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“I see it in your eyes, Assface,” she grumbles, shimming out from between our bodies. I almost don’t let her go but grin when she plunks down on Callum’s lap, and he engulfs her with his arms. “I’ll be with my new favorite over here until you two decide to play nice.”
Callum’s cheeks turn a deep red, and his eyes widen. “Fav-favorite?” he murmurs through a heavy breath. She grins, nestling further into him.
“Am I going to have to make a rule about no chicks at band meetings?” Asher snarls, gaining all of our attention. “We still have more shit to discuss.”
“No, please go ahead, Evil Ash,” she says with a smirk, sipping her coffee. “I won’t interrupt with my brilliant ideas again.”
“Bro!” Rad says, throwing a small couch pillow at Ash. “She just said she could secure us a spot at a legit recording studio. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you, dickweed.”
“Now say you’re sorry,” I antagonize, nodding my head at a grinning River, who squirms in Callum’s lap.
Asher closes his eyes like an impatient parent and blows out a breath. I know it’s taking everything in him to keep his shit together, but it’s too much fun fucking with him. He’s like a loose cannon. One day, he’ll explode, and I can’t fucking wait to see it.
With one last deep breath, he refocuses on her with a grateful smile. “Thank you for the suggestion. We’d appreciate it if you could kindly point us in the right direction.”
River snorts. “Who knew Evil Ash could be so kind?” she snickers into her coffee but nods. “I’ll text Rion today and see when the studio is available. I’ll get it all set up and let you know.”
Rad jumps in the air and whoops. “You’re the best, Pretty Girl.”
“What else do we have to do?” I ask.
“Performance videos, social media presence, we need to build up our audience, and maybe get some more venues under our belt.” Asher worries his lips, swiping through his phone. “And we have to submit all of this before November 1st. Submissions start on September 1st. So, we don’t have very long to get all this done.” He gives one last nod before looking at our smiling faces around the room. Even River feels the excitement humming through us.
“It’s time to make our dreams happen,” Callum says with a grin.
“We’re going to be famous!” Rad whoops, throwing his fist in the air, and shakes his ass.
“We’re really going to do this,” Asher says, letting his excitement come through.
“We are,” I agree, rubbing my hands together.
“I can give you the hook up to more venues around Illinois. I’ve been in contact with people from The Umbrella Club and The Barn.” My eyebrows raise to my hairline when she mentions the two best venues around Central City. “Hell, I can get you more gigs at Dead End if you want.”
Looking around, I see the awe in everyone’s eyes. River may not be able to introduce us to her family like we initially planned—which, in hindsight, was dumb. But she’s still our best bet at more gigs at other venues.
“You’re like our sugar band manager,” Rad quips.
“A sugar band manager? Are you high?” she asks, setting her coffee cup on the end table. “But yeah, I can help you in that area. As long as we have one thing understood,” she says sternly, raising a brow.
“Yeah? And what’s that?” Asher asks, shoving his phone back into his pocket.
“My father abandoned me years ago. I have no contact with him or my brothers. I can’t help you with connections. But…” She bites her lip, looking down at her lap, looking more vulnerable than I’ve ever seen her in front of us. Sure, as a kid, she spilled her guts and tears, but that was just for me. This is for all of us. She’s opening herself up to the room instead of just one person. “But I can help you with this if you want me to.”
Callum leans in, whispering in her ear as his hands work up and down her arms.
“Nah, Pretty Girl. We never expected you to do that,” Rad whispers, guilt tinging his tone.
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t lie to me,” River says in a light tone, leaning into Callum. My heart kicks up at her words. Did she know that’s why we initially tracked her down at the bar? Shit. I hope not. “Anyway, I’ll help you. But when you go, I want to come with you.” She rushes her words, nervously licking her lips.
My heart seizes at her confession, and her eyes stay firmly in her lap.
“I want to see California….” She’d never admit she wanted to meet them, but her brothers are there, and we’d be there, too.
“Well, that saves Kieran from having to kidnap you then,” Asher says in an oddly vibrant tone. “All right, let’s get to work. We got lots of shit to cover before we’re ready.” Asher claps, marches toward the basement door, and throws it open. “I’ll meet you down here,” he says one last time before disappearing into the depths of the basement. The sound of his guitar coming to life filters through the house, and one string at a time, he tunes it.
“You heard the man,” Rad says with a grin, climbing to his feet. “You coming, Pretty Girl. We can give you your own private concert.”
Callum rolls his eyes and kisses her cheek. “He tends to get naked.”
