Page 97 of Deliverance

“You think my songs suck too?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“He didn’t say that,” Jacob repeats my words.

“Chill, bro,” Stevie urges. “Let’s just work on the other track for now.”

Leo flings his hands in the air, fingers locking together at the nape of his neck. “You know what?” He spins around. “Fuck you. Fuck you, all!”

Then he storms out of the room.

“Well…” Toby clears his throat. “That was expected.” He doesn’t elaborate, but I catch him and Jacob exchanging an exasperated glare as I start for the door. My pulse is so loud in my ears, it feels like nothing else exists, nothing but this roar, this savage hunger, this itch that demands to be scratched.

“Don’t!” Toby stops me. “Let him cool off first.”

Drawing a steadying breath, I slowly walk back to my spot and park my ass back on the chair.

The guitarist is right. Their shit is none of my business.

We spend the next thirty minutes tossing around more ideas. Although it does seem counterproductive since the principal lyricist and songwriter of the band is missing.

Later, when Toby and I get a second alone in the control room, I ask, “Shouldn’t we go find him or something?”

“He’ll be back eventually.”

“What the fuck does that mean? Eventually?”

“Listen. Don’t get too invested in his bullshit. I know you’re trying to help and all, but he’s always been like this. Always moody when we’re almost through with an album. He’s got a collection of sappy songs he wrote for Athena years back, and he shoves them down our throats every single time we go into the studio to record. He’ll snap out of it soon and be back as good as new.”

“Athena?” My voice turns into a reverent whisper, the kind you use when you talk about a godlike creature whose name you’re not supposed to say out loud because it might hear you and smite you just for the heck of it. “As in Athena Angel?”

Toby nods.

To me, this is news. “Didn’t they record a duet years ago?”

“It was released as a bonus track on her debut album.”

I had no idea Leo Propaganda and Athena Angel had a history beyond that one-off project they worked on so long ago, no one even remembers they did it. The entire planet knows Athena Angel prefers her men younger. Much younger. “They hook up or something?”

“Or something.” Toby rolls his eyes. “He says the breakup was mutual. Rumor has it, she used him for his connections and then dumped his ass.”

“Can you blame her?” I chuckle, filing the information away. This doesn’t come as a surprise. Leo was a train wreck back in the day and Athena is a total ballbuster. Leo and Athena together is like putting a roll of foil into a microwave.

“Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do in this line of work.”

Leo’s drama aside, Toby’s right. The music industry is a ruthless business. A game you either learn to play or go home, especially if you’re a woman fronting a metal band.

“Like I said.” He claps my back before leaving. “Don’t get invested in his bullshit. He needs to burn all those love songs and move on. He’s Leo fucking Propaganda. He could be swimming in pussy.”

Part of me can relate. Pining after an old flame for nearly two decades when she made it clear she’s not interested seems like a world of misery, especially if it disrupts the creativity in the band. But then again, Athena Angel isn’t just any woman. I’m pretty sure all of us have dreamed about her at least once. Not just Leo.

My phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out and stare at the screen, my heart leaping to my throat.

Drew: Will you still want to talk to me if I tell you I’ve never seen any of the Star Wars movies?

My lips spread into a silly smile.

What kind of question is that? Of course I still want to talk to you. Besides, that just gives me an excuse to ask you out to the movies.

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