Page 178 of Play Dirty (Brooklyn Dawn 1)

“Wow, even a bra.”

“Seemed like it might be safer for me to have all my armor on with the mood you’re sporting. Just in case we end up in a fight with a gang of bikers.”

“Shut up.”

She flashed me a wide shark-toothed smile. “I’m kinda up for a brawl if that’s what you need to get straight. That or we can go kill the fucker for hurting you. You know, whichever.”

“We’re not talking about him right now.”

“Well, you know I can do the girl shit when you need it. I may have gone down to the lobby and bought a box of those lotion tissues you like. You know, in case.” She wouldn’t look at me as she shrugged into her short leather jacket.

I smiled but forced it off my face when she turned around. “Thanks, bitch.”

“You’re welcome, jerk.”

Sometimes our little Supernatural codenames helped. The boys had filled many a long night on the bus back in our earlier years. It was one of the few shows that everyone in the band agreed on.

I opened the door and she followed me out. And because I knew my bestie so well, I stopped at the vending machine and grabbed her a Coke Zero to get her through until we could find real coffee.

Oz and Teagan were waiting near the elevators.

“Hey. We just wanted you to know we’re here for you.” Teagan’s voice was tentative. “He’s an asshole.”

I blinked back the quick prick of tears at knowing my band was rallying around me.

No more tears. I’d already indulged far too much for one day.

“Thanks.” I cracked my knuckles. “Actually, I’m glad you’re here. I want to add a new song to the setlist tonight.”

Jamie came up beside me, her arms folded. “Uh oh. Do I have to learn another guitar solo? Because dude, I’m gonna need something a little more intricate than ‘Eye of the Tiger’.”

“Blaspheme.”

But I had to agree. It was a damn fun song, but we hadn’t added a new cover song to the roster in a while. We had so many of our own songs with five albums deep that finding empty slots for cover songs was hard—unless we wanted to expand the setlist over two hours. And with our stage set-up, it was always problematic to actually get it all to work.

My ears were still bleeding from the Chicago stunt I pulled.

Darcy didn’t like when I messed with things that much. Not one cover song, but two? Yeah, I’d gotten my ass handed to me. Especially since I was the one that liked to keep the setlist tight and lean. She just happened to agree with me most of the time.

But ever since I’d met Na—he who would not be named at this moment—I felt the need to get out of my boxes. He’d pushed me lyrically and musically. And I saw I was playing it safe way too much lately.

“We’re up for that.” Oz tried to reach for the Coke Zero, but I handed it to Jamie. He grunted and crossed his arms over his massive chest.

“I’m looking to make it pretty epic. We’re going to have to convince Darcy to do it.”

“What if we broadcast it live on our site or something?” Teagan tugged on one of her curls. “Kelly Clarkson has been doing one song per show and her fans go crazy for it.”

Oz arched a brow. Actually, he mirrored Jamie.

“I mean, I know we’re not Kelly, but the interaction is what I’m talking about.” Teagan rushed on.

Honestly, it was kind of brilliant. And I wouldn’t mind a little of my own viral middle finger. “That’s good. We have the tech gear to do it.”

“And she actually does a cover song most of the time. Even has guests on.”

“I’m not copying fucking Kelly Clarkson,” Jamie growled.

“No, we’ll make it our own.” I tapped my finger against my songbook as the door opened.

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