Page 40 of Matthew

“Word is getting around how amazing you are. Let’s grab you a drink, Mattie. Bohut or kloq?” Kom said after they’d gone. He waved to a waiter.

“Bohut.”

“Make it a round.” Avir grinned, took Matt’s hand, and kissed it.

“Put it on my tab. We’ll have the same while you’re at it, server.”

They jerked in surprise at the woman’s voice. Matt blinked up at the tall, grinning human female who offered her hand to him. “Hi, Matt, right? Great performance.”

He gaped at her, his hand floating toward hers as if in a dream. It couldn’t be, but there was no mistaking the identity of the six-foot Amazon or the three Kalquorians at her back. He glanced at Kom for confirmation he wasn’t hallucinating.

The Nobek’s eyes were wide. “Irene Jonson. Mother of All, it is you, isn’t it?”

The legendary lead singer for Casual Innuendo laughed as she shook Matt’s hand. “Guilty as charged.”

Chapter Eleven

Matt gaped. Irene Jonson was shaking his hand. Her clanmates/bandmates were grinning at him.

Irene shook back her flood of waist-length mahogany hair. “Hi. I take it you’re the lucky clan of this talented guy? Nice to meet you. My clanmates, Dramok Sherv, Imdiko Jemi, Nobek Rusp.”

“As if I wouldn’t know. Matt and I are huge fans.” Kom exchanged bows with the band, as did Matt, Avir, and Masok.

“Please, sit.” Avir waved to the seat cushions Retel, Sanderson, and their clans had vacated.

“Thank you.” Irene sank easily to the seat across from Matt.

He was astonished to be face to face with the dark-eyed beauty, but it was impossible to not return her bright grin. “You’re playing three nights at the arena starting tomorrow.”

“They are? Matt, why didn’t you tell me? We could have gone.” Kom’s disappointment brought a stab of guilt.

“The shows are sold out.”

“We’ll get you backstage passes. Tomorrow? Two or four of you?” Sherv tapped his handheld.

Avir glanced at Matt and grinned. “Tomorrow is perfect for the four of us. I love your song, ‘Bin of Memories.’”

“Thanks. I love this guy’s singing and playing.” Irene’s attention hadn’t wavered from Matt for a second. “Two of those songs were yours, you said. Do you have more?”

“In different stages of completion.” Holy shit, he was talking to Irene Jonson about his music. Dramok Sherv was getting him backstage tickets. He was drinking with Casual Innuendo, who’d been among the pioneers of rimnastin music. He surreptitiously pinched his own leg to make sure he was awake.

“Why haven’t we heard of you? Which bands have you played in?” Jemi wanted to know.

“Nobody. I…I sang my first song in public just a few weeks ago.”

“He hasn’t been here long,” Masok supplied. “He hasn’t met any musicians beyond a few from open mic night.”

Casual Innuendo stared at Matt in openmouthed astonishment. Irene shook her head.

“You started only a few weeks ago. That’s unreal. Crazy. Listen, you’re better than this little club. You should be playing theaters at the very least, in front of a full band. I noticed the orchestral instruments in the backing tracks. It would sound insane live.” She halted the gush of words and glanced at Sherv. “Can you imagine it?”

“Oh yeah. We’ll introduce him to Parlek at the show. Make sure you bring your demos, Matt.”

“Give him Parlek’s contact info in case he’s busy.” Irene chuckled. “Our manager is one step from a straitjacket during a tour. We may not be able to pin him down until we go on break in three weeks, but we’ll at least mention you to him so he’ll expect your com.”

“I doubt he’d be interested in my stuff. I don’t play rimnastin, but thanks.”

“He’s interested in whatever will make him wads of money. He’ll sign you in an instant.” Nobek Rusp laughed and signaled for another drink.

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