Page 8 of Big & Burly Rockstar

Devon laughs, making the skin around his eyes crinkle and showing off his straight white teeth. I get why my sister used to crush on him. “You’re probably right,” he says, shrugging.

Despite myself, I smile. “I’ll do my best. Seems like a pretty tough job, though.”

“I’m sure you’re up to it,” Devon says, winking at me.

“I hope so. Otherwise, the next year is gonna be hell.”

“At least hell means interesting company,” he says, his eyes sparkling. The swooping sensation in my stomach takes me by surprise. Before I can figure out what it is, the door opens and Pete walks in, displaying his too white smile.

“Time for soundcheck, boys.”

The guys grumble, none of them looking amused anymore. It doesn’t seem as if they like Pete very much. Not that I can blame them. They all stand up. “I’ll see you later, princess,” Devon says, placing his large warm hand briefly on my shoulder before following the others. Even after the door has long closed behind them, my skin still tingles where he touched me.

Devon

Throughout the soundcheck, I’m distracted. It’s because of her, and I don’t like it, not one bit. I liked seeing her get along with the guys. Fake girlfriend or not, it’s important to me. But—damn it, I was fucking jealous. Elli gets along with them so easily. And I can tell they like her. And I certainly didn’t miss the way everyone checked her out when she wasn’t looking. Well, everyone except Finn.

I shouldn’t be surprised. Elli is beautiful. But it’s not the kind of beauty that stops men in their tracks or makes them speechless. Instead, it seems to have the opposite effect. It made the guys more talkative. My boys don’t trust people easily. They tend to clam up around strangers, never wanting to reveal anything of their true personalities. But with her? They were talkative, all easy smiles and jokes. Even Michael, the grumpy bastard, smiled once or twice.

“You okay?” Finn asks me once we’re done with the soundcheck. “You seemed unfocused.”

I shrug. “Got a lot on my mind. How are you? Your mom?”

He sighs, rubbing an almost skeletal hand over his forehead. I’ll have to make sure he eats more. Finn has always been slim, but now he looks sickly. “Mom’s the same. She wanted to come see the show but… Anyway. And I’m—” He shakes his head. “It’s fucking tough.”

I clasp his thin arms in my hands. “She’ll be okay. She has to be.”

Mrs. Fenway is like a mother to all of us. She used to bring us homemade lemonade when we were practicing in her garage. She’d drive us to every gig and tell us we did great, even when we still sucked. And every day before practice, she’d go over our homework with us because she knew our parents either didn’t care or were too busy with work.

I can’t even imagine what it would be like if she—I clear my throat. “Just let me know if there’s anything I can do.”

“You’re already doing plenty,” Finn says, smiling. “I like her, you know,” he adds quietly and I have no doubt who he’s talking about. “She seems nice.”

“I think she is. To everyone who isn’t me, that is.”

Finn rolls his eyes. “If you lay off the arrogant rockstar act for a bit, I’m sure she’d be much nicer.”

“True. But I like pissing her off,” I tell him, as we make our way to the backstage area.

Finn lets out an exasperated sigh. “You’re the worst.”

“That’s what Elli said.” The memory of her eyes sparkling angrily makes me smile.

Finn snorts. “I’m sure you deserved it.”

“I did,” I say, still smiling.

He gives me a quizzical look.

“What?”

He shakes his head. “Nothing. I was just thinking you should play Moonshine tonight.”

I furrow my brow. “Any particular reason?”

“I think Elli would like it.”

“I don’t care what Elli likes.”

Finn scoffs. “Liar. Just play the damn song, alright?”

“Fine. Only because you insist.”

Finn rolls his eyes. He doesn’t believe me. Neither do I.

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