Page 11 of Heart of a Rebel

“Isn’t that right, Adrian?” Myth knocks me on the arm, grabbing my attention.

I’m not sure what the fuck he’s talking about, which isn’t unusual. Between him and Sebastian, they’re always doing a lot of talking, and I can’t help but tune them out after a while.

I nod to pacify whatever the fuck was said, and it seems to do the trick. Myth raises an eyebrow like I’ve just confirmed something important, and the girls standing in front of the couch widen their eyes, impressed.

“Exactly.” Myth’s face splits in a wide grin. “In three weeks, Enemy Muse is going to go from small-town rookies to worldwide legends. I’m calling it.”

The showcase is coming up quickly, which is why the band has been spending every spare minute in my den. They’re getting better by the day, and there’s no doubt in my mind that Myth is right. They’re going to be discovered. It’s simply a matter of time.

“It’s going to be epic,” Sebastian says, tipping his head back on the couch with a grin.

“The shows, the parties.” Myth nudges him.

I shake my head. “A regular wasteland of debauchery.”

Sebastian shoots upright, he and Myth both looking at me. “Holy shit, Adrian. That’s perfect.”

I quirk an eyebrow.

“Wasteland of debauchery.” He waves his hands out in front of him like he’s reading it on a marquee. “That’s the name of the fucking album.”

“You’re kidding?” I shake my head, but he just reaches over and slaps my knee.

“It’s perfect, right?” Sebastian looks at Myth, then to the chicks standing there fawning over him, and they all smile and nod their heads. “Eloise!”

She looks over her shoulder, her eyes landing on Sebastian, before briefly skipping over to me. Sebastian waves her over and she looks a little annoyed by it, but she heads in our direction anyway.

“You need to hear this,” Sebastian says when she stops next to the group of girls. “Adrian came up with the name of the album.”

Her gaze darts in my direction.

“Not exactly.” I shake my head.

“Whatever, man, you said it.” Sebastian sits up tall and smiles wide. “Wasteland of Debauchery. What do you think?”

Eloise’s eyebrows pinch as she works it over. She might be looking at her brother, but her focus is inward, and I imagine the gears spinning in her head as she thinks about the title. Regardless of if I meant to say it or not, I’m genuinely curious about what she thinks.

Finally, her eyes narrow, and they fall on me. “I like it.”

Sebastian slaps me on the leg again and looks pleased with himself. “Told you, man, it’s perfect.”

“Whatever you say,” I shrug, brushing it off. “I’m gonna grab a drink.”

I stand up, but Sebastian jumps up with me, stopping right in front of me before I can walk away. He plants his hands on my shoulders and forces me to face him. “Adrian, man, you should join us.”

“I already told you I’d be there.”

“Not the showcase.” He shakes his head. “On the road.”

“I’ll leave the music to you guys.” I rest my hand on his shoulder and chuckle.

Sebastian looks me dead in the eyes with a straight face this time. “I’m not talking about the music; we’ve got that covered. What I’m saying is we’re gonna need people we can trust once we hit it big. People like you. We all know how that world is.”

I really don’t, but I can guess. If the way the guys party now is any indication, I can only imagine what happens when you throw money and fame at the problem. It’s a world I have no interest in being in.

“Think about it, Adrian.” Sebastian drops his hands to his sides. “Myth is coming with us. You should too.”

“Damn right.” Myth tips his chin up at me.

---