Page 100 of Goode to Be Bad

“The guys have been talking about how cool it would be to redo some of our songs as a male-female duet. Write new ones as a five-piece, you on guitar and uke, us singing together. Some with me on lead vocals, some with you on lead vocals.”

“I never wanted to insert myself into your career, Myles.”

I laughed. “Did you not hear what I said?” I touched her chin. “Theguyssuggested it—not me. Theywantto expand. They want to update our sound. They wantyou.”

“You’re telling the whole real truth? I can’t believe they want me in the band, especially after all the drama I put you guys through on tour.”

I sighed. Tugged out my phone and brought up a four-way FaceTime. The boat docked and we disembarked as the lines rang and the guys popped on one by one. I moved us to the side of the pier. “Hey, fellas.”

A chorus of hellos.

“Once again, you’re calling all four of us at once. Means you’ve got something to announce,” Jupiter said.

I pulled the phone back to bring Lexie into the picture, and she held up her left hand.

“Surprise!” she said, grinning ear to ear.

“No fuckin’ way!” Brand said. “That’s wicked cool, guys. Congrats.”

Lexie took the phone from me. “That’s not the real reason we’re calling, though. And by the way, you’re the first to know. It literally just happened minutes ago.”

“So what’s the real reason?” Zan asked.

“Myles was just telling me you guys wantmeto officially join the band. And I need to hear it from you, because I don’t quite believe him.”

“Better believe it,” Jupiter said. “We’ve been talking about it ever since the UK shows were canceled. As a band, we’ve sort of gotten stagnant with our sound, and it’s time to change it up anyway. I’m bored as fuck of hearing Myles sing all the damn time. Plus, having a pretty lady on tour would be nice, and goddamn but you’re easy on the eyes, you know? Plus, you’re talented as hell. So yes, Lexie, we as a band have collectively decided we want you to join.”

“We’ve even decided on a name,” Brand said. “The North Band.”

Lexie, newly in tune with her emotions, got all misty. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You say yes, that’s what,” Zan said. “Duh.”

She nodded, giddy, grinning ear to ear. “Yes! We’re The North Band.”

They all howled and cheered, and even I felt a little choked up. “You guys are the best, you know it?” I said, taking the phone back. “All right, we gotta go. We’ve got to family to see and lots of news to share.”

“Wait!” Lexie snatched my phone from me. “You guys have to get the next flight you can up to Ketchikan. We’re having a small informal wedding as soon as possible.”

“Holy shit,” Jupiter said. “All right. We’re all in LA at the moment, so we’ll catch a flight up.”

I took my phone back. “Cancel that—I’ll call Callahan and Murphy and reroute them to LAX. They’ll pick you up.”

“Sweet. The private jet. I love that thing,” Brand sighed.

“All right, see you guys soon.” I waved, there were goodbyes, and the call ended. I smirked at Lexie. “There. See?”

She palmed my cheek. “You’ve changed my life in every possible way, you know that?”

“No more than you have mine.” I glanced up and saw a huge pickup truck with knobby off-road tires, a lift kit, and a thick black bull bar slide into a parking lot nearby. “There’s our ride—time to go.”

She was suddenly nervous as she realized it was Lucas and her mom.

I squeezed her hand. “Lex, relax. The conversation will happen whenyou’reready. And I promise you, it will be okay.”

She nodded. “I’m just scared to tell her.”

“You felt better after telling me, right?”