Risky Rockstar: A Hero Club Novel, стр. 24

fall apart over the loss, and it was like it was happening all over again. He tore up the shutters in his room from the agony he was experiencing, worse now than when it happened in the first place. It ripped me apart. I took my frustrations out using a hammer on an old hunk of metal in the shed at the back of the property the facility is built on. Maddie was waiting for Keller at the studio when I’d arrived back and had immediately known something was up. She’d brought me a beer on the rooftop, some bandages for my messed-up hands, and badgered me until I told her what was bugging me. I told her everything about what happened with Emily, and what happened at the home with Pops.

The guys all know about Emily’s attempted suicide, but they keep a tight lid on it. It made my chest swell to know I could trust my bandmates and friends with my privacy. But I figured Keller would’ve told Maddie, and I didn’t mind if he had—she’s family now. When I spilled my guts to her, she was there for me when I needed an ear, so I don’t mind her using this tidbit to earn her what she’s after. No matter how much I don’t want to think about exactly what she’s after. Keller reaches behind him and grabs her wrist, pulling her none too gently onto his lap.

A peal of laughter rips from her throat. “Alright, baby, no need to get in a mood. Your hands are plenty rough for me, and you know how much I love your fin—”

“Hey, whoa, alright, alright,” I quickly interject before Maddie says what we all know she’s going to say. What we’ve all heard more times than we need to.

Maddie laughs, and Keller nips her ear with his teeth. Fuck. These two and their PDAs. I might be jealous. It’s been so long since I had someone to be completely myself with that I’m envious of Maddie and Keller’s relationship at times. I move away from my less than cheerful thoughts.

“Alright,” Jeff begins. “What do we think of Hayley’s proposal?”

I lean back on my chair, the front legs lifting, so I can reach the minibar and retrieve a bottle of water. “Anyone else want one?”

I’m met with shaking heads, so I close the fridge. “I think it’ll be fun working with Hayley. She’s unpretentious, and I like her sound. If we’re going to get into bed with anyone, I think it should be her.”

“I bet you fucking do,” Josh chirps in.

I stare at him pointedly. “That’s not what I meant.”

Maddie claps her hands. “You guys have to do it; you’ll be working with someone famous.”

“We’re fucking famous.” Josh crosses his arms and looks like a petulant child.

She waves her hand. “Oh, you know what I mean. I mean really famous. This is Hayley Stephens we’re talking about. Hay…ley…Stephens. Her music is incredible. I nearly peed myself when I was talking to her…” She stops and places her hands on Keller’s cheeks. “Not that I don’t love your music…it’s just…”

Keller chuckles and pulls Maddie closer. “Replacing me that easily, are you?”

Maddie winks. “Well…she is gorgeous.”

Keller booms out a laugh.

“Can we get back to the business at hand?” Jeff interjects. “So, we’ve got Maddie’s vote. Can we get other votes from the actual band members? No offense, Mads.”

Maddie waves her hand again. “Oh, none taken.”

I trace the cap of the bottle with my index finger. “I think this will be good for us. Hayley is fresh, she’s fun, and just what we need to get us out from under Benji.”

“If the label goes for it.” Josh points his finger at no one in particular.

“I don’t see why they won’t. Hayley has been steadily climbing the charts for months now. Everything she puts out becomes a hit,” I state.

“Yeah, but we’re not about the hits. We’re about the music.” Keller’s eyes meet mine.

“And that’s all Hayley’s about too. Just listening to her, I can tell she isn’t selling out. She’s laying her heart on her sleeve, and her songs are real.”

“You sure this isn’t about getting your dick wet, Kade?”

I point my water at Josh. “I’m not even answering that.”

Keller leans forward, shifting Maddie so she doesn’t fall off his lap. “Kade, her sound is really different to ours. Do you think this is a good idea?”

I throw the flash drive I’ve been holding onto the table. “Here, we should listen to this before we make any decisions.”

Jeff reaches for it and pulls his laptop closer, plugging it into the port. “It is different, but different might not be a bad thing.” He opens his app and clicks on the recording Hayley gave us. Her voice rings out through the laptop speakers. “Hey, guys, I’m so glad you’re going to give this a chance.” We can hear her blowing out a breath. “Gosh, I don’t think I’ve been this nervous in a while. Anyway, the song is called ‘Persevere.’ I hope you like it.”

She starts singing, and this is edgier than anything I’ve heard from her, but it still has her signature sound to it. Josh stands up, walks across the room to pick up his guitar, and starts strumming a melody. I ride back on my chair, giving it a few seconds for me to feel the music, and then hum along softly, my voice harmonizing with Hayley’s. I have to admit, it sounds fucking incredible. Our voices just…fit. And suddenly, I’m excited about this. I haven’t been this excited in years.

Keller absentmindedly taps out the beat with his thumb on the table, and Maddie squeals, “See what I mean? You are going to make magic together.”

I feel the guys’ resolve break and find myself holding my breath. I want this.

Josh walks back to the table, dumping his guitar on the couch before taking a seat. “What do you say?”

I hold my breath.

“Didn’t she say one song? What have we got to