Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 138287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
A woman with striking gray eyes smiled at me. Her hair was short, almost buzzed, and the color was light lavender. “Hi, I’m Pearl.”
The last woman had black roots that blended into a darker shade of purple. Eggplant, I’d call it. She took my hand, shaking it with a grin. “Hey, how you doing? I’m Ettie.”
They seemed nice. “And you’re The Vixens.”
Beth nodded, waving her arms out to the women surrounding her. “And we’re The Vixens.”
“I’m rather new to the rock scene,” I admitted grudgingly. “But I love your sound. The crowd was lapping it up.”
When a crewmember came to speak to them, I was thoroughly dismissed, and when I went to turn back to the stage, a gruff-looking Cherry spoke up. “Hey.” I turned and she jerked her chin. “We’ll see you around, yeah?”
“Yeah.” Surprise shook me, but only momentarily. “Yes, definitely.”
I waved as they left and, for a single moment, all I could think about was what the people in high school would think of me now, hanging out with rock stars and doing shots with the most sought-after heavy metal band in the world.
I snorted, shaking my head. “They’d never believe it.”
Heck, I could barely believe it and I was living it.
From strict routine to unpredictable in less than a heartbeat. Who knew what tomorrow would bring?
Chapter Eight
Cum on Feel the Noize.
Emmy
Time on the bus was strange. Some days, it went by quickly and other days, it felt like we’d never reach our destination. Today, I lay on the floor in front of the TV playing the 3DS Lee gifted me. Connor on the sofa sat behind me, strumming on his guitar, while Noah sat at the booth, working on his laptop.
Hell was in the kitchenette, making himself a sandwich, and when I noticed, I frowned. “I could’ve done that for you, Hell.”
He paused mid-chew and when he responded, it came out garbled. “ ‘S okay.”
My frown deepened and I said a mildly affronted, “My job is to assist. You’re not letting me do that.”
His brows rose at my testy tone. “Sorry.”
I turned back to my game. “Next time, let me make the darn sandwich.”
Connor piped in. “You can make me a sandwich, Emmy.”
“No.” I kept playing my game.
I heard the amusement in his tone when he asked in mock surprise. “Why not?”
Ha. He thought I was stupid. “You just want me to get into the kitchen so you can tell me that’s exactly where a woman belongs.” I lifted my head and shot him a wide smile. “Not falling for that a second time.”
Noah laughed, looking back at us. “Once bitten…”
Twice shy.
You know it.
A light silence followed then Connor began to play a song on his acoustic guitar. The tune was lovely, almost hypnotic, and I looked up at him while he played. His deft fingers moved over the strings, plucking then strumming, and I couldn’t help but give him my full attention.
And he loved the audience.
He started to sing, and my entire body broke out in goosebumps.
He was good.
When at long last the song ended, I clapped lightly and asked, “Did you write that?”
Connor laughed, and he laughed for a long time before he saw the seriousness in my manner. He searched my face a while before he frowned. “‘House of the Rising Sun’?” At my light shrug, he uttered, “No. Funnily enough, no one really knows who sang it first but Eric Burdon’s version is fire. It’s a classic.”
“Oh.” How was I supposed to know that? “Thanks for sharing it with me. I liked it.” I rolled back onto my stomach, playing the game, humming the song I’d just heard.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Connor get up and head to his cubby. He was gone a long time but when he returned, he joined me on the floor, lying beside me. “Here,” was all he said when he handed me the shiny, black rectangular MP3 player. There were a pair of earphones wrapped around it and, wearing a confused expression, I took it from him. When I unraveled it, he took one earphone and put it into his ear then waited for me to do the same. I did, and he scrolled through the playlists until he landed on “House of The Rising Sun” by The Animals. Before he hit play, he muttered, “Educate yourself, baby.”
The song started to play and with a small smile, I closed my eyes, taking it all in.
When I opened them again, Connor was lying on his side, watching me openly with a smile as I hummed along to the song. The song ended and Connor plucked the earphone from my ear. “Well?”
My head tilted as I thought about it. “I liked yours better.”
“Emmy.” He chuckled in disbelief. “You can’t beat a classic.” Then, suddenly, he stopped laughing and pursed his full lips. “Although, flattery will get you everywhere.”