Page 22 of Wicked Truths

“Thanks.” Oakley finally shrugs out of my grip as she takes a step away. “I think I get what you mean.”

“I bet it’s hard with those tiny hands of yours,” I muse, swiping a hand through the long hair on the top of my head.

“Don’t even.” Oakley points a short finger at Marcus.

“I didn’t say a word.” He chuckles, raising his palms in her direction.

Oh yeah, those two are definitely bumping uglies. He never smiles unless it’s in Oakley’s direction. The poor fucker is totally gone for her.

I laugh, sauntering over to pick up my Fender.

I wonder how Sullivan feels about that. The drummer absolutely has it bad for her too. Not that I don’t see the appeal, but touring means a smorgasbord of willing bodies always at the ready.

The memory that my friends are dead cuts through that thought with frightening clarity.

I frown at the ground.

If I wasn’t such a manwhore, they might still be alive.

Nah,fuckthat.

I’m not going back there to those bullshit thoughts. They had better options. They could’ve waited or called a fucking cab.

“This isn’t bad,” Marcus says. His eyes meet mine and he gives me a nod. “Let’s give it a shot.”

“Should we get Sullivan?” Oakley asks.

“Already here.” He’s leaning against the open doorway, glancing between the three of us. “Next time there’s a band meeting, don’t leave me out.” He’s good and pissed off. This entire touring thing is a pressure cooker waiting to explode.

I feel like a cartoon villain when I realize I’m actually rubbing my hands together.

Fuck yeah, bring on the chaos.

It’s so much easier to focus on other people’s pain than it is to remember my own.

ChapterSeven

Oakley

The morning after our late-night jam session, we’ve got an appointment with Jamen at Ruined Records.

Lyric Sinclair, Marcus’s half sister, is basically a musical genius. And, apparently, she’s how we ended up with Liam.

She and her husband Ryder saw Liam perform in London last year when he was still with Try Hard Hero.

I’ve never heard of them, but I’m guessing they hadn’t made it big.

Somehow, she got the idea to hook us up.

I don’t know all the specifics.

I’m just happy we lucked out. He can play multiple instruments, and that comes in handy if we want to switch out on different songs.

We’re currently in one of the music rooms at Ruined listening to Ryder and Lyric belt out an original duet they created. It makes me feel highly inadequate when I listen to her sing. It’s even wilder that she wants nothing to do with being a star.

The song comes to an end, and I’m not the only one staring with my mouth hanging open.

“I still do not understand why the two of you didn’t record your own shit,” Marcus says, shaking his head.

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