Page 2 of Next to Everything We Wanted

The spill wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t been a bundle of nerves. If Celeste and I hadn’t broken up six days ago after an amazing year together. Today was going to be our first performance as exes.

We hadn’t made the breakup public yet, not knowing how to announce it. We’d written and performed so many songs about our relationship, and the fans had loved us together.

This was probably why it wasn’t a good idea to date your best friends or your bandmates.

“Sorry to distract you from your game,” Celeste said with a small smile, reminding me that she was there. “Is Phoenix finally doing well?”

“In his wildest dreams,” Forrest said. “Gavin is still ahead, even with his butter fingers.”

I smiled, though I was no longer invested in the game. “It’s what I do.”

“That and making messes,” Phoenix muttered.

I jabbed him in the side. “It happens.”

“Can I join the next round?” Celeste asked as she sat next to Forrest, face to face with me. When her gaze met mine again, I fought the urge to look away. Why couldn’t we have worked out? We used to be perfect together.

“Sure,” I said. “If you don’t mind being creamed.”

“I still have no idea why you win so much,” Forrest said. “It’s not fair.”

I flashed him a grin. “Life isn’t fair.”

After I won the round, Celeste joined in. Of course, I won again, though Forrest had been close. Poor Phoenix didn’t stand a chance with the number of cards he’d ended up with.

Ellis walked in when the second round finished. “It’s time, guys,” he said, brushing his shaggy strawberry-blond hair out of his eyes. “The crowd is buzzing tonight.”

“As they should be,” Phoenix said as we got up from the table. “We’ve got an amazing setlist tonight.”

Though we’d never released an album, we had two extended plays and a handful of singles under our belt. Our first extended play,Somewhere We Can’t See, was by far our most popular. We were singing all five songs from it tonight, and our fans had shown a lot of excitement on social media.

“Tonight will be great,” Forrest said, perfecting his brown curls in the mirror. We all cared about our looks, but Forresthad a field day with looking his best. “Let’s hope that Gavin gets himself together.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, moving him out the way to study myself in the mirror. “I’m more than fine.”

“Sure, you are.” His hazel eyes had an intensity that made my nerves shake. Forrest was the last person you wanted to disappoint. Even though I was the lead singer, he was the unspoken leader of the band.

I couldn’t let him down. Again.

“I’m fine,” I assured him, mustering as much confidence as I could in my voice. “My nerves are gone now.”

He shook his head and turned away. I hated how well he could see through my lies.

“It’ll be okay,” Phoenix whispered to me as we made our way to the stage. “Focus on how much you enjoy the music and not your tragic circumstances.”

“Tragic?” I laughed. “I wouldn’t say they’re tragic.” My gaze went to Celeste, who walked as confidently as ever with her hips swaying side to side. I tripped over my feet and cursed myself.

“Looks tragic to me,” Phoenix said. “But you can do this.”

“Thank you,” I said, squeezing his hand. I’d barely said a word about the breakup to the guys, hoping I could get over it as soon as possible. The awkwardness wouldn’t last for that long, right?

My nerves only grew when the audience came into view. What Do You Bean was pretty big for a café, having a maximum capacity of two hundred people, but tonight was more packed than usual with almost every seat full.

I looked down at my sweaty palms and drew in a deep breath.This is just like any other night. Don’t let anyone down.

“Hey.”

I jumped to see Celeste, who already had her pink guitar strapped over her. “You’re a ninja,” I said, putting a hand to my chest.