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“Why not. And I did secure a place and equipment. A crew is already there setting up the instruments we brought with us. Got to say, but Dean has some major pull in this town.” Dante announces, then they stride over to Lyric. “Hi, Lyric. It’s good to see you again.”
“Dante, this is my sister, He Sook.” Lyric turns to his sister and adds, “Dante is the manager for the band.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” she says with a slight bow.
“Nice to meet you too.” Dante gives a small bow in return. “Now that formalities are over, we need to leave. We have the practice space for three hours.”
“Where is it?” I ask as I take Lyric’s hand. Normally, he’d brush off my attempt, but this time, he grips my hand and holds on.
“Club FF.”
“Really?” Callum says with a nod. “Cool.”
“Then we can get the lay of the land,” Connor says as he strikes the air with invisible drumsticks.
We scramble out of the hotel and into the vehicles that are waiting for us. Not ten minutes later, we are parked in front of the club, astonished at what we all are seeing.
“This is the place?” Danny asks skeptically.
The building isn’t much to look at. The brown exterior has a grunge appeal, and the sign is a large guitar and the club’s name next to it. You wouldn’t think bands would play here. But it’s supposed to be a very popular place.
“Let’s do this,” Connor crows.
“Wildman. Chill,” Dante demands. They are the first one out of the vehicle. I’m last out, with Lyric right in front of me. He Sook wanted to ride in the other vehicle, but she meets us on the sidewalk.
“I heard about this place, but I never got a chance to come here. I’m so glad I came with you, Lyric,” she says, a little pep in her walking.
A man opens the door and steps out, greeting us and introducing himself as the manager. Thankfully, he speaks English, which helps us understand when he points out where everything is inside.
“Dean says you are good people. So, I’m trusting you. I have to head off for an hour,” the manager says as he hands Dante a set of keys. “Lock up behind me.”
“That’s weird,” Callum utters. He leans into Dom, who wraps an arm around my friend.
“Check it out, boys. Rafe and Callum, there are the instruments you brought over, and Connor? There are the drums you’ll be playing on,” Dante announces. “Lyric, the keyboard is over there.”
“Thank fuck, I brought my sticks with me,” Connor says as he takes the bag John hands him.
“Lyric, can I have a moment alone?” Dante turns to me, “Go check out your Strat. He’ll be fine.”
There’s worry reflecting back in Lyric’s eyes as he squeezes my hand and then lets go. “Go check out the stage. I’m good.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Go,” Lyric says with a smile that doesn’t reach his dark eyes.
“Jesus, Rafe, you act like I’m going to hurt him. Go.” Dante makes a shooing motion with their hand.
“I’ll go with you,” He Sook says as she grabs my hand and tugs me away.
I glance back and see Dante leading Lyric to one of the tall round tables off to the side. The nervous energy running through me is telling me to go with Lyric, be with him, but instead I focus on the stage and what we’re about to do.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Lyric
“Have a seat.” Dante sits and opens his phone to a picture of me. “Is that you?”
I stare at the still image of me kissing Min Jun. “Yes. But that was years ago.”
