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So I can forget,

Yeah, forget about you.

Oh yeah.

My fingers twisted and tensed. Guilt. That was what had irked me about Emilio’s’ texts. He’d made me feel guilty for moving on. I shouldn’t feel that way. No...I refused to feel that way. Tia and these guys had been the fresh start I’d needed. I had a new confidence. I’d grown. I was in a much better place and surrounded by better people.

Fuck Emilio.

Flint threw me a questioning look, but he hit the chorus. I joined in for our harmony, but my voice came out tight and scratchy.

So...

I need to jump in my c—,

Pick up my friends, hit a cool bar.

So we can d—nce all night,

Have fun until s—nlight.

“Cut.” Flint sliced his hand across his neck. “Lewis? You’re off. What’s eating you?”

So much I couldn’t fathom where to begin. Frustration drilled into my head. “Sorry. I’m just tired. What do you think about playing this song slower?”

He scratched his stubble. “But it’s a party song?”

“On the electrics, yes. But when broken down raw, it needs to be sultrier and have a fuck-you-I’m-going-out-with-my-buddies attitude.” My exact thoughts about Emilio.

Cole groaned and tilted his head back. “Why can’t you just play the fucking song how we wrote it?”

Ouch! That stung. “It doesn’t sound right.”

“It’s freaking awesome as is.” He drove his fingertips into his brow, massaging at the grooves. “For once, can you leave a great song untouched?”

“Sure can.” I shrugged my shoulder. My tone, too clipped. We’d all clashed heads while we were breaking down some of the songs that were harder to play live. I’d contributed my thoughts. They’d often loved my suggestions—Flint and Slip more so than Cole. He loved his music and was protective of his creativity, and of his friends and family. I hoped I was now included in that group. Time would tell when Tia and I told him we were together...if she wanted to be with me. Ergh!

Brushing off the tension with a pluck of my bottom string, I let my suggestions go. “It was just an idea. Leave it. We’ll play it as is.” I didn’t want to piss them off. I loved the song.

“Lew?” Flint leaned forward, resting his arm across the top of his guitar. He looked at me from underneath his long hair that fell across his eyes. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, my neck stiff as a board. “Yep. Just got a few things on my mind.”

“Is it Joel?” Cole chuckled and raised a curious eyebrow. “Have you two been hooking up? Is that why you’re so tired?”

“No.” Agitation sliced through my tone. At every full rehearsal, soundcheck, or performance with our road crew present, Cole made suggestive comments toward Joel and me when he saw us talking together or having a laugh. I felt bad for Joel. He was a nice guy. I’d made it clear to Joel I wasn’t interested. And I’d told Cole to back the fuck off. “He’s not my type.”

“So who is your type?” he asked.

I smirked and let out a short, sharp breath. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”

Slip laughed low and shook his head. I loved that he’d respected the fact that Tia and I needed time to work things out. “Lew, ignore Cole. One day he might grow up. But something is bugging you. So spill.”

“Oh, it’s a guy.” Emilio’s texts had pissed me off more than anything. “My ex has texted a couple of times. I stupidly called him two weekends ago after he contacted me. He wants to get back together.”

Flint struck his strings with a loud twang. “Please tell me you said no.”

“Of course I did.”