“Let me guess. Dad, of course. Who else would have you this aggro?” Ethan chuckles under his breath, but there’s no humor in his tone. “You have to ignore ninety percent of what the old codger says, Dax.”
“Easy for you to say. He’s not riding your ass like he is mine.”
I strip off my fingerless bag gloves, tossing them aside to grab my drink. Too late, I see Ethan’s hand whipping through the air.
“Ow!” My instinct is to rear back and punch my brother after he slaps the back of my head, but I suppress it, knowing Ethan will give as good as he gets. “What the hell was that for?”
“Because, you stupid knob, we share a room. Or have you forgotten?” My only answer is a rude grunt. “I work here with him every damn day, Dax. At least you have school and your music as an escape. You don’t hear him getting on me because you’re not here all the time.”
“School,” I scoff. “Yeah, that’s a real relaxing break from the club, Ethan. Stuck with a perpetual stiffy while surrounded by girls that I can’t fuck for fourteen days out of every month.” Scowling, I grab my water bottle and drink most of it in a few large gulps.
My oldest brother’s gray eyes soften, reflecting an age much wiser than his twenty-two years. “Trust me bro, take advantage of the freedom school gives you while you’re there. This…” he spins around with his arms spread wide, “is no paradise.”
Well crap. If this is the best it’s going to get, I need to get moving on that plan.
Kate
“This is so exciting! I’m so glad I wore this dress, it shows off my body perfectly.”
I stifle a giggle when Tasha hides her face and rolls her eyes so I can see it but Willa can’t. Willa is… well, let’s just say she only thinks about one thing—herself.
“Ellie, you alright?” I elbow my newest, and somehow suddenly my closest, friend, bouncing my knees with anticipation. Ellie and I live in the same building so we’ve bonded by walking to school together or doing class work. Ellie turns in her seat to face me, her big blue eyes wide with anxiety.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she responds with a worried frown.
I must be scowling because she adds on to her statement, sounding somewhat more convincing. “Really, Kate. I’m brilliant.” I watch her wipe her hands on the super tight jeans I made her wear.
Fine. Hmph. She couldn’t be less fine if she were walking naked across the stage at the Royal Albert Hall.
Not wanting to start an argument on our girls’ night out, I keep my observations to myself. Frankly, I’m just chuffed that she came out with us. Ellie is… reticent to say the least.
The tube slows to a stop and Tasha jumps to her feet when they announce the station. “This is ours!”
We file out, laughing and chatting about everything and anything. The excitement of seeing a live band at a popular London pub has us all wound up like little children on a sugar high. Most of us are just over eighteen, so this is our first chance to go.
At the front entrance of the bar, we meet up with some of our other teammates and head inside. The Drunken Kitten is a noisy, jam-packed little place in a bohemian area of London, filled to the brim with people of all sorts.
Tasha leans close so I can hear her. “Let’s get a good spot!”
I nod at Tasha and grab Ellie’s hand, making sure to hold my pint up in my other so the crowd doesn’t jostle it.
“Perfect,” I declare when we carve out a little section right near the tiny stage. “I’ve heard these blokes are talented.”
“No, you’ve heard that they’re smoking hot,” Tasha says, laughing as she sips her lager.
“Shut it, Tash.” If it were bright enough in here, I’m certain everyone would see how red my face is. “So what? Yeah, they’re supposed to be good-looking. Is it a crime to want to watch hot guys sing?”
Willa comes gliding through the throngs of people, sidling up to us. “I’m so going to shag one of the hot musicians,” she announces.
Ellie frowns at Willa, but the rest of us have learned to ignore her. Willa’s only here because she overheard one of the girls discussing our plans during football practice. Otherwise, not one of us would have dared to invite her.
The lights dim causing the packed crowd to whistle and yell. After initially stumbling over his own feet, the first musician hops onto the small, ligh
ted stage. Right as it hits me that I recognize him, I spot another man with a guitar following close behind.
Dax Davies.
I’m struck dumb. Rooted to the spot like a total idiot. I’m so shocked I don’t even remember to fidget. In the background, I register that my friends are screaming for Dax and his friend Adam, and they’re screaming loudly. Everything after that becomes a blur. I’m sure there’s singing, clapping, hollering, dancing… I hear and see none of it.