Page 22 of Introvert

"Did we, though?"

"You're on triangle until further notice."

Santino frowned, and I bit back a laugh. The guy didn't seemtoo enthusiastic about it, but in the next second, his face brightened.

Hayden threw him a suspicious look. "Why are you smiling?"

"Just thinking how fun it's going to be, stealing the spotlight from you with nothing but my tiny triangle."

"As if you could."

Santino nodded. "I'm going to pull out all the stops. You'll see."

"Can't wait," Hayden said. "While you're doing that, I'll be playing the hell out my guitar."

"Low blow, man."

Elliot rolled his eyes. "You guys, focus. No one's going to be playing anything unless we find our bass player."

Santino shot him a wounded look, and Elliot held his hands up.

"Ourstand-inbass," he said. "That better?"

Santino sniffed. "Yeah, I guess."

Taylor started pacing. "I can't believe this is happening. It's only our firsttour stop. He was here five minutes ago. Where could he have gone?"

Ryker stood from his chair where he'd been tapping out rhythms with his sticks.

"Chill, Taylor," he said and removed his earbuds. "I got this."

"Chill?" she repeated then laughed a little hysterically. She was obviously well on her way to freak-out mode. "We have no bass player. Your brother abandoned us. This tour was supposed to solidify HERS as a household name. And that's all you've got to say?"

"He'll come back."

Taylor exhaled heavily, and I thought I heard her mumble, "I'm too old for this," before leaving the room. Once she was gone, Ryker stepped to the center of the space. Heeyed each of us then nodded.

"We need to find my brother," he said.

Hayden scoffed. "Thank you, Captain Obvious."

The drummer merely threwhim a scowl. "Hayden, you check backstage and ask if anyone's seen him.Elliot, go check the bus—maybe he forgotsomething.Santino you check the storage closets."

"Why?" Santino asked with a frown—at Ryker's look, he nodded in understanding. "Ah, in case, he decided to hook up with someone. Got it."

My throat tightened at that, but I shook it off.

Now was so not the time to get jealous.

Felix was MIA.

I had to help find him.

"What can I do?" I asked.

They'd been about to leave but rememberedme at the last second. Rykerstill frowned, but his eyes gentled.

"Do what you need to, Aurora," he said. "We'll findFelix.Hedoes this sometimes. It's no big deal."

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