Page 33 of Don’t Love the Boy Next Door (Hotties Next Door #2)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Ethan

The doctors told me to take it easy the next few days, so I’m wrapping up a light workout in the basement on Sunday.

I pass Eric’s room on my way to the bathroom, and manage to see him through the small opening in the door.

He’s sulking there with his guitar, strumming a depressing tune.

I’ve still got no clue what went down between him and Katie, but I do know that it’s messing him up.

I wish he would tell me why he threw away a girl who’s perfect for him, but I guess he doesn’t want to talk to me about it.

I get in the shower and allow the cool-warm water to drip down my body.

Thoughts and worries over Eric vanish and are replaced with a certain fiery-haired girl with an equally fiery personality.

My lips kick up in a smile when I remember that fiery head walking into my hospital room yesterday.

She literally lit up the place. The fact that she cared enough to visit me proves that maybe we’re finally past enemies and can be friends.

I think she cares about me more than she lets on.

Which makes me hope we could possibly move from friends to…

Shaking my head, I get out of the shower and wrap a towel around my waist, heading for my room. I can hear my phone ding all the way from down the hallway. A text from Phoenix? I sprint to my room and sweep my phone off my desk.

Katie: Ethan, I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can be in the band anymore. Hope you understand. Thanks so much for the opportunity, I had a blast. I’ll always support you .

What the heck? I dial her number.

“Ethan?”

“What do you mean you don’t want to be in the band?”

She’s quiet for a little bit. “I just don’t think it’s the right thing for me right now. I’m sorry.”

I drop down on my bed. “But you’re amazing. You made the band what it is. We can’t do this without you.”

She’s quiet again, then says, “I’m really sorry, Ethan.” She hangs up.

I stare at my phone as if she’ll call back. Of course she doesn’t.

She quit the band? Just like that? No, no, no. This can’t be happening. Not now.

After throwing on a shirt and jeans, I storm to Eric’s room and blast the door open. A little too wildly, because Eric whirls around with his guitar nearly catapulting out of his arms.

“What the heck?” he demands.

“Don’t you what the heck me.” I chuck my phone at him.

He gives me a confused face before peering down at the screen. His face clouds over. “She…quit?”

“I called her to try to talk her out of it, but she refused to listen to me. What the heck happened between you two?”

His eyes flash to mine. “Who said I have anything to do with this?”

“You serious, bro? You know you’re the reason she quit the band. And the concert is this weekend!”

He leans back in his chair with a thoughtful look. “I guess we’ll have to hold auditions.”

“What? No way. Go next door and ask her to reconsider.”

A look of pure agony takes over his face. The anger I feel toward him suddenly soars out the door. Because my brother’s not being a jerk. He’s in a lot of pain.

Pulling a chair next to him and dropping down, I say in a more gentle tone, “What’s going on, Eric? Come on, talk to me. I’m your brother.”

His lips shake a little…and are those tears in his eyes?

But he blinks them away so fast I don’t know if I imagined them.

“There’s nothing to talk about,” he says in an empty voice.

“Things just…they just didn’t work out, okay?

And you’re not helping by bringing it up.

I want to forget about the whole thing.”

He’s right, I’m being selfish. I’m making it seem like I only care about the band.

But my brother’s in pain and I need to respect his wishes.

So with a sigh, I say, “Can we really replace her? Katie changed our entire look. No, not just our look. She changed the band . There’s no one out there like her, Eric. Should we cancel the concert?”

His eyes bug out. “No way. You know how many strings I had to pull to get us the concert? And all the people who bought tickets.”

I fall back in my chair with a frown. “Right. Hadn’t considered the fans.”

We both sit there quietly.

“We have no choice,” Eric finally says. “We’ll have to hold auditions and hope to find someone as good. There’s got to be the right person out there somewhere.”

Even I hear the doubt in his voice.

“Maybe I can try talking to Katie again.” I’m about to get up, but his chest puffs up as a heavy breath seeps out of his mouth.

“No, Ethan…” He squeezes his eyes shut. “I don’t want to make her uncomfortable.”

“But I’m sure she can endure it for a few more days, at least until after the concert.”

He shakes his head, eyes on his guitar. “The musical rehearsals are bad enough. We both have to put on a smile and pretend like everything’s okay. I don’t want to do this to her, man. We have to let her go.”

I rub a hand down my face as my head pounds. “But to get a replacement in such short notice? Maybe we should just forget a girl and you’ll be lead singer.”

He twists his lips. “I kind of promised the guy we’d have a female lead.”

I raise a brow. “Was that a condition?”

He holds out his hands. “He knows what sells.”

I run another frustrated hand down my face.

“This is my fault and I’ll fix it,” he says. “I’ll get the word out on social media that we’re holding auditions. We’ll find the right girl, Ethan. It’ll be okay.”

I don’t know if he believes that or is just putting on an act. Because I don’t believe it one bit.

***

I’m actually surprised how many girls have turned up Monday evening and are waiting to audition in our basement. Rumors of the band breaking up is sweeping social media like a storm. We’ve got to get it together or our career can seriously tank.

“What do you think?” Cody asks as he peeks into the room.

“I think the right girl is out there,” Eric says.

The right girl is sitting in the house next door, but I force my mouth shut. I have to stop being selfish again. If Katie doesn’t feel comfortable being in the band anymore, I have to accept it.

“They look scarier than the last bunch,” Cody mutters.

I playfully slap his arm. “You still scared of girls, man?”

“I’m not scared of them,” he defends. “I just…I just don’t know how to talk to them.”

“Everything will be fine,” Eric says a little forcibly. “Are we ready to start?”

I motion with my hands. “Go ahead.”

We pile out of the room, and Eric marches to the center. “Hey, everyone. Thanks for coming on such short notice. Try your best, and good luck.”

He calls the first girl on the list. She’s way overdressed as a rocker, which makes me wonder if she’s trying just a bit too hard. But I shake my head. I need to forget about Katie and have an open mind.

But….she doesn’t do a good job. Neither do the next four. I hold back a groan. This is just as bad as the last time.

Cody and I exchange a frustrated look, but Eric looks confident.

Way too confident. I bet he’s freaking out just as much as we are on the inside.

Maybe we’ll have no choice but to cancel the concert.

Or should we get in contact with the guy and tell him we won’t have a female lead? Would that tick him off?

“What a mess.” I rub my forehead.

“It’ll be okay,” Eric hisses. “Stay positive.”

Positive…easier said than done.

***

We’ve been here for hours auditioning girls and no one has made the cut. But just as I’m about to dump the whole thing down the drain, a girl with light brown hair steps up to the mic and starts to sing.

Her voice…it’s great. The best we’ve heard so far. Not on the same level as Katie, but again, I have to forget about her. This girl is actually pretty awesome.

Cody, Eric, and I exchange a smile. I think we’ve finally found our replacement.

“Great,” Eric says with a grin. “You did a wonderful job…” He looks at the list. “Amber.”

Her face lights up. “Really?”

“I think…” Eric looks between me and Cody and raises a brow. We both nod. “Amber, we would love it if you’d be the lead singer for the Rock E’s.”

“Really? Rock on!” She throws her arms around Eric and me. But Cody dodges when she tries to give him a hug, too. “Thanks so much. I’ll try my hardest.”

“Good, because we have a long road ahead of us,” I say.

Eric faces the rest of the girls. “Thanks so much for coming, everyone.”

Some of them grumble as they leave.

Eric puffs out his cheeks as he faces our new lead singer. “So how do you feel about learning three original songs?”