More Than Music (Chasing The Dream, #1)(4)

“I have not been undressing him!” The words came out way too loud, and the people next to us glanced over. Even Carla looked up at me with raised eyebrows, like she didn’t believe my protest. I flushed and lowered my voice. “It doesn’t matter. He’s a total player, and besides he’d never go for someone like me anyway.”



“Why not?” Carla asked. “You’re beautiful and smart, and you play guitar, too. That already puts you ahead of these other girls.”



“I don’t really play guitar. I mean, I do, but only for you two…”



“Hey, you don’t have to marry the guy,” Julie added. “Just go talk to him. Have some fun.”



“Or ask Kyle to set you up,” Carla said.



“No. Definitely not.” There was no way I’d ask Kyle to hook me up with his older brother. Ick.



“Fine, but you have to do something about this,” Julie said. “You’re practically obsessed with the guy.”



Carla gave me a sympathetic smile. “You do listen to his music a lot…”

I hated when they ganged up on me like this. “Hang on, just because I think he’s talented—”

“And hot,” Julie butted in.



“And because I like his band’s music doesn’t mean I’m ‘obsessed’ with him.”



Julie rolled her eyes. “Fine, then let’s find you another guy to get your mind off him. How long has it been since you got laid?”

I rubbed a hand across my face, more than ready to go home now. “I don’t know.”

“When did you break up with Chad? Six months ago?”



“Something like that,” I muttered, hoping she’d drop it already. Chad was a communications major who said “dude” too much and spent most of his time at the beach. He’d been easy on the eyes and pretty good in bed, but he didn’t get me at all. The final straw had been when he’d bailed on one of my big recitals to go drinking with some friends. Music was my life, and if he couldn’t understand that, then there was no point dating him anymore.



Julie opened her mouth to push me again, but I held up a hand. “Fine, I’ll talk to Kyle, okay?”

“Yes! Go forth and conquer!” She raised her beer to me while Carla patted my arm and wished me luck before going back to her phone.



I returned to the living room and found Kyle in the crowd, dancing close with Alexis. “You made it!” Kyle said when he saw me. “Want to check out the studio now?”

“Sure.” I’d promised Julie I’d talk to Kyle, but I hadn’t actually agreed to bring up Jared, after all. “Or I can find it myself. Just tell me where to go. I don’t want to interrupt.”



“Nah, I’ll take you. I locked it so no one can steal our gear.” He paused to smile at his girlfriend. “You coming?”



Alexis kissed Kyle on the cheek. “No, you two go ahead.”

“You sure?” He pulled her in by her waist and gave her a ridiculously long kiss while I stared pointedly at the floor.



“Go,” she said, laughing and shoving him away. “Get your music geek on.”



Kyle started to lead me through the crowd, but a bottle smashed near us, loud even with the music blasting. In the corner, beer and green fragments of glass dripped down the wall above Jared while Becca glared at him from a few feet away. Conversation died as everyone turned to watch the scene.

“Another girl, Jared?” she yelled, her words slurred. “How many tonight?” She reached for another bottle to throw, but Hector appeared at her side and yanked her back.



“What the f*ck, Becca?” Hector asked. Jared slowly wiped beer off his face like he couldn’t believe she’d just done that.



“Don’t touch me!” She flailed her arms to fight him off. Hector immediately released her, but she stumbled into someone behind her. “Stay away from me!”



“Shit, not this again,” Kyle muttered. “Here—the studio’s at the end of that hallway.” He handed me a key and then darted over to grab Becca’s arm and help steady her. “Hey, let’s get you sobered up.”



“I’m fine,” she muttered. Her eyes closed as she swayed next to him.



Jared stepped forward, fists clenched at his side. “Becca, this has to stop.”

Kyle shot his brother a sharp look. “Let me handle this.”

“Then handle it! We can’t have her on The Sound like this. Either she gets her shit together, or she’s out of the band.”



Becca’s eyes snapped open, and she jerked away. “I’m done anyway! Done with you, done with your band, done with all this shit!”

She stormed out the front door, and Kyle raced after her. Jared started to follow, but Hector held him back and they started arguing in low voices. Kyle had been right about Becca being a mess, and I knew they’d been through a few other bassists before, too. Hopefully he could get her straightened out before their audition.