Incite (Sphere of Irony 1)

Ellie rolls her eyes. “Mighty large head you’ve got there, Reynolds,” she laughs as she turns back to her book.

I shrug, even though she isn’t watching me anymore. Our gig at the DK was popular before, but now with Gavin and Hawke playing with us, George has had to turn people away at the door because there’s literally no more room for anyone else inside the tiny pub. We’ve gone from no job and no future, to raking in piles of money every weekend. It’s not enough to get our own flat or make a living, but for me, it’s enough to feed myself and still save enough to leave eventually.

“Adam! Are you going to stare at Ellie all day or are we going to practice?”

I look over my shoulder and see Dax grinning at me from the other side of the abandoned basement, ecstatic to be able to embarrass me in front of Ellie. Only, I’m not embarrassed. Even though we haven’t gone any further than some pretty heavy kissing, I enjoy every single second I spend with her. And surprisingly, it’s me who keeps it tame between us. I don’t want to spoil everything by treating her like another easy fuck. The slow burn we’re working

up will make it so worth it when we finally get to the physical part of our relationship. For the first time in my life I’m not in it just to get my rocks off.

“Bastard!” I shout playfully back at Dax. “Right, let’s start Short on Time from the top.”

We play another hour or so, until Gavin’s phone beeps. “We have to go. My mom is expecting us back soon,” he says as he checks the text message.

“Where’s your dad?” I ask Gavin.

Gavin’s eyes tighten around the edges, it’s subtle, but I swear his nostrils flare a little as well. “My dad stayed back in the U.S. to work, so my mom decided to come here for a year to spend time with her family. She’s from Hertfordshire and wanted to give me a chance to experience England, plus get to know her family better,” he answers stiffly.

“What about him?” Dax jerks a thumb towards Hawke.

“I’m just here for the life experience, you know, an adventure,” Hawke says smiling. “We’re best friends, so when he offered a year in Europe at his rich grandmother’s house, well, I’d be crazy to turn that down.”

Something tells me there’s more to their story than they’re letting on, but I’m not one to pry so I let it go. Dax narrows his eyes apprehensively but turns back to his guitar without saying a word.

I’m packing my gear listening to Dax ramble on about chords and songs and other stuff, when I notice Gavin chatting up Ellie … again. It seems as if every time they’re together and I’m not looking, he’s with her, heads together discussing who the fuck knows what. Not to mention he’s lying about his reason for being in London, I just know it.

“Fuck,” I hiss under my breath. My temper flares and I crack my neck to release the stress. I try not to get angry, and fail miserably, which is crazy. I hate fighting, but all I want to do when I see Gavin fawning all over my girl is to beat the crap out of him and his stupid good-looking face.

Dax notices that I’m not listening to him anymore, and follows my line of sight to Ellie and Gavin. When Gavin puts his hand on her shoulder and laughs, I lose it. I ignore Dax as he tells me not to do anything stupid.

“Hey! What’s all this about? You moving in on my girl? Is that why you wanted to join our band?” I shout as I storm over to the now very surprised, Gavin and Ellie.

“What?” Gavin jerks his head up, the thick lashes surrounding his wide blue eyes flutter in shock. He tucks his slightly too-long blonde hair behind an ear and stares at me open mouthed.

“Adam, don’t do this. There’s nothing going on,” Ellie warns, stepping between me and Gavin when she sees how furious I am. She crosses her arms and her brow pulls down, giving her sweet face a decidedly hostile look.

“That’s a load of shit and you know it,” I snap. “Every time I turn my back, he’s chatting you up or touching you. I’m not an idiot, Ellie.” I grit my teeth, fuming as Gavin and Ellie stare at me like I’m mental.

Hawke and Dax have come over to us, eyeing me warily, probably intending to jump in if I attempt to pound on Gavin’s stupid, pretty face. As much as I claim to hate fighting, the urge to rough him up is swirling up from inside of me, like a cancer I can’t get rid of. It’s always there just underneath the polite and happy surface.

“Dude, you have no idea what you’re talking about,” Hawke says calmly, holding a tattooed arm out in front of me. “He’s not interested in her.”

“Buggar off, Hawke! It’s nothing to do with you!”

“Hey man, don’t be an asshole!” Hawke shouts right back, stepping directly in front of Ellie and Gavin, getting in my face.

“It’s not your fucking fight!” I growl at Hawke. My gaze flicks over his shoulder and I see Ellie, her face now drawn and pale, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Fuck!

“You know what? Fucking forget it!” I spin on my heel and snatch up my guitar case before storming out the door, stopping only to hit the doorframe with an open palm. I really want to punch it, but I can’t risk another injury to my hand.

I’m halfway down the street when I hear Ellie calling my name. Fuck that, I’m not in the wrong here. A guy as good-looking as Gavin was chatting up my girl right in front of me and I’m not supposed to be angry?

“Adam! Will you stop?” she pleads, gasping for breath as she runs up behind me.

“Why? So you can make me feel stupid again?” I ask, not breaking my long strides.

“No, Adam. So I can tell you what Gavin is always talking to me about.”