Page 33 of Strum Me

Wow.

“It’s just...” Marius starts, trying to find a way to explain.

“No. I get it.” And I guess I do.

The group is quiet. Possibly the only time I’ve ever heard such quiet when the guys have been together.

I scan their faces, these faces I first met before they even needed to shave. It hurts, but I know where they’re coming from. But the person they’re afraid of, it’s not me, not my style, and it’s never been my intention to air any dirty laundry or plaster their secrets across the front page.

And as much as they are feeling awkward about admitting their distrust, the hurt is tenfold for me. I thought that our past had meant something. It might’ve taken them a few days to warm to me, but that they would. Breaking the ice was what I expected, not them waiting for me to break their trust.

But I knew what I had to do.

I hadn’t gotten this far in my career without learning a thing or two on how to get the most tight-lipped creatures on earth to open up to me.

I had the advantage of four years of high school with these guys, and there’s something they can never refuse.

I stand up, pulling my jacket off, and drape it over Brad’s shoulder.

“Hold my beer. I’m going up for some karaoke.”