Page 4 of Resist

“We look good together,” Ryker teases, leaning his head on my shoulder as he watches the videos I scroll through. We know the power of social media and have been trying to use it for years, but we never hit anything like this.

I nod mutely, unsure what to say. Seeing us like that . . . Yeah, it’s hot as fuck, but it also makes me a little sad. It’s just an act, but this is good. It could be the chance we need. Obviously, they think the same

“This could be our big break!” Dash exclaims.

I swallow hard, gripping the phone, and meet Ry’s eyes over my shoulder as he glances from them to me. Something passes between us, making my heart race.

It isn’t excitement for what this means, but something more.

Something darker.

Hunger.

THREE

A month later . . .

The power of the internet and how fast everything moved after we blew up overnight was insane. We had labels and interviewers calling us continually, and we were gobsmacked. We knew we needed to seize the moment and rise to the top, but none of us expected this.

We were signed to a label and thrust into the limelight as swiftly as possible.

We’ve done more interviews than I can count and filmed more social media content than I even knew was possible. Our songs have been reworked, and we’ve had vocal and movement coaches.

I glance from my reflection in the mirror to the dressing room to look at Fox. His hair is a little different now but no less beautiful. It’s messy and longer, falling into his face and eyes, giving him a bad boy look that drives everyone crazy. The roots are a blackish gray, then the color fades to a deep midnight blue at the ends. His lips tilt in a friendly smile as he nods at the makeup artist touching up his lips. When she lowers to her feetafter standing on her tiptoes to reach him, she stumbles, and he automatically catches her, checking to make sure she’s okay. I can’t help but smile. He looks like a complete asshole, but Fox is all sweetness.

As if he feels my gaze, he raises his eyes to mine in the mirror, those dark orbs speaking words neither of us dare to utter.

The white crop top he wears rises as he moves, flashing his abs and tan chest, our logo proudly sprayed across the front. His leather pants match mine and dip low, exposing so much skin it’s hard to breathe. All of his fingers are covered in rings, and chains drape across his ears. Every part of him is refined, and part of me misses the grungy before Fox, but I know that’s mean. I’m not the same either.

I pull my eyes from his and glance down at the loose vest, which shows my arms and sides, and despite its ripped appearance, I know it’s designer, as are my boots and jewelry. I don’t feel like myself, and my insecurities raise their heads for a moment. As if he feels them, a warm hand lands on my shoulder. I look up, my gaze once more clashing with Fox’s as he rests his chin on my shoulder, his cheek almost touching mine.

“You’re going to be amazing, Ry,” he promises.

“You think?” I ask nervously.

“I know it, and I’ll be right there with you.” He turns his face, his warm, soft lips pressing to my cheek in a comforting kiss. He lingers, and suddenly there’s a flash. We jolt apart and turn in confusion to find a grinning Mabel, our new temporary manager.

“Perfect. I’ll post this now. The fans will love it!” She smiles, and I swallow hard, hating that they will see this. It wasn’t for them or even for the music. It was for us, and as Fox steps away, closing down, I can tell he feels the same. Our stolen moment was taken from us and changed to something to sell our image.I know it’s part of the job, but as Fox walks over to Dash and Strike, I find myself watching him forlornly.

I wish no one else had seen that and it was just for us.

“Here.” I glance over at Fox as he hands me the open bottle of water, the cap in his hand. Smiling, I take a big sip and pass it back, watching as he drains it halfway, his Adam’s apple bobbing with the movement before he tightens the cap and leans back into the couch next to me.

Our thighs touch, and for a moment, I stare at them before I bring my head up, blushing as I realize all the cameras are trained on us.

“Sorry, what was the question?” I ask.

Embarrassment takes over even as they laugh, but luckily Fox saves me. “I think Ry is a little in shock from all the love here tonight. Let’s show him how excited you are.” The crowd goes wild, and he winks at me to let me know he has my back. I smile in gratitude and focus on the interview. The questions are easy, and I relax the more we talk, sharing stories of our shows before this and what it’s like trying to get into the industry now.

“And there he was, butt naked. The police were staring, and all he could do was grab a pineapple to cover himself.” I chuckle at the memory. It was a good night, and Fox is right. That pineapple didn’t cover much, not that the police cared.

I smack Fox’s thigh automatically, and we lean together, grinning widely before it fades. We continue to stare at each other before I clear my throat and smile at the others as they continue talking, telling the story for us.

“Okay, okay, we have to talk about the elephant in the room.” I smile tightly as the interviewer, Sarah, winks at the crowd. “I think we have all seen that viral clip of you two on stage, right?”

The crowd shouts, and I grin at them, blowing kisses and eating it up. Inside, though, something in me tightens. Every time it’s mentioned, I feel excited since it got us here, but I also feel a little . . . sad that something natural between us has been taken and sold. That’s the business though, right? Not even our bodies are our own. It’s the price we pay to make music, one we all agreed to, even Fox. I still glance at him in worry.

The interview today is important. It’s the biggest one we have ever had. They have guests on here people usually see on red carpets. We can’t mess this up. It’s a hard launch for our band to get our name out there, and we’ll either sink or swim.

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