Page 93 of Hard Rock Muse

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Seth had just about convinced the others to start a drinking game. I knew I’d have to duck out if I wanted to escape unscathed.

“Want to go dance?” I asked Julian.

He let out small choking cough, eyes wide with panic. I laughed.

“We’re not really going to dance,” I whispered in his ear. “We can sway to the music. I just don’t feel like being roped into one of Seth’s games tonight.”

Julia nodded and stood, taking my hand to help me up.

“Going to get another drink,” I lied to the others. “You can start without us.”

Seth didn’t look suspicious. Good.

With Julian’s hand in mine, I lead him down the stairs to a dark corner of the dance floor. He was right that most people wouldn’t recognize him, but just in case, I wanted to stay away from the crowded middle. Not to mention, I wasn’t a fan of all those wandering hands that came with being in a mass of club dancers.

Turning to face Julian, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed against him. He put his hands on my waist, stroking up and down my sides to the hollow of my hips. The music had a hard driving beat, but we simply rocked back and forth, plastered as close together as we could get without being indecent.

I’d save the indecency for later.

“Your band members seem really close,” I said.

“We are,” Julian said. “It’s a weird combination of personalities, but we manage it.”

“I think the fact that you’re all obsessed with your work helps,” I said. “No time for petty fights and squabbles.”

“Oh, we fight,” Julian chuckled. “Sometimes Cerise threatens to kick us in the nuts with her combat boots, or Nathan tells Gael to shut his mouth before he shuts it for him.”

“But it all works out in the end, I’m sure.”

“It does,” Julian agrees. “Somehow, we all seemed to have clicked.”

The words made me oddly sad. Julian, Seth and I had all clicked. And look what had happened to us.

I shook my head mentally. I wasn’t going to dwell on the past. I was going to look toward the future. My future with Julian, and on my own.

I wasn’t going to let my experience with Keith keep me from living the life of my dreams. Not anymore.

I just had to figure out what that dream was now.

“Remember that time Seth got pissed at us for suggesting we cut his drum solo short?” Julian said.

“I remember. He replaced my hair conditioner with mayonnaise, that dick.”

I could find the humor in his prank now, although I’d been livid at the time. I’d spent a lot of money on my conditioner. It was specifically designed for pink-dyed hair. Which reminded me, I’d have to stock up on some more now that I’d gone back to my old color.

“Remember that time I got pissed at both of you for sneaking a look at my notebook?” I asked.

“You thought it would jinx you if anyone saw the lyrics before they were ready.” Julian ducked his head and nuzzled my hair. “But you had been obsessing over getting them just right for our first indie album. If we hadn’t looked and told you they were perfect, you’d probably still be working on them.”

“Is that a hint that we’ve been taking too long to finish your song?” I asked.

“No,” Julian said. “Not at all. We have time to perfect it. Because it will be perfect. It’s us writing it.”

“No lack of ego, hm?”

“I just know how amazing you are. How amazing we are together.”