Page 12 of Before the Encore

“Kidding.” Madison grinned wickedly. “Like I’d listen to that rubbish.”

Her spine prickled, and she clenched her fingers. “Why do you have to be like this?”

“Like what?”

“So…snarky.”

“It’s part of the package, princess.”

Heat flushed her neck. “Don’t call me that.”

Madison laughed, pulling herself upright, long legs stretching across the wooden floor and clattering over an empty energy drink can. “Then what shall I call you?”

“Bonnie,” she gritted out.

“Boo. You’re no fun.” Madison blew a raspberry and placed the empty can with the other empty sweet wrappers on the table. “Do you ever let those blonde curls loose a little? Kick back, play Mario Kart, eat some spicy blue Takis?”

Bonnie scrunched her nose. “I have more important things to do.”

Madison leaned forward, all challenge. “Like what?”

“You’ll see, if you ever make it big. You can’t lie back and expect everything to fall into your lap. You have to work hard. Be prepared. Be disciplined. You’ll never survive otherwise.”

“Wow,” she deadpanned, plucking up her mug of coffee and taking several large gulps. “Somehow, you even make being successful sound like a drag. That’s talent.” Her gaze flicked back to Bonnie. “All that partying and free clothes gets tiring quick, huh?”

A memory pulsed at the edge of her mind—blurred lights, thumping music, sweaty bodies—but she pushed it away. Not today. Not now. “Yeah. It kinda does.”

“Seriously, you need to relax or that pretty little head of yours is gonna explode.” Madison finished the last of her coffee and clunked it back on the table. “What?”

Bonnie straightened the frown pulling at her mouth. “Nothing.”

“Go on.”

“You shouldn’t be drinking that.”

“What?”

“Coffee…the caffeine. It’s a diuretic. It dehydrates you, dries out your vocal cords. Your voice needs to stay lubricated”—Madison raised an eyebrow at that—“er, wet…erm…relaxed for recording.”

“Trust me, I don’t have any problems keeping things…lubricated.”

She shook her head. “You are such an arsehole.”

“And you just proved my point. Relax, princess.”

Heat flared in her chest, her fingers itching to wipe that stupid smirk off Madison’s face.

Thankfully, Kamaria appeared, an oversized black ‘dibs on the drummer’ T-shirt hanging off her curves. “Hey. Is there any food in here?”

Madison dug into the pocket of her denim jacket, pulling out a pack of Razzles and some peanut butter M&M’s. She pinched each packet between her fingers. “Either of these good?”

Kamaria inspected them before curling her lip. “Nah. I’m really craving chocolate, but I don’t like peanut butter.”

Madison gasped, pulling the packet away like it would be offended. “Ah, yes, your one critical flaw.”

Kamaria shrugged. “We can’t all be perfect.” Her hopeful gaze landed on Bonnie, but Bonnie shook her head.

“If you find Scarlett, she’ll help you get whatever you need.”