“Not well,” I admit. “I’ve never really prioritized it.”
“Something tells me that’s not quite true,” Grim says. He playfully reaches over and lifts my hand up. “These delicate things look like they could play quite well.”
Bell and Pinkie laugh. “Grim is a notorious flirt, just so you know,” Bell warns.
Grim smiles at me and shrugs. “It’s part of my charm. So tell us more about Goddess’ Trance,” he says, leaning in closer to me. I can smell just a hint of cologne on him that mixes perfectly with his own natural scent and I breathe in, smiling at him as I launch into our band’s origin story.
The conversation with the Phantoms over lunch is amazing. I learn quite a bit about the growth they’ve been experiencing in the past couple of years. I make a ton of mental notes about that and plan to discuss it all with Amelia and the others later. All three of the Phantoms are hilarious in their own way and have an easiness and chemistry between them. It’s obvious they’veknown each other for a long time, but I don’t ever once feel left out of the conversation. I really, really like them, and we make plans to meet up later and hang out again as Grim settles the tab. I offer to pay for my portion but he just shakes his head. “It’s on me, gorgeous.”
I blush a little and can see Amelia eyeing me from the other table. “Thanks,” I say, getting up. Before I can get any ideas about all the possible things I could do with this male, I promise to see him later, and then excuse myself to the restrooms.
I make my way to the back of the restaurant, hoping to hide out in the bathroom until my blush is gone and the Phantoms have left. As I walk, it becomes pretty clear by the smell and the feeling of magic caressing the air that the place is filled with fae and probably fae-owned.
I’m just a couple of booths away from the bathroom when I hear a laugh that makes my blood run cold.
Panic surges through me as flashbacks, mostly emotions and sounds of screeching tires, assault my senses.
I spot him in the booth just before the hallway to the bathrooms and I turn, practically diving into the booth right next to me. My face immediately turns bright fucking red as I realize there is a group already seated there.
All five faces turn towards me with matching quizzical expressions.
Fuck, why can’t I have the power to turn invisible or at the very least if I’d fucking listened to Amelia I could use my own magic to make these guys think nothing of me sitting with them. Though I don’t think it would ease my own embarrassment. Sometimes I really wish that instead of being able to influence others’ emotions that I could just influence my own.
My heart pounding out of my chest and my ears heating, I try my best to give them a carefree smile. “Sorry to intrude,” I start to say, but I can hear Jordan’s voice getting closer and closer. Irip the ribbon out of my hair quickly, letting my hair fall into my face, and I angle towards the window, keeping my head low.
“I honestly can’t believe we aren’t opening for the Phantoms,” Jordan says, as he and his band make their way to the front of the restaurant.
“Voracious Maw is such a fake act. I don’t understand why all these women are drooling over them when they’re obviously all gay,” Jinx complains.
The rest of them let out barks of laughter and I cringe, able to pick out Jordan’s laugh over the others. It skitters across my skin, making me want to curl up in the fetal position.Just leave already, I beg.
Finally Dead Hearts leave, the door swinging shut loudly behind them. I find Reese’s eyes. She’s spotted me and knows I almost just ran into Jordan. She’s heading this way, so I get up out of the booth, looking at the guy across from me.
He’s got a shaggy haircut, and his wide brown eyes are staring at me. “I’m sorry. Thanks for, uh, letting me crash at your booth for a bit.” I hastily scurry away from them, feeling their eyes at my back, and practically run into Reese’s arms. She gives me a huge hug and after confirming the coast is clear and Dead Hearts isn’t lingering outside the restaurant, we head out as well to where the rest of our band has gathered. Seriously, this place is huge—what are the odds we’d run into Dead Hearts?
“Hey, wait!” a distinctively British voice calls. I turn and see the brown-eyed guy headed our way. We’ve gathered outside the doors to the restaurant and he comes to a stop just in front of me.
Reese gives him a once over. She turns and explains to Amelia what just happened. They keep their voices hushed.
“Hey, I’m seriously so sorry about that. My ex, he was in the next booth over, and I uh?—”
He holds up a hand to stop me from having to explain. “No worries. We figured it was something like that. Glad we could give you cover for a little bit.” He smiles warmly at me and I can’t help but notice he is entirely too good-looking and probably knows it. He’s quite a few inches taller than me, probably about my age, and obviously works out. Tattoos unsurprisingly cover most of his exposed light skin. “I’ve actually been meaning to track you all down,” he says, looking over at the rest of the group then back to me. “You’re Goddess’ Trance, yeah? Are you the vocalist?”
I shake my head, pointing over my shoulder at my sister. “Nope, that’s Amelia over there.” I offer my hand to him. “I’m Bliss, the band manager.”
“Any relation to you?” he asks, looking between us.
I nod, smiling. “She’s my older sister.”
“But not by much,” Amelia adds, coming over and putting an arm around me.
The guy nods, shaking my hand and then Amelia’s. “I’m Simon. I’m the drum tech for Voracious Maw, but I’m filling in for the manager. He couldn’t make it out for the festival.”
Voracious Maw?
I squash down the excitement that’s coming both from the mention of one of my favorite bands and also the nervousness of the real reason I’m here. Simon would be a very good friend to have indeed.
“That sucks. I hope he feels better soon,” I say, forcing myself to speak slowly. “It’s good to meet you, though. Was that the band in there with you?”
