Page 71 of Worth the Trouble

I’m tired of an industry washing out artists like her and the rest of her band. I want to be someone who lifts them up. At its core, music is truth. Music is purity. Even for those of us tainted in the pits of our soul.

With music, there is no judgement, only acceptance.

Izzy finishes the chorus, slapping her hand over the strings to pause them as her eyes look at me for guidance.

“It’s a bit messy at the end—”

“It’s not,” I cut her off. “Don’t change a thing.”

Her eyebrows knit.

“Izzy, why did you get into music?” I walk over to her and plant a hand on one of the posts of the bed.

She looks confused, but it doesn’t stop her from answering. “I guess I just had to. Ever since I was little, it was a part of me.”

I can’t help the smile that climbs my face. I love her innocence—her fresh eyes in an industry that’s going to try and rot her from the inside out. She’s what rock and roll needs more of.

“Exactly, it’s a part of you. And that means sometimes it’s going to be messy and imperfect, but you need to embrace it. Could you ramp it up at the end? Sure. But I like that it sounds a little broken. So, it’s up to you.”

She smiles, sweeping her white-blonde hair off her face. “You like it?”

I nod. “Don’t let anyone tell you any different. Gage might be the face of the band, but you’re the feeling.”

She tips her head back and laughs, probably thinking I’m joking. I’m not.

When people think about music, the lead singer is always who comes to mind first, but what they don’t realize is that lyrics are bare without the life the beat draws from them.

Not that I don’t one hundred percent commend Sebastian for being the face of all our shit. He’s got his own weight on his shoulders. But I just don’t believe in underestimating the rest of the band because of it. Something I’ve appreciated that he’s never done.

“Thanks, Rome.” She smiles, pulling her guitar off her shoulder and holding it at her side. “Well, I should get going before the guys forget I’m here and ditch me.”

“They wouldn’t.”

It probably sounds like I’m hitting on her, but really, it’s that I’ve seen how they all look at her—the way we look at Eloise. And I know they won’t let her fall through the cracks.

Another reason I knew they were worth signing.

“Whatever you say.” She smiles, brushing past me. “Thanks for everything, Rome.”

She swings the door open and almost runs into a tiny body moving through the hall as she steps out of the room. She barely has time to swerve before they collide.

“Sorry.” Izzy steps to the side and walks away.

But I’m not watching her. My focus is locked on the black hole of a girl standing there in a cropped white T-shirt and high-waisted acid-washed jeans. And so many emotions come to the surface all at once. Excitement, annoyance, rage. I want to fuck Lili and slam the door in her face all at once.

But before I get the chance to do either of those things, she swallows hard, and her eyes turn once more to Izzy disappearing down the hall behind her.

“I didn’t know you were here, sorry. I was dropping something off.” She looks at me one final time before she walks away.

She walks away.

Like she hasn’t just ignored me for three days and now gets to be pissed I was in a room with some chick.

Fuck. That. Shit.

23

Lili

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