Author: Olivia Cunning

“Didn’t you get mad?”

“Nah. I should have known better. The last time I got that drunk with Eric, he drew flowers all over my back with black magic marker.”

“Yeah, but that washed off.”

“After a week.”

“Great friend you have there.”

Jace lowered his eyes. “Yeah.”

She saw something in him at that moment that she’d never seen before. Vulnerability. Could she get him to open up? She knew if she pushed him too hard, he’d completely shut himself off.

“So what’s the story with the Eric guy?” she asked.

He didn’t speak for a long moment. “He’s the reason I became a bassist.”

“What, is he like an old guy or something?”

Jace shook his head. “Not even five years older than me.”

“And he had that much influence over you?”

“I saw a Sinners show when they were just starting out. I was fourteen and in a bar with a fake ID.”

“How did you pass for twenty-one when you were fourteen? You’re so cute, you scarcely look twenty-one now.”

His scowl told her she’d said the wrong thing. She could practically see his wall of defense rise.

“Are we gonna fuck or what?” he said.

She wasn’t going to let him change the subject that easily. “So you saw Sinners when you were fourteen. Then what? How did that make you a bassist?”

More silence. She waited.

He took a deep breath. “They were amazing even then. Brian and Trey have always been completely in tune with each other—two halves of a whole. Sed’s voice is unbelievable, and Eric is the best drummer on the planet. I just stood there. Stunned. I couldn’t move. All I could do was listen. I could scarcely breathe. The four of them were so incredibly talented. And then there was their weak link. Jon Mallory.”

“Let me guess. Their bassist?”

“The band deserved better. He’s totally average. Not horrible. Just not as good as the rest of them, and I think he was high or something. He wasn’t into the music. He was into himself.”

“So you decided to become their bassist.”

“No. I didn’t know how to play bass. I’ve always loved music and had some talent, but it never occurred to me to make a life of it. At the end of the show, Eric tossed his drumsticks into the crowd, and I caught one. I didn’t even reach for it. It sort of connected with my hand. It was a wake-up call for me. I’d spent the previous four years getting into trouble, but right then, I knew what I wanted to do with the rest of my life—what I had to do. It was fate. I had to become part of Sinners.”

This was the most Jace had ever spoken to her at once. Aggie was careful not to say something that might encourage his silence again. “So how long did it take you to become their bassist?”

“Six years. And if it wasn’t for Trey’s brother, I’d probably be playing with another band now.”

“Trey was the guitarist who was hurt, right?”

“Yeah, his brother, Dare, is the lead guitarist for Exodus End.”

Exodus End? They were huge worldwide. And Sinners were pretty big too and growing. “Wow. It just occurred to me that you’re famous.”

He chuckled. “Not really. Brian? Maybe. Sed? Definitely. But I’m just the bassist.”

“I want to see you in concert.”

“You do?”

She nodded. “Yeah, just thinking about it is making me hot.”

“We’re supposed to have a show in San Francisco this Saturday. I could get you tickets if you want to go, assuming Sed can sing by then. Knowing Sed, he’ll find a way.”

“Really? I’d love to go. Count me in.”

“I’ll make the arrangements then.”

His eyes lowered to her mouth, and he ran his tongue over his top lip before gnawing on it. She could only imagine what he was thinking. Hopefully, something sexy. She decided they could talk later.

“Let’s go to my bedroom. No telling when my mom will show up, and you’re sort of naked.”

He glanced down at his body. “Ah, I hadn’t noticed.”

“Well, I have, and you look fucking hot. I can’t be expected to keep my hands off you.”

“Even with the smiling flower tattoo?”

She laughed. “Especially with the tattoo. You explained why it’s special.”

“Special?” He laughed. “Yeah, it makes me feel real special.”

The front door opened. Jace’s eyes opened wide.

“Shit, that’s my mom. Put your pants on.”

Aggie grabbed his pants, tossed them at him, and then scrambled to her feet. She smoothed her hair and plastered an innocent smile on her face. Her mom tossed her purse on the counter.

“Any luck?” Aggie asked.

Mom sighed. “No. It’s impossible for a woman over thirty to find a job in this town.”

She lit a cigarette and pointed its glowing red tip at the single rose in the tumbler of water on the counter. “What’s with the crumpled up, half-dead rose?”

Aggie scowled. “My boyfriend gave it to me.”

Said boyfriend climbed to his feet to stand beside her. He had managed to get his pants on, but was still shirtless.

He took a deep breath and extended a hand toward Aggie’s mother. “I’m Jace.”

Mom shook his hand briefly. “Tabitha,” she supplied her name and then glanced at Aggie. “Since when do you have a boyfriend?”

“Since about ten minutes ago.”

Mom lifted an eyebrow at Jace. “You move fast, Maynard.” She nodded toward the floor at his feet. “And you seem to have dropped your condoms. All twelve.”

