Page 34 of Sweet Oblivion

“Ay, this is Quantum’s drummer, Beanie. Beanie, this is Aya.”

“Welcome, Aya,” Beanie said. His eyes remained cool, assessing, as they slid over my body. He turned back to Nash. “Your girlfriend?”

“Thanks,” I said before Nash could respond. No need to tell the world he didn’t find me attractive enough to date. “I’ve never been to a concert before,” I added, feeling heat rush to my cheeks.

“Kinda hard when you’ve spent most of the past couple of years scaling the Himalayas,” Nash said, turning toward me.

“The Himalayas, huh?” Beanie asked, eyebrows raised. He considered me for a long moment. “Sounds daring.”

A small group of other people soon surrounded us, including Brad Porter, Nash’s dad. He had a beer in his hand and a glint of anger in his eye.

“My mother runs a nonprofit, and we spent time there, helping the local tribes build wells and improve their medical care,” I said.

“A veritable Mother Teresa,” Beanie noted.

I licked my lips, the excitement I’d felt moments before fizzling. I blinked back tears. The very world seemed to weigh on my shoulders. Nash eased closer to me, his body angled forward as if ready to spring into action against any threat. “That’s no way to talk to my friend.”

I reached out, my fingers wrapping around his wrist, tugging him backward.

Steve stepped forward, his eyes narrowed at Beanie. “I’d say she’s more like Susan LaFlesche Picotte—” He dropped his gaze, taking in my hand wrapped around Nash’s wrist before his eyes flashed up to mine with a soft smile. “The first female Native American doctor,” he added. “Why don’t we get you kids a drink? Excuse us, Beanie, Brad.”

Beanie shuffled out of the way, seeming to realize his misstep as Nash continued to glare at him. My excitement faded as Steve cast another look at Nash and me, his gaze troubled. Had I ruined Nash’s time here with his father?

Would the rest of the band find me as nerdy and weird as this Beanie fellow?

Nash seemed so at home in this room, with these people. But I wasn’t comfortable, and I realized I’d been right to worry. I would never be comfortable with these people—in this room.

What had I gotten myself into?

It was just a week. I could do anything for a week… Then I’d be in Boston, with like-minded teens preparing for the next phase of their life.

And Nash… He fit here. This was his world.

But it would never be mine.

12

Nash

I didn’t like Aya’s silence or her attempts to fade into the background. So I came out swinging, like I always did in these situations.

I stormed up to Beanie. “Why did you upset Aya?”

Beanie sneered. “Why do you even care? She’s just some chick. I hope you’re banging that at least.”

“She’s my friend,” I stressed. “I invited her…”

Beanie narrowed his eyes. “And this is my band. If you’re going to continue to be a little shit, I’ll be sure you get sent home.”

I clenched my fists but kept my mouth shut. No way my dad would let Beanie talk to me like that. After their show, I’d tell him. He’d deal with Beanie.

He’d better.

Steve settled into the space nearby, waiting for me to calm down.

“What?” I snapped at him.

“Maybe Aya doesn’t belong here,” Steve said. “Maybe this simply won’t be her scene.”

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