Page 51 of Enjoying the Band in Lockdown

“He’s going over the concert timing once more, thinks we can squeeze it to two songs as long as we can keep it within our window. Wants to hear them first, just to make sure.”

I heard the nerves. Xavier still didn’t understand that when he sang, the world stopped to listen. There was something in his guttural tone that spoke directly to the soul. It wasn’t just me. I’d done enough Facebook stalking of the band to hear the same from thousands of fans. People could connect with each member of The Flying Monkeys, each woman had their favorite wanna-be-fuck-buddy, and everyone loved the way Xavier carved out a song.

“Good. Make sure you give him four to choose from.”

“Why four?”

“Because Dirty Blonde is your finale. Scream it Green or Deluge of Darkness set you up as rockers. Let Deacon pick which one.” Xavier’s one-hour song-writing session had become what the band were now building as their opening song for all future concerts. It had the trademark beat, opportunity for the guitarists to let loose and Devon’s time on the loop station was paying dividends. He’d decided to use the loop station to make up for his healing hand, and once Chase let him show how it could be used for the drums as well, Deluge of Darkness was going to open every concert to screaming fans.

“Why four?”

“Because no one’s gonna be able to choose between Dirty Blonde and Trent’s song.”

“You liked it?”

“What’s not to like. And when he sings it, it has the honesty and rawness that women are going to fall in love for.”

“I thought that’s what they were gonna do for Dirty Blonde.”

“Oh, my darling, sexy, Xav,” I pulled him into my lap. Ignoring the calls to get a room from the rest of the band. “Men all over the world are gonna use Dirty Blonde to open their woman’s legs. But Trent’s song is gonna give women all over the world a difficult choice.”

“I’m almost afraid to ask.”

“Who was the hottest of the Beatles? Who’s the most fuckable One Direction? Who’s the sexiest mother-fucker of The Flying Monkeys. Women will come with their friends, just to prove they’re right. Some will want Devon, some Chase and even Jax, but it will be you and Trent with those two songs that will get all the votes. You can use that to build a social media dialogue.”

“You know all about that marketing shit, don’t you?”

“I know my way around the boards.”

Luckily, for me, Xavier could still be distracted with kisses.

Luckily for Xavier, Jax was true to his word.

Waiting until the others called it a night before joining me on the couch. Curling around me for the first half of the night. The blanket between us unable to hide his discomfort and erection.

“Syd?” he whispered, knowing I was still awake. His arm over my waist and his back to the room while I was snuggled against the back of the couch.

“Yeah.”

“Can we roll over? I’d like some of the blanket, and there’s no way I’m gonna sleep like this.”

“You could just go upstairs to your bed.”

“Alone? Not likely. This was supposed to be our night.”

“I told you, I’m—”

“I get it. I just want to know what it’s like to sleep with you, but I’m not gonna get any sleep like this.”

“So you want to roll over?”

“You might need to hold me in place so I don’t roll off.”

I wriggled until we were face to face. Hot breath from the lips I knew were waiting for me to relent. To give into memories from the cave. In the dark, they’d be no witnesses. Jax would never tell—who was I kidding. Of course, Jax would tell.

“It only works if you turn around, as well.”

“Sydney?”

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