Jace’s eyes widened, and he bent to scoop up the strip of condoms. He shoved them into his pocket. He retrieved his T-shirt and tugged it on over his head. “I’ve got to go.”

“Don’t go,” Aggie said, her heart sinking with disappointment. “You just got here.”

“I-I’ve got stuff to do. I should probably check on Sed. Make sure he’s okay. He just got out of the hospital.”

Funny how he always showed up when one of his friends was injured. Aggie made a note to ask about it when her mother wasn’t staring at him with brutal scrutiny.

“Don’t mind me, Maynard,” Mom said, taking a deep drag off her cigarette. “By all means, continue to boink my daughter on the kitchen floor.”

“Mother!”

“What?” Mom shrugged and took another drag, smoke curling toward the ceiling slowly.

“Why do you always do this to me? I really like him.”

“So boink him then. This is your house. I don’t care what you do. Could I get something to eat before you continue? Your boinking is blocking the fridge.”

Jace picked up his socks and boots and headed for the front door. Aggie scowled at her mother and then went after him.

“You’re not even going to say good-bye?” It had been a long time since a guy had hurt her feelings, but unshed tears burned her eyes and made her forehead ache. She rubbed her brow in annoyance.

He turned toward her, his eyes downcast. She’d finally gotten him to open up with her a little, and her stupid mother had to show up and ruin everything.

He nodded toward the dining room. “I forgot my jacket.”

“If you don’t want to stay here, we can go somewhere. And we don’t have to do anything sexual if you don’t want to. I’m sure my mother creeped you out and put your sex drive in park.”

“More like reverse.”

“That’s okay. I just want to spend some time with you.”

His eyes rose to meet hers. “You do?”

“Yeah. We can talk.”

“I don’t talk much.”

He just had, but she wouldn’t push him away by pointing that out. “Then I’ll talk. You listen.”

“I’m good at listening.”

She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him. “That’s not the only thing you’re good at.”

Aggie slid her fingers into the hair at his nape and drew him closer for a plundering kiss. Slowly, he relaxed into her. She could feel his heart thudding in his chest against her breasts as their mouths melded.

“Agatha, where’s the Tabasco sauce?” Mom called from the kitchen.

Jace stiffened and pulled away.

“I’m going to change clothes. You can wait for me outside if it makes you feel more comfortable.”

He nodded appreciatively. “Bring my jacket out with you, please.” Still barefoot, he let himself out of the house.

Aggie stormed into the kitchen. “I could just slap you right now,” she sputtered at her mother.

“You shouldn’t get messed up with your clients anyway, Agatha. They’ve got more baggage than a 747’s cargo hold.”

“I didn’t ask for advice. Do you want me to end up like you? Alone and miserable and bitter. No money. No job. With a hit out on you because you’re stupid enough to borrow money from the Mafia.”

Mom’s eyes narrowed. “I think you’re the one who needs to be slapped, young lady.”

Aggie shook her head in annoyance. “I’m going out, not that I need your permission. And shouldn’t you be leaving?”

“Yeah, I’m leaving soon. I’d already be gone if I had a choice in the matter.”

“You chose to get yourself in trouble, so I don’t want to hear it.”

“Isn’t your boyfriend waiting for you?”

“Yeah. And don’t wait up. I plan to boink him all night.” Aggie fled the kitchen, feeling like an intruder in her own house. She needed to get away from her mother in a bad way.

After changing into jeans and a T-shirt, Aggie grabbed her leather jacket along with Jace’s and then met him at the curb. He sat on his bike, gazing up at the sky. She touched his arm gently, and he started.

“Do you always think that hard?” she asked, handing him his jacket. He slipped into the worn leather garment.

“Mostly.”

“Where do you want to go?”

“Anywhere.”

So he was back to answering her questions with as few words as possible.

“Do you want to go someplace quiet where we can be alone? Or crowded where we can have a lot of fun?”

“I don’t like crowds.”

“Then let’s just ride.”

“You’d like that?”

“Yeah.”

He smiled, and her heart melted. “Me too.”

He took her hand and helped her climb onto the bike behind him.

“Aggie?”

“Yeah?”

“I really like you too.”

She slid her arms around his waist and put her chin on his shoulder to try to see his expression under the light of the corner street lamp. “I’m glad to hear you say that, Jace, but what brought it on all of a sudden?”

“You told your mom you really liked me, and I didn’t say it back.”

She kissed the edge of his ear. “You were probably too uncomfortable to form words.”

“Kinda.”

“I know my mom is overbearing, and I’d like to say she means well, but I don’t think she does. Sometimes I think she’s trying to make me into her. And I don’t want to be like her. I’m not her.”

“I had a father like that.”

“Had?”

He started the bike, and they headed out of town. He never answered her query.

They picked up some takeout Chinese food and headed to the desert. Sitting on a huge rock in the middle of nowhere, they ate quietly, enjoying the sunset on the horizon.

“How long have you done what you do?” Jace asked.