Page 40 of Rocked: The Price of Dreams

After we’d greeted all the fans, the high from meeting them and the hype from the show still spiraled through my system at lightning speed. There was no way I was coming down off this cloud in a hurry. I’d been asked out. The crowd had rocked. Hunter and Kyle’d had girls ogle them. They’d both reveled in the attention. So had I.

As we loaded our amps into the van, a goofy grin still beamed across Hunter’s face.

I nudged his arm. “I told you girls would dig the long hair. They’ll notice that, then your eyes, then the rest of you.” His wavy strands almost reached his collar. Super sexy.

He leaned against the van. “If I’d known that, I would’ve grown it out years ago.”

“I know what you mean. I would’ve bought a flat iron sooner.”

“Yeah.” He tugged on a strand of my hair. “It’s really sexy straightened.”

“Thanks.” I play-punched his arm.

He ruffled the top of my head. “That hockey dude with the messy brown hair was into you.”

Smiling, I lowered my chin and tucked my hair behind my ear. I still couldn’t believe that had happened. “Yeah, he was.” Heading back to the stage to grab our guitars, I stuffed my hands into my pockets. The piece of paper brushed against my fingertips. “Um...his name was Ewan. He’s the captain, and he invited us to his party tonight.”

“Holy shit.” Hunter skipped up the steps. His energy could have hit the lights rigged above the stage. “We have to go. There’ll be college girls. And guys. We could have a few beers. It would be so wicked.”

“Go where?” Kyle clipped his bass into its case.

“We’ve been invited to a college party.” Hunter collapsed the mic stands and packed them into their equipment case. “We have to go. We may never get the chance to go to another one. We’re not even applying to go to school after we graduate.” He turned to Claire who was helping us bump out. “Can we? For a few hours? Please?”

She stopped rolling up a power cord, glanced at Derek, then looked back at Kyle. Her gaze softened as she smiled. “I’m okay with it. How’s home by two?”

“Easy.” Kyle nodded.

“Alright, then. Go. Have some fun.” She held up a finger in warning. “You’re underage, so be careful. Look after each other.”

She was so super cool.

“Always. Love you.” Kyle hugged his mom.

“Do you need some money for the taxi home?” she asked.

“No.” Kyle chuckled. “We just earned a few grand. We can afford anything.”

She laughed and touched his cheek. “God, I love you.”

After I packed away my guitar and placed it at the top of the steps to take to the van, Derek drew me aside. “Are you sure you want to go to that party? Or would you like to come home with me?”

“Um. No.” I wiped my hands on my pants. “I want to go. I can take care of myself, and these guys will look after me.”

“Yes, but I know what college guys are like.” Concern lilted his tone. “You’re not on the pill, are you? Do you have condoms? Do you need me to get you some?”

“What?” Oh, shit! The blood drained from my face. It was that talk. “No. I’m good. I’ve got that covered.” Shit! I’d have to ask Kyle for one. Just in case.

“There’s one more thing.” He lowered his chin. “I know it’s not the right time to bring this up. I was going to tell you once we got home but if you stay out with the guys, I need to tell you now.” Sadness hooded his eyes. “I’m moving out, Gem. Tomorrow. Your mother slapped me with divorce papers yesterday. Says she’s met someone new.”

Nolan must have finally proposed.

My stomach hit the ground. I hated seeing him hurting. “You know that’s where she is, right? Away with him again.”

Derek nodded slowly. “Yes. She certainly isn’t on another girls’ weekend. I ran into one of her friends this morning at the store. I can’t blame Janine. I travel too much and spend too much time away.”

I picked up a cord and rolled it up. “It wouldn’t matter if you were here. She’d still fuck around.”

Staring at the floor, he winced.

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