The high of recognition quickly deflated, overshadowed by his lineage. Sometimes Lucas wondered if people actually knew his first name. He was always “Tommy Blade’s son”. People often equated him with Immortal Angel, even though he’d been playing with Prodigy, his own band with Tessa and Mason, in the local bars and clubs in Long Island and New York City for years.
Mason was internationally famous. Tessa was “that rock chick”, a term she coveted. But Lucas was never just Lucas Blade in his own right, and the constant association with his famous father got tiring sometimes. It would change, he kept reminding himself. Once the band got a recording contract and their music hit the charts, people would recognize him for his own worth. “I’m Lucas Blade,” he told the blonde, and took the three beers he ordered off the bar.
He found Mason and Tessa in a corner booth, slid one bottle toward each of them and kept one for himself. He needed to bring up the subject of a possible fourth band member before the meeting with Falcon Records. He knew Tessa’s feelings on the subject, but it was worth one last shot. “Do you really think a three-piece band is the way to go?”
Tessa huffed, clearly annoyed at the topic of conversation. “Why can’t I be a bass player and a singer?”
“You can and you are. I’m not talking about replacing you. I’m talking about adding a rhythm guitarist.”
“We don’t need another person to ruin our dynamic.” Tessa’s dark eyes challenged him.
“I’m just saying that there aren’t many three-piece bands out there. Most bands have four members, sometimes five.”
“That’s what makes us unique. We’ve worked together, just the three of us, for as long as I can remember. We have a following in the neighborhood clubs already. No one ever suggested we get a fourth member. Why do you keep harping on this?”
“I’m not. I just want to make sure we go into this contract fully prepared. We only got one shot to make a first impression when we go mainstream. I don’t want to pick up a new member down the road. If we’re gonna do it, we gotta do it now.” Lucas turned to Mason. “What do you think, Mase?”
“Oh, no.” Mason flashed one of his winning smiles. “I’m not getting in the middle of sibling rivalry. I’m not gonna be the deciding vote.”
“You’re as bad as my dads. Neither one of them will give an opinion either.” Probably because going up against Tessa was like facing a prize fighter in the ring. When it came to matters concerning the band, his sister had the will of a warrior. Lucas took a chug of his beer. Tired of trying to change Tessa’s mind, he finally gave in. “Fine. Decision made. No rhythm guitarist.” She was probably right. Prodigy had always been just the three of them. Trying something new when they were about to go pro probably wasn’t the best idea. He held up his beer bottle. “To Prodigy. We’re gonna rock the world!”
