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Laurel steps closer, her feet bumping my toes. “You’re afraid to sing too, and I don’t see anyone harassing you about it.”
“I’m not afraid,” I grind through my teeth.
“Ha!” She pats my cheek with the kind of condescension that makes me want to toss her into the ocean.
“And if you touch any of my guitars ever again—”
Laurel groans. “Will you shut up about guitars already? This is not what I came out here for.”
“Why, then?”
“Hey there.” Briar descends down the path leading to the house and jogs up to us. “I love a good squabble just as anyone else, but—”
The bubbling heat of the fight snuffs right out of me, turning the ground under my feet into quicksand. I’ve just aired all of my dirty secrets. “Did everyone hear that?”
Briar wrings her hands. “No. Well. The wind is blowing that way.” She waves at the house. “But we didn’t hear any words, only that you two got into a massive spat.”
Shuddering with relief, I take a few steps away from them and wish for the ocean to drag me into its depths.
“Listen, Jace, I know this may not be a good time,” Briar continues, “but I need to tell you something without your bandmates around.”
I face her, intrigued and concerned. Laurel’s face mirrors my thoughts.
“That song was amazing, you two. I’m quite stunned. I had no idea you could sing like that.” She smiles at me, then turns to Laurel. “And you shred just like your dad. In light of that, The Label will pay you a two million signing bonus for an album, plus our usual royalty payout, if you feel like starting an act together.”
Adrenaline rips through me. Two million dollars!
Laurel doubles over with laughter. She comes over and slaps my shoulder. “What were you saying about rock bottom?”
I scoff and step aside, upsetting her balance into an awkward stumble. She glares at me in return.
Briar sighs. “Okay. That was definitely not the best time to bring up a deal, but I had to ask. I had to. Still…” Brightening up, she squeezes herself between us and pushes our backs. “It’s time for the games. You have so much energy. It’ll be awesome.”
“The games?” Laurel asks.
I shake my head, begging Laurel to drop it, but her gaze is heavy with vengeance.
“Yes.” Briar sticks to pretending the mood can be remedied. “It’s so much fun—”
“Not at all.” I intervene before it’s too late. “We’re not playing.”
“We?” Laurel asks.
“Only couples can play,” Briar purrs as we ascend the path back to the house.
After the disaster tonight has been, Laurel won’t want anything to do with me, let alone play stupid games.
“We’re in,” she announces.
Our glares collide again, and I’m reminded that apart from playing music together, there’s one other thing we like to do—push each other to the edge of the emotional abyss.
“Fine,” I grumble, “but you’ll have no one but yourself to blame when you end up in tears.”
She scoffs. “Likewise.”
“This is going to be great!” Briar nudges us again, and I walk along knowing this is the end. If our fight didn’t do it, Briar’s games will bring an end to us for sure.
Track 24
