Page 83 of Sweet Temptation

“He’s coming off tour sometime in December for a few months,” Ash said. “You know, when Katie has the baby.”

“Shiiiit, bitch,” I said. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah. I’m fucking stoked. Jealous now?”

“No. My guitar playing is for shit, but I’m super fucking happy for you.” Ash was almost as good on guitar as he was on vocals, and he’d joined Dirty onstage before. His former band, the Penny Pushers, had toured with them for years.

But this was huge.

“Brody’s gonna talk to everyone,” he said. “Make the arrangements. But I couldn’t wait to tell you.”

“Can I tell Elle?” I grinned at her.

She rolled her eyes.

“Well, I know you’re gonna,” he said. “So go ahead.”

“I totally am.”

Silence. “Shit. Am I on speaker?”

“Hi, Ash,” Elle said.

“Jesus Christ,” he muttered. “Hey, Elle.”

“So, you’re joining my band?” she said.

“Sounds that way.”

“Well, congrats. They’re pretty cool.”

“Thanks.”

“Don’t get too comfortable,” I warned him. “June. The Players unite.”

“Like a band of superheroes,” Elle said, “but with mad musical skillz.”

“I know it,” Ash said. “Yo. Dylan’s calling. I gotta go. You guys do your… girl stuff. I’m out.”

“Later,” Elle said.

I hung up and stared at her. “‘Girl stuff’?”

She shrugged. “Get used to it. You’re the lone woman in a band of dudes now.”

“I thought that was a cool thing.”

“Cool…” she said. “Sure. Also annoying. Aggravating…”

“Great. Can’t wait.” I crossed my arms. “You knew about this already? Jesse asking Ash to fill in for him?”

“I talked to Brody last night. And Seth, of course. They said Jesse was gonna call Ash about it today.”

“Wow. I hope you know you guys’ve just made Ashley Player a very happy man. He’s been hurting since his band broke up. And I know he misses touring.”

Elle waved that off. “He deserves it. He probably has no idea how much Jesse and the guys respect him.”

“Aww,” I said.

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