Halo (Fallen Angel, #1)(7)

“Which is exactly why he’d be perfect for TBD.”

Killian had lost his mind. “Are you deaf? I just told you that—”

“I know exactly what you told me. I saw it too. But I’m not worried. He’s straight. Didn’t you hear the lyrics in the second song he wrote?”

Lyrics? I was too busy focusing on the way his mouth moved. Not what was coming out of it.

Killian grinned. “He was singing about his broken heart—about how she broke his heart. But good to know you didn’t notice. You think he’s sexy. And you think he’s sexy singing our songs. I haven’t seen you act that way since—”

My glare had Killian biting off his name, and then he scooted forward to the edge of his seat. “Chemistry, V. It’s all about chemistry on that stage. You know that better than anyone, and you need to have it with our frontman.”

“Chemistry? If I have any more chemistry with him, I just might explode all over him.”

Killian snorted. “Maybe keep that to yourself when we call him back in, yeah? Don’t want to scare off the newbie.”

“So we’re really going to do this? Invite a guy into the fold who looks as pure as a fucking angel?”

“Hey, people find the idea of corrupting someone just as hot as they do taming the bad boy. Women and men are gonna love it. His face and our words coming out his mouth. We can play with that. Plus, Halo’s voice is killer, and his guitar playing was off the chain. He didn’t fuck up once today, even though he had to be nervous. And I know that impressed you.”

Damn Killian. The asshole knew my weakness well, and the fact that Halo hadn’t messed up our music had been his one-way ticket to the next round. “I can’t decide if you’re hiring him as our frontman, or trying to convince me to sleep with him. Either way, I guess I’m in.”

“I’m going to pretend you don’t mean that in any way other than—in with the plan.”

I grinned at Killian, a wolf’s grin that made no promises. He was smart enough to know what he’d be inviting if he brought Halo back for more—but that wasn’t my problem. I’d been up front about my concerns, and if Killian was willing to risk it for some good old-fashioned chemistry, then who the fuck was I to stop it?





Six





Halo





I’D BEEN HOME less than two minutes when the pounding on my door started. After leaving the audition, I hadn’t wanted to go home, so I’d wandered to Central Park and commandeered a bench for hours, people-watching, freezing my ass off, and occasionally playing my guitar. Trying to keep my mind off the way the audition had ended.

The pounding started up again, and I sighed and kicked off my shoes before going to answer it. I knew who was on the other side, and the last thing I wanted to do was answer a million questions. Why had I decided to play the role of cocky bastard for that last one? It cost me my shot, and all I wanted to do now was crawl into bed and pretend today had never happened. Well, maybe just the ending. Meeting the band had been amazing, and maybe once my frustration at myself wore off, I’d be able to think back on it in a positive way.

“Halo!” Imogen yelled. “I know you’re in there. Open up!”

No doubt my sister had been looking through her peephole to see when I’d gotten in, which was how she’d made it up here so fast. Perks of living in the same building as your sibling—not.

I barely had the door open before Imogen said, “Finally. How’d it go? Tell me everything. Did they love—” But when she got a good look at my face, her smile dropped. “Oh no. What happened?”

Without a word, I left the door open and headed into the kitchen—or what passed for a kitchen in my tiny apartment, anyway. There was enough room for a small sink, two burners, and a mini fridge, which was fine considering I didn’t cook ever. I grabbed a beer out of the fridge, and as I popped the tab, Imogen’s green eyes widened.

“You’ve been gone for hours. And…you’re drinking? Oh, Halo…” She followed me to the couch, and when I collapsed onto the worn cushions, she took the seat beside me, not giving me an inch. “You’re killing me here. Did you lose your voice or something?”

I almost wished I had. Would’ve been easy to keep my mouth shut.

Flipping the tab back and forth until it broke off between my fingers, I kept my eyes on the cold can instead of having to see the disappointment that would fill Imogen’s eyes when I told her what happened. “I fucked up.”

“Impossible.”

“Nothing’s impossible, trust me.”

“You’re the best singer, performer, musician I know, and that’s totally not me being biased, so I think maybe you’re being too hard on yourself.”

“It wasn’t the audition that was the problem. I killed it.” I thought back to the look Viper had given me as he asked the final question, the one that had put the nail in my coffin. “Let’s just say sometimes I should think before I speak.”

“Oh, Halo, you didn’t.”

“Yuup.” I swallowed several gulps of beer and then lay back, resting my arm over my eyes.

“Hey, maybe it wasn’t that bad. What did you say?”

“They asked what I’d change about the band.”