Page 34 of Flipping the Script

“I’ve heard French women are freaky,” someone interrupted excitedly. “Is that true?”

Sebastian’s smile dropped. “Not the ones I met.”

“Boo,” someone cried. “What was your favorite place to play because of the women?”

Sebastian tipped his beer back and drained the last of it. My eyes were drawn to his mouth as he licked his bottom lip. “Icouldn’t possibly choose just one.” He shook his empty bottle. “Gotta hit the head.”

“What?” someone yelped as he slipped out of the circle. “He’s going to give someone head?”

“No, dumbass. He’s going to the can,” someone else said.

“I wouldn’t say no to giving him some head,” McKenna said in that way drunk people did when they had no idea how loud they were being.

“Get in line.” Ally elbowed her.

“Don’t be greedy.” McKenna shot Ally a look. “You had him in high school. Time to share.”

“This is so weird.”

I glanced at Ben as he came to stand next to me. “What is?”

“They do this every time he comes back.” Ben swirled the dark liquid in his glass. He didn’t drink beer and preferred rum and Cokes. “Put claims on him like his dick is a time-share.”

“It’s not like he doesn’t love it.”

Ben shrugged and sipped his drink. “I don’t think he does. He puts up with it, but I’m pretty sure it bothers him.”

“You think?”

He nodded. “I think it hurts that all these people who didn’t want anything to do with him when we were in school are suddenly all over him because he’s famous or whatever. I know it would hurt me.”

Ben had been Sebastian’s closest friend in school. They’d never been besties or anything, but they’d stayed close all these years. He knew Sebastian far better than I did.

“How are things at the shop?” I asked, needing to change the subject before I asked if Sebastian made a habit of hooking up with Ally or McKenna or any of his other fangirls when he was home.

I didn’t need to know, and more than that, I didn’twantto know.

Ben motioned for me to follow him away from the crowd and the noise now that everyone was talking at once.

“Good,” he said when we were on the other side of the fire. “Although dealing with the lookie-loos is getting old.”

“Lookie-loos?” I asked with a grin. Ben always used the most random sayings.

“Lots of fans have come by the shop to see Bas.” He did a quick sweep of the yard, his gaze shrewd as he made sure nothing was amiss. “Get autographs and take selfies with him.”

“Really? He’s that popular?”

I’d never listened to Sebastian’s music. He was into heavy metal, and I was more of a rock guy. I knew he had to have fans if he’d toured for years, but I hadn’t figured there were that many metal fans around here.

Ben nodded. “Oh yeah. But even if he weren’t, he’s still a novelty. And people love associating themselves with anything new and interesting. He handles it well, but it’s stressing the rest of the guys out. Me too, if I’m being honest.”

I let that percolate for a moment.

“How’s work going?” he asked when I didn’t say anything.

“Good.” I sipped my beer. “I’m not doing much overtime now, so that’s a bonus.”

“They hired a new guy?”

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