AllFreeNovel
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It was literally love at first listen.
Holy shit, I’m backstage with New Rules.
“Well, look who decided to make an appearance at one of our shows!” Lee, the drummer, bellows when he spots Ansel in the doorway.
The rest of the band turns around, and similar jabs and teasing ensue.
From what I gather, it’s been a while since Ansel has been to a New Rules concert, and I bite my tongue when the words what the hell? threaten to slip past my lips.
I mean, his brother is the lead singer, for fuck’s sake.
If that were my brother, I wouldn’t miss a single show.
Bram steps up and gives his brother a friendly hug and a playful fist to the bicep. I’d probably bruise like a peach if he hit me that hard, but Ansel doesn’t even blink.
My eyes flit back and forth between the brothers, taking in their similarities. They have the same nose and strong jaw, and they’re both tall. Deep and raspy, their voices even sound alike.
No doubt, they’re both incredibly good-looking, and I have to imagine Mr. and Mrs. Bray are no slouches either. I mean, you don’t create human beings that look like this without some damn good genes.
“When you said you were coming, I honestly didn’t believe you,” Bram says, and Ansel rolls his eyes. “I mean, I told security you might show up but not to hold their breath.”
Ansel scoots me out and more into his side when one of the backstage runners bumps into me, and the subtle movement makes Bram take real notice of me for the first time.
“It appears you’ve brought a friend.”
“Yes.”
The obvious interest Bram then takes in me makes me feel slightly self-conscious.
His eyes narrow as they run the circuit of my features one more time. “You look familiar, friend. Have we met before?”
Shit. I really don’t want to think about the painting tonight. I came to see New Rules play, not discuss the ins and outs of the already confusing, completely mysterious situation.
Thankfully, Ansel bypasses the whole “you look like the girl in the painting” conversation, answers for me, and then introduces us. “No. You haven’t met before. Indy, this is my asshole brother.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” Bram says with a sly grin and reaches out to shake my hand. “Indy, this is Lee and Ni—”
“I know who you are,” I cut him off before he can finish, and my eyes go wide when I realize how rude that probably sounded. “All of you…I mean, I’m a…I’m a fan. Of New Rules. Your band,” I ramble and trip over my own words. “It’s, uh, yeah, it’s nice to meet you guys.”
The rest of the band offers hellos and smiles before going back to doing whatever it is famous musicians do in backstage rooms.
Talk to pretty girls.
Throw back a few beers.
Smoke something that smells a lot like weed.
Yeah, those sorts of things. Being in a room with a famous rock group is a little like being in a room with the sun. Everyone is better off if you don’t look directly at it.
“A New Rules fan, huh?” Bram grins and winks at his brother. “I like your new friend already, bro.”
Ansel laughs, joking, “She didn’t really know anything about you. I fed her that information in the car.” The energy between the two of them is fun and welcoming, and I settle into the ease of it all so much that I’m caught off guard when Ansel looks down at me with amusement filling up his striking brown eyes.
A choking cough escapes my lips, and immediately, I feel like the biggest, most awkward idiot in this room. In the country. On the entire planet.
“You okay?” Ansel asks, and his brow furrows in concern.
Oh yeah. Just a bout of unexpected déjà vu.
“I’m fine. I’m fine,” I mutter, clearing my throat and making an excuse instead of going into something literally no one will understand. “Apparently, I haven’t mastered the art of breathing yet.”
And I’m officially an idiot.
Both Ansel and Bram chuckle at my words.
“How about you not encourage my brother’s ego?” Ansel suggests, and I stick my tongue out at him. Casually, his arm comes up and around my shoulders, and he tucks me into his side. I don’t pull away. “We’ll let you guys do your thing. See you after the show, yeah?”
“Sounds good,” Bram agrees and moves his gaze to mine. “It was nice meeting you, Indy. Enjoy the show, all right?”
Enjoy the show? Pffft. He does know he’s in New Rules, right? They could be singing my grocery list in my kitchen, and I’d be having the time of my life.
“Break a leg?” I say, but it’s more of a question than anything else. “Does that apply?”
Bram chuckles and shrugs. “A little? I guess?”
“What about break all the fucking rules?”
