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“You put on your application that you are single?” A tiny line appeared between his eyebrows. Lifting his eyes to me, his smile dropped a fraction. “Is that correct, because…”
He didn't need to finish. I knew what he had just seen in the notes in front of him. Why I'd had to leave my first teaching job – the whole debacle with Dion and Isla earlier this year.
“The mess that was in the papers was one big misunderstanding,” I said softly. Holding my breath, I waited for the inevitable. For him to change his mind. It wouldn't be the first time it had happened to me.
Leaning back, his eyes appraised me. “I don't doubt that for a second. But we can’t have that kind of–”
I cut him off. “I won't bring trouble to your school, Mr Scott, Tom,” I amended softly. “I am single.” Technically, that wasn't a lie. I was single. Dion hadn't put a label on our relationship yet and truthfully, it was far too soon to do that, anyway. It didn't matter that I'd had his cock in my mouth only a few hours ago. Just like it didn't matter that I couldn't keep the man out of my mind. I was a grown–up, and I could keep my private life away from my work life.
“But you do know this,” his eyes flicked downward again, but I wasn't fooled – he knew exactly who I had been connected with, just like he knew what band Dion was in, “this singer, Dion Granger?”
Mulling over my options, I paused. I could lie, which would get me absolutely nowhere.
“I have connections to Dionysus Rising, yes.” Neither one of us spoke for a second. “My flatmate is romantically involved with their guitarist and–”
“And?” A blond eyebrow shot up.
“My brother, Louis, is their drummer.”
Tom Scott’s mouth fell open. “I feel like an idiot not realising you’re related to Louis Michealson, well I never.” He whistled softly.
Hiding my smile, I played along, although it was super clear to me that the man in front of me was a drummer, or at the very least, a drumming fan. “Yes, my big brother. Do you play?”
“A little, and we have some very talented young musicians within the school.” He gave me a warm smile. “I am sure they will be very excited to know who you are related to, but I have to warn you they may pester you to bring him in to meet them one day.”
I chuckled. Yeah, of course he meant the students and not him. “I am sure Louis would love to,” I lied. My brother wasn’t a kid person at all. I could not see him agreeing to come into a primary school of screaming kids, even if I begged him. Not unless there were lots of hot mums there, anyway.
“Well, Mr Scott, it's been great meeting you.” Again, my hand went across the desk for him to shake. “I’m looking forward to working with you all, and have a great Christmas.”
“Nonsense, I can’t send you off just yet. You must come and meet the staff and some of the children. I insist.”
DION
Iknew Lola would be back. Like she said, she lived here after all, but it didn't stop me worrying about her, especially when the afternoon dragged by and the sun began to set. I wasn't old fashioned enough to think she couldn't handle herself in the streets, but I couldn't help but think of all the dangers the city held after dark.
And it was making me irritable and unable to concentrate, something my band mates were quickly tiring of. I couldn't blame them for that. I'd asked where she was at least a dozen times in the last hour.
“Come on, man.” Jax cuffed my shoulder hard as I again uttered the words I would soon be famous for. “Get your head back in the game. We need to get this down if we want the space in the recording studio next week.”
Next week. I frowned. It wasn't enough time. Usually we spent months, if not years, putting together material for a new album, yet Erik wanted us in the studio next week? It was absurd in so many ways. And yet it kind of made perfect sense. We were all riding the wave of our last successful tour. And the major award we had won before it. Erik wanted us to keep riding that wave and a surprise album release would do that. The fans would love it; they would go out in droves to buy it or download it, and when the next tour happened, we would sell out yet again.
I loved touring. Playing live and listening to the thousands in the crowd go wild was why I sang in the first place. But a successful album would take me away from Lola a lot, and another tour would take me away for months. I'd already spent months away from her and we were just getting to know each other again. I didn't want any success I might achieve to ruin what little chance I had with her.
“He's too busy looking wistfully at the door waiting for you know who,” Tate chuckled, but it was short–lived as Louis glared at him. Our drummer and newest member of Dionysus Rising wasn't happy about the fact that I was practically living with his sister, and he was even less happy about the fact I was crazy about her and everyone knew it.
“Don't fucking say it.” Louis twirled the drumsticks he had brought along, even though the living room was far too small for drums to be squeezed in. He had been forced to tap out a beat on the arm of the sofa, pausing now and then like the rest of us to make notes and give suggestions. And I had to admit the song was coming together nicely. It had been pretty good to begin with, Tate had been right about that. But hearing it with the music my friends put together took it to another level.
Louis twirled the drumsticks again. And I had a sneaky suspicion it was because he needed something to do with his hands, so he didn't punch me in the face. He turned his eyes to Erik. “I am not happy with this arrangement, you know.”
“You don't like jamming at Elodie's?” Erik's innocent act didn't fool anyone, let alone Louis.
“You're making Dion stay here. Him and Lola living together isn't–”
Tate barked out a laugh. “Living together. They are doing so much more than living together if what I walked in on earlier today is anything to go by.”
“Shut up.” I threw a cushion at his head and missed.
“Yeah shut up, Tate.” Jax joined in with the laughter and after a few minutes, so did Erik. Everyone was laughing but me and, of course, the big brother of the woman they were talking about. Louis was eyeing me coolly, his hands finally still.
