Idol (VIP, #1)(56)

“True.” He glances at Killian, and the ice in his gaze melts a little. “You ready?”

Like me, Killian is carrying his guitar. He sets the case down and rolls his shoulders. “Thought we’d show Libby how we do things, and then try a few songs with her first.”

“Good plan,” Whip says. “Show the newbie the ropes.”

Jax’s expression is a parody of confusion. And he makes his opinion perfectly clear. “We said we’d hear Liberty play, and then decide—not that she was automatically in.”

A small shock ripples through me. At my side, Killian tenses. “No,” he says patiently. “We agreed she was playing.”

Whip frowns and glances from Jax to Killian and back again. “Man—”

“We always hold an audition,” Jax snaps. “For every opening act. Always.”

“She isn’t an opening act,” Killian shoots back through gritted teeth. “She’s playing with us.”

“All the more reason she should f*cking audition.”

Rye holds up a massive hand. “Come on, now, *s. I want to jam. Not listen—”

“Why are you afraid to let her do this?” Jax cuts in, not taking his eyes off Killian.

Killian’s cheeks darken, and I know explosion is imminent. I step between them. “It’s fine. I’m happy to try out.”

A growl of protest sounds in Killian’s throat, and I shoot him a look. “Seriously.”

“Protective, are we?” Jax asks him.

“What do you want?” I ask Jax before Killian loses it.

Jax finally meets my eyes. I expect anger or dislike, but see none of that. If anything, his expression is perfectly polite, as if I truly was just another act trying to secure a place in their tour. But then it fades, and a glimmer of something—not hate, but something dark and unhappy—glints in his eyes.

“I heard you’re a fan of grunge.” He gives me a lazy, tilted smile that really isn’t a smile at all. “Why don’t you sing us ‘Man in the Box’?”

The entire room seems to stutter to a halt. “Man in the Box” is a classic Alice in Chains song. Layne Staley owned that song with his intense, deep-throated growl, much the way Janis Joplin owned “Piece of My Heart” with her razor’s-edge voice. To try to sing it is to risk looking like a total idiot.

Something everyone in the room clearly understands.

Killian slams his fist against his thigh. “What the f*ck, Jax? Stop being such a dick and—”

“No,” I cut in. “It’s okay.” I grab my guitar. If Jax wants to haze me, I’m not going to back down. “I’m good.” I give Jax a level look. “Nice choice.”

His gaze slides away as he crosses his arms over his chest. “Just get on with it.”

“Dick,” Whip mutters under his breath.

My hands shake a little as I walk up to the mic. Killian looks like he wants to take a swing at Jax, but he keeps his attention on me, and when our eyes meet, he gives me a small nod. I almost smile at his support, but neither one of us wants to give Jax ammunition.

Rye makes a noise of annoyance and moves to my side, picking up his bass.

“No helping her,” Jax calls.

“Fuck you,” Rye says blandly. “It’s our band, J. Not yours. And I’m playing for Liberty.”

I give him a small smile then move in close. “Let me get through the first refrain,” I murmur. “I’ll stop. Then we both start up.”

Rye’s hazel eyes brighten. “You got some ideas, don’t you, sweets?”

“Yeah.” I’ll do the song my way, but I’m sure as shit not going to have Jax accuse me of punking out. Part of me wants to howl with laughter. It seems just yesterday, I was afraid to play in front of Killian. Now I’m going to sing in front of Kill John, and I’m not scared—much. I’m pissed.

Taking a cleansing breath, I start in on the opening lick. It isn’t easy, and I haven’t played this song. But I’ve heard it enough, and can feel my way through it. I don’t go hard and fast like the original, but softer, slower, playing the opening riff over and over until I have the proper rhythm and feel. When I sing, it isn’t with anger but with pain. I sing it my way, a lament.

I hear a noise of approval. I don’t look. I don’t look at anyone. My heart beats hard in my chest. I finish the first refrain of the song, then abruptly stop. Glancing at Rye, I nod, then my eyes meet Jax’s.

I give him a big smile. He blinks.

And then I hit it hard, fairly screaming into the mic. Do I sound like Layne Staley? Not even close. But that isn’t the point. The point is to act like I do. Fake it till you make it.

I see Killian begin to grin. Whip pops up and runs to his drums. He starts to play. Me, doing a song with Rye Peterson and Whip Dexter. Chills dance along my arms as I sing.

I close my eyes and lose myself to the music. My throat is raw, sweat running down my back.

Suddenly there’s another guitar, the sound so strong and perfect, my eyes snap open. I expect to see Killian by my side, but it’s Jax.

I stutter a lyric. And he gives me a look, a ghost of a smile twitching on his lips before it’s gone. He sings backup, adding to the sound, making it better.