Page 7 of Living on the Edge

Of course, they don’t know that about me either.

I feel another all-too-familiar twinge of guilt.

Secrets have a way of blowing up in your face, but it’s been three years. How the hell do I come clean now? It’s like everything they think they know about me is a lie, and we’re deeply invested in this band. And each other.

What happens if I blow things up?

Unlike me, they don’t have anything to fall back on.

No money, no back-up careers, nothing.

This is their shot.

It’s different for me.

Music was only supposed to be a distraction, a fun way to piss off my family.

I never imagined these guys—and this band—would become not just friends, but family. Real family. The family you can count on when times are tough, and the family you celebrate with when things are good.

My biological family isn’t like that.

I love them, mostly because I have to, but I don’t like most of them.

Playing rock and roll was my version of fuck you to them and their expectations.

It wasn’t supposed to turn into an actual career.

Or getting signed to the same record label as platinum-selling bands like Onyx Knight and Nobody’s Fool. My bandmates are talented but young, reckless, and a little wild. Definitely rough around the edges.

But they’re good human beings.

Honestly, the best people I know.

And I’ve essentially betrayed them.

“Dude, get your head out of Ayn Rand’s ass and pay attention!” Jonny nudges me with his elbow hard enough to make me grunt.

“Knock it off,” I mutter, shaking my head.

Jonny just laughs. “Come on, lighten up. Have you met the journalist who’s going to be touring with us? Let’s take her out and get her drunk.”

“Why would we do that?” I ask in confusion. “She has a job to do.”

“Yeah, but she’s not on tour with a group of monks—she’s on tour with Crimson Edge. Do we want our fans to read about us curled up with Ayn Rand every night or seeing who we really are?”

“But reading Ayn Randiswho I am,” I protest.

It doesn’t matter, though.

When Jonny makes up his mind about something, there’s no stopping him. He can be a force of nature. It’s one of many things that makes him an amazing frontman.

Unfortunately for me, it also makes it impossible to tell him no.

My date with Ayn is going to have to wait.

Chapter2

Ryleigh

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