Page 23 of One Night

"What guy in the band?"

"The lead guitarist's name is Austin."

"Oh, um, no. It must be a different Austin. This guy didn't say he was in the band."

I turn to Matt. "Do you know what the Austin in the band looks like?"

"Yeah. So do you. He's that guy you and every other girl are always drooling over."

"You mean Austin Wheeler?"

"Yeah. The guy with all the muscles. I wonder how many hours a day he has to work out to look like that." Matt takes a swig of his drink.

"Okay, wait." I shake my head back and forth as I try to figure this out. "So Austin Wheeler's part of Vandyl? No, that's not right. He's in a different band but I can't remember the name."

"No, it's this one," Matt says. "I told you that the other night when I was telling you about the lead singer coming into the store."

I pause a moment, trying to remember what he told me that night. We were on the phone and I was working on my laptop while he talked so I didn't hear everything he said. I don't remember him mentioning Austin Wheeler but I know who Austin is. Everyone in Chicago does, especially girls. He's tall, has a great smile, and a body that's pure muscle.

Austin's the youngest of the Wheeler brothers. His three older brothers are also super hot. His brother, Jake, was even named Chicago's most eligible bachelor but he lost that title when he got a girlfriend. All the brothers have girlfriends, except for Austin, but practically every girl in Chicago wants to date him.

I whip back around to Kira. "Are you telling me that Austin Wheeler asked you out?"

"It's not him. He's not in the band."

"Tall?" I ask. "All muscle? Short dark hair? Gorgeous blue eyes? Around our age?"

"Austin!" a girl yells from up by the stage. She's right in front of the band, jumping around like a lunatic. She leans over to say something to her friend and I get a glimpse of the guy in front of her. It's Austin, standing there with a guitar, talking to some other guy as he messes with the mic.

I point at the stage. "Did you see him?"

"Yeah," Kira says. "That's him."

"Oh my God, are you serious?" I slam my hand on the table. "Austin Wheeler asked you out and you turned him down? You know how many girls are dying to go out with him? He's like the hottest guy in Chicago!"

"Hey," Matt says from behind me. "I'm right here."

I turn back and kiss him. "You're hot too."

"Yeah, thanks," he says, rolling his eyes and smiling.

"You are." I kiss him again. "I'm just trying to make a point here for Kira." I turn back to her. "Austin doesn't ask girls out. He doesn't have to, because girls ask HIM out. So the fact that he asked you out is a huge deal."

"Well, it doesn't matter. I don't go out with liars. He should've told me he was in the band."

The sound of a guitar rings through the speakers and Austin says, "Ready to rock this joint?"

Girls scream all at once and the ones up front are reaching out toward the guys in the band.

"For those who don't know," Austin says, "we're Vandyl. I'm Austin and I play lead guitar." Girls scream his name. "The guy on the drums is Van." More girls scream, this time for Van. "And our lead singer and bass player is Dylan." More screams as they yell Dylan's name.

Dylan. Of course. Just what I need right now. Another reminder of the night I'm trying so hard to forget. Is the universe trying to make this harder on me? Couldn't the guy's name be Bob or Joe or Curt? Anything would be better than Dylan, especially after I had that memory tonight. I'm still hot from that memory. I can't stop thinking about it.

"Ready boys?" Austin says.

The guys start playing and the crowd starts singing along. I can't actually see the band because the girls by the stage are dancing in front of it. I look over at Kira. She looks upset.

"Hey." I nudge her. "You all right?"

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