Papi also shook her hand. “I’m Angel Garcia. Delighted to meet you.”
“I . . . I know who you are,” Sindy stammered. “I’ve been listening to your music for years.”
“I hear you’re the lady of the hour. You must be pretty special for these three to bring you into their circle.”
Sindy stared at Papi, unsure how to respond. Then she glanced at Lucas, Tessa, and Mason. “I hope I can live up to their expectations. I’m a hard worker. Lucas has already taught me what a few chords look like on paper.”
“Lucas is teaching you to read music?” Lucas’ dad clapped him on the shoulder and smiled. “Good luck. My son is a notorious stickler for precision. I have no idea where he gets it from.”
“You were a tyrant,” Lucas said, returning the lighthearted jab, as well as an arm around the shoulder.
His dad laughed. “I wasn’t that bad. Was I?”
“You were tough.”
“Only because I knew you loved it as much as I did.”
“True. Hopefully, Sindy will, too.” Lucas leaned his head toward her and winked. “I’ll try to go easy on you.”
Her smile waned and slowly turned into a smirk, obviously not appreciating the wink.
Lucas couldn’t help the laugh that escaped him, which made her jaw cock to the side. This was going to be fun.
Sindy flopped down on the mattress and stared up at the ceiling. Today she had been in the presence of punk rock royalty. In their mansion! Tommy Blade and Angel Garcia were sweet and welcoming and exactly as she imagined. Meeting Mason Wilder had blown her away. She’d watched him on TV and seen him in concert, but nothing compared to standing 10 feet away from the in-your-face beats the man created. It made her chest vibrate and her bones shake. Tessa was incredible, singing and thumping on the bass like a rock star. Lucas was a master on the guitar. She’d never seen anyone play like him. And he wasn’t just a pretty face. He was intelligent! He was a dynamo. The total package. Watching him play inspired her, and she craved that kind of talent. She was most enthusiastic about finally learning to read music and ecstatic at learning the technical aspect of music. Lucaswantedto teach her. He seemed as excited as she was about it, and she’d do everything in her power to learn it all.
When Tessa had called Sindy a few days ago and asked to meet at the coffee house, she had thought it was just a social invitation. She had been stunned when Tessa stated her full name, Tessa Blade Garcia, and explained that her fathers were Angel Garcia and Tommy Blade of Immortal Angel, and that the other members of Tessa’s band were Lucas Blade, and drumming sensation Mason Wilder. Sindy had almost fallen off her chair when Tessa had asked her to audition for Prodigy. Although Sindy took it seriously and put a lot of time into preparing for the audition, she never expected to get an offer. She honestly didn’t think she was good enough. The praise that she received from everyone made her re-evaluate her skills, and it gave her a giant boost of confidence.
Today they offered her a recording contract. Not on paper, but a verbal offer that, they assured her, only necessitated formalities like a background check and a contract to be drawn up by their lawyers.
An excited squeal escaped her. She still couldn’t believe her good fortune. For the first time in a very long while there was a bright light ahead.
Sindy arrived for rehearsal fifteen minutes early and sat in her car in the circular driveway. The impressive double doors and tall columns served as an intimidating reminder that Tessa, Lucas and Mason came from an entirely different background than she did. But, she refused to let that have an effect on her. She refused to let her economic situation get the best of her or dampen her enthusiasm.
She reached for the car door handle, but the moment she wrapped her fingers around it, her stomach tightened with apprehension. She couldn’t walk up and knock on the door. What if Tommy Blade or Angel Garcia answered? Or, even worse, Jessi Blade, the woman of the house, who she hadn’t met yet. Sindy removed her grip on the door handle and texted her friend.
SINDY: I’m outside. Meet me at the front door?
TESSA: Sure. Be right there.
Sindy exited the car, walked up the two marble steps that led to the entrance and waited for Tessa. The door swung open and her friend greeted her with a broad smile.
“I buzzed the front gate five minutes ago. What took you so long?”
“It’s a long driveway.” She lied. She had been sitting in the car getting up the nerve to approach the front door.
“Come on in.” Tessa stepped aside. “Mason’s already here. Mason’salwayshere.”
She followed Tessa through the mansion, trying not to gape at the grandeur around her. She couldn’t imagine living in a home this big with its pristine decor and the unlimited amenities that most likely came with it. She could get used to the recording studio in the basement, though.
Mason sat behind his drum kit, arms flailing as he pounded on the toms and cymbals, and he didn’t look up until Sindy and Tessa crossed the room. He twirled a drumstick between his fingers. “Oh, hey. I didn’t hear you come in.”
The house could have exploded, and he wouldn’t have heard it. Sindy’s ears were still vibrating. “Hi.” She gave a casual wave before placing her guitar case on the couch and freed her Strat from its resting place. She plugged into the amp and took her spot on the right side of the floor. She looked up when she heard footsteps and saw Lucas walking down the stairs. His hair was damp from a shower so it was slightly darker than his normal flaxen color, but it looked much longer and had a slight wave through it.
“I’m ready to rock,” he announced as he picked up his Les Paul from its stand and gazed at it the same way all musicians lusted over their instruments. He approached her, but didn’t say anything. He stared at her for a few moments with a quizzical squint to his brow and a crooked smile on his lips. “You’re in my spot,” he finally said.
“Oh. I didn’t know you had one.” She discreetly grimaced at the way it sounded. Sarcasm just rolled off her tongue sometimes. Feeling like an idiot, she chose to gloss over it with a small smile and moved to the other side of Tessa, who was standing at the center mic.
“We’re going to playDrivenso you can hear what it sounds like. It’s our most popular song,” Lucas explained. “Then I’m going to show you the chords so you can play it.”
