Playing (Inked Hearts 2)

Our suite is at the back of the hall. A shiny silver disco ball casts light over the powder blue couches. The song books are sitting on the low table, right next to a bunch of two liter bottles of soda and a large carafe of water.

Emma plops on the couch and pours us two glasses of diet. "So." She hands me my glass then looks to Dean with a smile. "What are you singing?"

"Good things come to those who wait." He winks at us.

She nudges me. See. He totally likes you.

I shake my head. This is a bad lie. I need to set her straight. Without giving away how badly I want to fuck her brother.

"What about you, Walker?" Emma sips her drink. "What kind of music do you like anyway?"

"Metal." Dean laughs. "Have we never brought you to karaoke?"

"Never. Fuck you for that by the way." She flips him off.

Dean laughs. "You close your eyes and listen to Walker you think James Hetfield—"

"Who?" Emma asks.

"Fuck, kids today." Dean shakes his head. "Lead singer of Metallica."

"Oh. Yeah. The Enter Sandman guys." Emma sticks her tongue out. "I don't like that stuff. Too loud."

"Not enough boys in eyeliner?" Dean offers.

"I was thinking skinny jeans." She nudges me. "But that's an irresistible combination. Right, Kay?"

"Right." Or Brendon in anything. Or nothing. Nothing would be ideal, really. Not that I'll ever have the chance to see that.

"You should try that look." She motions to Dean. "Some espresso would bring out your eyes."

The door swings open. Ryan and Leighton step inside. Ryan looks slightly less glum than usual. Leighton is wearing her usual pleasant smile, the customer service one required for working at the front desk.

And there's Brendon.

His eye catch mine. "Who's up first."

"James over here." Dean nods to Walker.

Walker grabs the mic. "You mock because you're jealous." He grabs the keypad. Taps the song in from memory.

A moment later, the title card flashes on screen. Enter Sandman, As Made Famous by Metallica.

The room fills with the song's epic intro. Only it's practically polyphonic.

Then Walker is singing with his voice two octaves lower than it normally is. All gruff and angry a la the original song—everyone knows this one.

Emma lets out one of her full body laughs.

Leighton chuckles.

Even Ryan cracks a smile. "You do look jealous, Dean."

Dean flips his brother off.

The tension in my chest eases. This is normal. Distracting even.

So long as I keep my gaze off Brendon, this feels good.