Page 77 of Filthy Rock Stars

Mare leans forward. “We’ve been talking about Shadow,” she says. “We trust you, Nico, but—”

“You can’t trust him,” I blurt out, my emotions boiling over, the fear that I’m going to have to choose between my man and the band so totally overwhelming, I can’t hold myself together. “He’s in Forbidden Destiny, so how could you?”

“Maybe we could,” Mare says.

“But we’d have to talk to him,” Star adds.

Case offers an encouraging smile. “Would he be up for that?”

“Oh.” I lean back in the booth. This solution is so entirely reasonable, I’m surprised I didn’t suggest it myself. “I’m not sure. I can ask him?”

“It’s not uncomplicated,” Star says. Her brow is furrowed. I get the impression she’s more protective than the rest of the band. “Elle wouldn’t even talk to Mare.”

“We’re releasing a statement,” Mare says. “And I did an interview withRolling Stone. I tried to avoid attacking Elle, but I did defend us.”

“Talk about it once,” Star agrees with a nod, reiterating their strategy. “Make your points, then move on.”

“I hope that’s how it goes,” Mare says with a tired smile. “But it will make things awkward with Shadow. And I can’t imagine this obnoxious rivalry will go away that easily.”

“I’ll talk to him,” I say quickly. “And I think he’ll be open to meeting!” My stomach twists. Wow, does that make me tense. “Just let me know what I can do to prepare. And thank you again for even considering this.”

“Hell, you’re joining the band, right?” Case says, leaning back in his chair.

“We’ll wait and formally announce that in a few weeks,” Mare adds. “That will give us time to talk with Shadow, too.”

“And review the contract,” Case says. “We tried to look out for you. There’s no exclusivity agreement, and we even added an extra clause clarifying that you maintain all rights to your space opera, just so there’s no confusion.”

“Right. Thank you!” This is the kind of thing Fox was teaching me about, and I know from Shadow’s experience that it matters.

“We’re hitting the busy part of summer,” Star tells me. “We’ll travel and play gigs, but we’ll still spend a lot of time at the studio.”

“Sounds great,” I say, and it does. Since the climate rally, I’ve been craving the energy of a live show again.

Although I’m remembering that Shadow has a lot of gigs coming up, too, and it crosses my mind that navigating the schedules of two rock stars might be complicated.

I shake my head. I’m getting ahead of myself. Right now, things are moving forward with the band and with Shadow, and that’s all that really matters.

I just hope he’s having some luck with his band, too.

* * *

SHADOW

Cutter and I are chilling at our end of the loft, drinking beers around the ping-pong table. He’s winning, but it’s only because I’m a few beers in.

Maybe that explains my loose lips. Or maybe the realization that I’m in love with Nico has made me crazy. But against my better judgment, I walk around the table, clink my beer bottle with his, and lower my voice.

“You ever think about leaving the band?”

Cutter puffs air out his nose. “Hell no. You out of your damn mind? With the contract we just signed, that would be a pretty fucking bad idea, Shadow.”

I wince. Even Cutter pays more attention to the legal stuff than I do. Fuck.

“Right. But this rivalry? Adrian and Elle have both been on a rampage since Mare gave thatRolling Stoneinterview. I think Elle knows she looks bad, and now the only thing she can do is double down. And Adrian’s just a bully, honestly.” I shake my head. “Hell, you don’t like the new music any more than I do. Are you really going to stick around for the rest of your life?”

I’m arguing with him and myself at the same time. I don’t even know what I want from Cutter. He’s a career musician, and I can’t expect him to take a stand that I’m not taking myself.

He shrugs. “I guess so. I hadn’t thought much about it. Sounds like you have, though.”

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