He stage-whispers to Mal, "Do me a favor. Don't tell the hottie what I told you about the video."
Mal stage-whispers back, "Don't tell her you fapped it to the cute, innocent girl in the video a dozen times?"
"No, that's fine. But I don't want anyone knowing you were anywhere near my masturbatory fantasies." He winks at me. "It's a hot video. I hope you're ready to be famous, Lacey."
"Can you be ready for that?" I'm not. But then… I'm ready for the video I edited to be seen by thousands. Millions even. That outweighs any modesty.
"Good point. What did I say about beauty and brains, huh? Don't throw this one away like you do with the others." He nods goodbye to Mal then to me. "I be
tter find Jackson. You know musicians. Always something."
He spins on his heels and heads off.
I turn to Mal. "Did he really?"
"In more graphic detail, yeah." He runs his fingers through my still damp hair. "I wanted his feedback."
"On…"
"If you were right about my image."
"And?"
"And he said, 'what the fuck, Malcolm. You really expect me to have an opinion about this video other than my jeans just got fucking uncomfortable? Who's the babe writhing under you and where's her number? I don't mind sloppy seconds when the dish is that appetizing.'"
"Oh." I'm pretty sure my entire chest is flushing. I don't have any time for it to sink in. There's someone else coming towards us.
He has dark hair and familiar blue eyes.
Like Mal's, only lighter.
That's Ethan Strong, Mal's younger brother, the Dangerous Noise guitarist.
He looks a lot like Mal. He's a little shorter, a little less broad, a little more boyish. He has a brightness to him. It's in his smile, in his t-shirt, in the colorful sleeve tattoo.
He nods hello then offers his hand. "Ethan Strong."
I shake. "Lacey Waltz."
He turns to Mal and raises a brow. "You brought a date."
"A friend," Mal says. "And a colleague."
Ethan gives us a once-over. He gives Mal a really, a colleague? Do you think that's a believable story or do you think I'm an idiot? look. "Always nice to meet a friend of Mal's."
"Nice to meet you too." I move closer to Mal. That doesn't exactly sell the we're only friends slash colleagues image. "Mal didn't tell me why you're performing tonight."
"Soundtrack release party," Ethan says. He names next weekend's hottest blockbuster.
"Oh wow. I didn't know you were in that. That's awesome. I bet you make a ton off the licensing, right?" I bite my tongue. That's incredibly nosy, but at least it makes me sound more like a colleague and less like a fuck buddy.
"They don't tell me these details." Ethan laughs. He and Mal share a knowing look. It's that sibling telepathy so many people have. I'm an only child, so I don't know what it's like growing up with someone, sharing a family.
"Oh my fucking God." A bright voice floats towards us. A tall guy with sandy hair and mischievous green eyes pushes between two roadies. His jaw drops as he takes in me and Mal. "Mal has a date."
That's Joel Young, the Dangerous Noise drummer.
"She's Lacey," Ethan offers. "A friend."