Page 19 of Four More The Merrier

"Oh, I don't doubt that for a second. But everyone needs allies on the road. Even if it's just someone to share eye rolls with during Jarron's inevitable prima donna moments."

That earns me another smile, this one reaching her eyes. "I'll keep that in mind."

She walks out of that board room with her head held high and If my intuition isn't mistaken, out just walked someone who's gonna shake things up around here worse than an e5 tornado.

10

QUINN

Iarrived fifteen minutes early for soundcheck, my guitar case clutched in my sweaty palm. The stage manager waves me over, but I shake my head.

"I'm good, actually. Won't need the check."

Austen's head snaps up from where he's adjusting his mic stand. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me." I shift my weight, willing my voice not to shake. "It's not hard to fuck up Silent Night."

"Oh, this ought to be rich." Jarron runs his hands through his hair, exchanging looks with his cousin. "Little miss no-show thinks she's above soundcheck now."

"I don't think I'm above anything." My fingers tighten around the guitar case handle. "I just don't need it."

Jarron stalks across the stage, his boots echoing against the wood. "Listen here, princess. You're already on thin ice after yesterday's stunt. You mess this up, and-"

"And what?" I meet his gaze, refusing to back down even as he towers over me. "You'll fire me? Go ahead. But I don't need a soundcheck to prove I can sing."

"If you embarrass us-"

"I won't." I cut him off, my heart hammering against my ribs. "But thanks for the vote of confidence."

I turn on my heel, heading in the opposite direction. "See you at showtime, boys."

"This isn't a karaoke bar in Nashville," Jarron calls after me. "You screw this up, you'll never work in this industry again."

I pause at the door, looking back over my shoulder. "Guess I better not screw it up then."

I headinto the green room, I've spent enough time making myself scarce and avoiding the two dickheads at all costs. The space buzzes with pre-show energy, but not the kind I expected. Two women in skin-tight dresses perch on Jarron's lap while he whispers something that makes them giggle. Austen's not far behind, his arm draped around a blonde who keeps touching his chest.

"Want a drink, sugar?" The blonde calls out to me, waving a bottle of something amber.

"I'm good." I sink into a corner chair, pulling out my setlist to review it one more time.

Lyle bounces over, drumsticks spinning between his fingers. "Don't mind the circus. Pre-show ritual and all that."

"Is that what we're calling it now?" I mutter, but he just grins.

"Hey, whatever works. Though personally, I prefer a good protein bar and some meditation."

My eyes drift to Beau, the only one who seems immune to the chaos. He's tucked into an armchair, completely absorbed in what looks like a worn copy of East of Eden. His baseball cap is pulled low, but I catch him wincing slightly when one of the girls lets out a particularly high-pitched laugh.

"Baby, you're so tense." One of the groupies runs her hands over Jarron's shoulders. "Let me help with that."

"Careful now." Jarron smirks. "Don't want to wear me out before the show."

I roll my eyes, focusing harder on my notes. The paper crinkles under my tight grip.

"First time's always weird," Lyle says quietly, settling into the chair next to mine. "But you get used to it. Or at least learn to tune it out."

"Like Beau over there?" I nod toward the silent bass player.

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