AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I was just invited to a secret Murderous Crows show. Personally. By the lead guitarist.
The fangirl in me is going utterly bonkers at the chance.
The Foundation Director in me wants to call Barry to start an emergency Board meeting to solicit a vote against my going to the show.
I don’t think I’ll listen to the Foundation Director. Besides, it’s the weekend.
I’m officially off the clock.
It’s a secret show. What could go wrong?
fifteen
Mess Like Me
Cooper
As we prep for the show on Saturday afternoon in Jude’s basement studio, my mind can’t let the idea of Sloane possibly being in the audience go. In my entire history of playing live, I have never been this anxious about a potential spectator of one of our shows. Whenever I think about it, though, I picture her hesitation when I asked, and it actually calms me down. She won’t come. There’s no way she’d be seen at one of our shows. One of my shows.
And she’d be totally right.
Why would I want to inflict my horrible reputation on someone as good as her? And why on earth would she ever voluntarily put herself closer to my circle of scandal? She’s not dumb. Not by a long shot. She knows better than to get involved with me in any way outside of the mentoring program.
Yes, she defended me to the press, but that was more to cover the ass of the Foundation. I get that. For a millisecond, having someone like her have my back felt nice. But then the reality of it all crashed over me, and I remembered my place.
I have to keep remembering my place.
“Hey. Cooper. Pay attention, man.” Jake’s voice pulls me out of my downward spiral.
“Huh? What’s up?”
“We’re going over the setlist. What do you think about how much old material we play tonight? Alternate or sprinkle?”
“I say sprinkles!” Jude’s stepdaughter, Charlie, chimes in as she hops from one foot to the other, her red curly hair bouncing. She’s a bit of a firecracker.
We all laugh at her exuberance, but I agree with her.
“I vote sprinkles, too,” I give her a quick wink. “Alternating might be too much, and I think it might interfere with what we’re trying to do.”
“Fair point,” Jude says, scooping Charlie up and onto his lap in an obviously practiced maneuver. “Leave your most well-known and well-liked songs for the end, so you give the crowd something to anticipate during the show and also leave them satisfied.”
“So, Dark Legacies for the very end?” Jake asks all of us, and we nod in agreement.
The topic of conversation shifts again to something else, and I lose myself in my thoughts again, considering how Sloane would react to each of our songs if she showed up and whether she’d even like any of them at all. We’ve never actually talked about my band or our music. Does she even like rock? From what I know of her, which isn’t much, she was a pop music singer, not really into heavier stuff like ours.
“Ground control to Major Tom,” Logan’s voice pulls me out of my head this time. “Dude, where are you today? Because it’s certainly not here with us.”
I glance around at everyone, talking and playing. Jake, Remy, and Jude have their heads together over a notebook, rearranging songs for the setlist. Skyler’s behind her drum kit with Charlie, teaching her to hit the high hat. The fierce concentration on that little girl’s face is adorable. And Logan’s staring at me expectantly, waiting for me to talk.
But what the fuck do I say?
“C’mon. Let’s take a walk,” Logan says, standing and leaning his bass against an amp before pushing through the heavy soundproofed door and heading up the stairs.
I glance around to see if his leaving bothered anyone, but it doesn’t look like anybody even noticed him go, so I follow him up to the roof terrace.
He shields the flame of his lighter as he lights a cigarette and checks for something or someone over his shoulder.
“I thought you quit,” I say, pacing the length of the house, taking in the lush green foliage and perfectly manicured backyard. It’s like a tropical oasis in the middle of Santa Monica. And that’s not even the best part. From here, there’s a clear view of the ocean and the Pier not too far away. It’s beautiful.
