Page 70 of Worth the Trouble

The door to the recording booth opens and Gage, the lead singer for Manic Idols, steps out.

“We done for the day?” he asks Adrian.

Adrian nods.

“But hold up a quick second,” Sebastian says, standing and walking over to him. “Let’s chat about the chorus before you take off.”

Sebastian follows Gage into the recording booth, and I feel like I’m watching my friend growing up in front of me. It’s been slow over the past couple years as Sebastian stopped messing around and got his shit together. But looking at him now, it’s clear.

The guy who used to smoke shit and chase skirts with me now cares more about bettering his life and career. The kid who convinced us to start a band has become this dude who decided we needed to take the next step with our own label.

When did we turn into adults?

Adrian’s phone rings, and a smile paints his face when he looks at the screen. He presses the button to answer. “Hey, babe.”

It’s no surprise they’re all wondering who’s going to take me off the market. The entire band has hearts in their eyes, and I’m surrounded by them.

But that’s the problem. Even if I was the type of guy who wanted something more serious, I don’t attract the type of women who do. Evidenced by the girls just after my dick and fame.

Which I guess is better than Lili—out of my league and completely unattainable.

Not that I’m within reach either.

“Rome?” a sweet voice stops beside the couch, and I look up to see Izzy, the guitar player from the band smiling at me.

She’s pretty, talented, and has a perfect pair of tits that almost spill out of her itty-bitty tank top. I probably would have tried to fuck her already if she wasn’t part of a band we’re signing. At least, that’s the reason I tell myself I’m not trying. Deep down, I’m just not interested.

“What’s up?”

She crosses her arms over her chest, pushing her tits up even more, but the sight doesn’t stir anything.

“I was wondering if I could pick your brain.” Izzy smiles, and I realize I’m being a total dick sitting here thinking about her body. I’m supposed to be a mentor to them, but all I’ve been doing lately is overanalyzing and drowning in my own problems.

“Sure thing.”

Her eyes move to where Gage is singing with Sebastian in the sound booth. “Somewhere more quiet?”

I nod, standing up, and she follows me up the staircase to Adrian’s main floor. Walking down the hallway, I stop at an open guest room and dip inside.

“Thanks. I’m struggling with the second chorus.” She props herself on the edge of the bed as I shut the door and lean against it. “Something doesn’t feel like it’s translating like the rest of the song is.”

“Let’s hear it.” I cross my arms over my chest.

Izzy holds her guitar and starts stroking the strings, starting at the beginning of the song the band was just playing downstairs. Her fingers move effortlessly because she has natural talent. And it’s hard to tear my gaze away.

I’ve seen plenty of performers over the years. Playing guitar is a skill that can be taught, but those who have a quality like Izzy are rare. Her ability to play is captivating.

Songs bleed from her fingertips. She hasn’t yet been beaten down by an industry trying to squeeze her for perfection. There’s a raw quality that isn’t polished, but it’s her. It’s a sound that can’t be bottled. Something I used to appreciate in myself, but over time, I lost it.

It’s easy to fade away in this industry. Enough fame and money will do that to a person. And although I’ve always stayed true to myself as much as I could, I always knew going mainstream would mean losing a little bit of the music along the way.

It’s a feeling shared by the rest of the band and one of the reasons we started our own label.

But it’s never been as apparent as when I hear Izzy play. Because she’s not watered down. She’sreal. And the sounds she thinks aren’t translating are just an edge that’s not heard much anymore—raw need.

She’s thinking when she needs to be feeling.

As I watch Izzy play, it all becomes clear. I started the label with the band because I’d follow them to hell and back, but also for the music. I wanted to remember what I got into this business for.

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