded to Houston’s message.
[BraxtheFawn]: How do you know where I live?
Twenty minutes later, the Uber dropped me off. Once inside, I immediately headed for the shower while the bathroom hogs were out. I planned to enjoy the peace—however long it lasted. I knew Griff and Maeko would want every detail, and I wasn’t ready to relive my tortuous first day with three jaded rock gods.
They thought way too much of themselves.
With a tired sigh, I collapsed on my bed. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be. The moment I closed my eyes, my phone chimed. Mustering up the last drop of energy I had, I rolled over and grabbed my phone only to feel my blood boil.
[Houston_Bound]: Don’t be late.
He hadn’t even bothered to answer my question.
Fucker.The next morning, a car arrived as promised. The driver introduced himself as Barry before opening my door. He also told me that he sometimes drove Bound to events whenever they were in town. It was all a little surreal. It only got stranger when Barry pulled into the parking lot of a Starbucks and, after going inside, came out carrying a tray filled with four coffee cups.