Page 8 of Snared

I hated interviews like this. Like I should be lovestruck or something because I was on a bus with these guys. Like I wasn’t an equal member of the band. I was the fucking drummer, for fuck’s sake, not some damn novelty.

I wanted to fire back at them and ask if they would bring up the same topic if they were interviewing a band with three women and only one guy. Not that I didn’t already know the answer to that.

And Josh definitely wouldn’t be thrilled with me getting snarky, so I bit my tongue.

“No drama or dirt, aside from Jax’s snoring. I swear it rattles the bus,” I said, playing off the question like it didn’t irritate the shit out of me. Like I hadn’t gotten it a million times before.

“She’s not lying. He’s freaking loud,” Bash chimed in.

“Ignore them. I do not snore,” Jax exclaimed.

Tristan leaned in and whispered into the mic. “He totally does.”

“And we love touring with Charlie. She’s a kick-ass drummer and we couldn’t ask for anyone better,” Bash said, glancing over at me with a smile.

I freaking loved these guys, and that statement coming from Bash was the best. I’d fought for his approval the hardest. He’d created this band with Jamie, and that wasn’t something I would ever forget.

“So tonight, we’ll hear a little old and new?” Gary asked, clearly getting the hint to steer the interview away from hounding me on topics that had nothing to do with actually playing music.

“Yeah, we’ve been adding in a new song here and there while on this tour,” Bash said.

“And is a new album coming soon?” Danielle asked.

“It’s coming, I promise.” Bash laughed. “We’re recording once this leg of the tour ends, so stay tuned for it. No drop dates yet though.”

“Awesome. Looking forward to hearing the full album when it’s done. And I bet the listeners will be excited, too.”

“It’s going to kick ass.” Jax pumped his fist for emphasis, almost clocking Tristan in the jaw with his enthusiasm.

Tristan leaned away, shaking his head at Jax. “And we’re pumped to play tonight. We love our Denver fans.”

“And they must love you, too since it’s sold out. So it’s lucky that we have two tickets to give out to our twentieth caller. Call in now,” Gary said.

“We’ll throw in meet and greet passes, too,” Jax added.

The DJs both laughed. “Now you’ve done it. The phones are blowing up.”

“Anything for the fans. I’m a giver like that.”

We all groaned as Jax beamed. One would think that the man was never out of character, but I was pretty sure that it was who Jax was twenty-four seven.

And when Jax answered the call to congratulate the ticket winner, the woman screamed so loud the feedback from my headset startled me, and I was surprised my ears were still functioning.

“What can I say? They love us in Denver,” Jax said.

“Damn show pony,” Bash muttered, shaking his head.

The rest of the interview went smoothly—no more stupid questions directed at me and just the right amount of Jax being Jax—and in no time, we were on our way back to the hotel.

“How’d we do, CH?” Jax asked when we all piled into the oversized SUV.

“I’m surprised you didn’t promise that ticket winner a seat on the stage tonight,” Josh said.

“Want me to call her back?” he replied, grinning.

Josh chuckled from the seat behind me, and I swore his breath tickled the back of my neck with that sound. I leaned forward, ignoring the shiver that rolled through me. I was losing my damn mind around him, and I was frustrated. With myself. With him. With I didn’t even know what. But it had to stop.

“You’ve been doing more laughing lately, CH. You feeling okay? Should we call a doctor?” Jax asked. “I mean, I know I’m funny as shit, but…” he trailed off.

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