Page 394 of Rock Me All Night
As if on cue, Matthew turns back to the audience. Tom waves, and the man's jaw drops. He stops playing for a solid twenty seconds. The other guys in the band look around confused but they carry on.
"Fuck, that must have been eight, nine years ago." Tom runs a hand through his hair. "He's not trying very hard."
"Maybe he had other priorities."
"Yeah. Everyone does. Even back then. I lived in a nice part of Orange County."
"Really?" There's something about Tom that seems rawer than image conscious Southern California. Especially given the way he reacted when I said he seemed like he belonged in Los Angeles.
He nods. "Where do you think I learned the power of vanity?"
"You're not vain."
"Not as vain as some people." He brushes a pink-tipped bang from my face. "We can't all spend hundreds on our haircuts."
I stick my tongue out at him.
He laughs. "Back then, everyone had an eye on college. First band, the guitarist dropped out because he was failing Spanish. The second, we practiced all summer, but everybody quit as soon as school rolled around. Must have gone through five or six bands before I met Miles."
"I've never heard the Sinful Serenade origin story."
"Always figured you weren't interested. Since you never came to shows. Even when we were playing all over San Francisco." Tom's gaze goes back to the band. "Drew talks about you a lot."
"He does not."
"You have to judge it by Drew standards. Anything that isn't an argument about how I'm a sellout for trying to get our music into some TV show is a lot."
"You're the one who does licensing deals?"
He nods. "Our manager is a fucking asshole. Had an issue with him a while back. Couldn't get him fired so I took over."
"One of your songs is on a soda commercial."
"Fuck, yes it is. You have any clue how much that endorsement paid?"
I shake my head.
"Let's just say I've never seen anyone that miserable to make a million dollars."
"Each of you or the band?"
"Geez, Willow. So greedy. Two hundred fifty thousand isn't enough for you? I'll have you know that I'm worth seven figures."
I actually gasp. Seven figures? That'sfuck youmoney. Why isn't Drew rubbing that in Mom's face 24/7?
"Miles and Drew—they don't know what it's like to go hungry, to wonder if you're gonna get evicted, to work six months saving every penny so you can buy a better drum kit. I don't have to tell you that Drew's family, your family is well off."
"Money doesn't buy happiness."
"Don't have to tell me that, kid. I'm the one worth seven figures."
"You like to brag, don't you?"
He nods. "I'm incorrigible."
"Very."
"Big word for a guy with a GED."
