Page 36 of 12 Months of Mayhem

As I hear her words, I smile, feeling a warmth spread through me. “It was my pleasure, Brandy.”

She smiles up at me. “Let’s get out of here and make some more memories.” She turns off the water and moves toward her bag, pulling out a towel.

“Your place or mine?”

She dries herself off, then holds out the towel to me. “Yours. I’m sure it will be more private than the bus.”

“Not much more, but unless they stick their heads inside my tent, we’ll have the illusion of privacy.”

“I can be quiet,” she teases, her voice like velvet, wrapping itself around me and pulling me closer without her even touching me.

“Quiet, huh?” I murmur, my eyes narrowing as I take her in from head to toe. “Guess we’ll see how long that lasts.”

Her grin widens, daring me to try her. A spark in her eyes tells me she knows exactly what she’s doing and what she’s going to get. I already feel the heat building between us. It’s like the air is too thick, charged with something we both know we can’t resist.

Something about Brandy pulls me in, like we’re two spirits meant to collide. When we’re together, it’s not just chemistry, it’s combustion. She’s smooth and sweet, but there’s a dangerous kick beneath the surface that would bring any other man to his knees. But I’m not just any man. I’m Whiskey—strong, sharp, steady. I’ve seen and survived it all, but even I know when Brandy mixes with Whiskey, it’s bound to be explosive.

She’s fire, I’m fuel, and together? We’re an inferno waiting to happen. I can feel the burn starting now, spreading through me like wildfire. This night will end in flames, and I’ll gladly let it consume me.

Chapter Five

The following night, I stand in front of the stage, watching as Brandy commands the crowd. Her voice cuts through the night like a siren’s call—sweet and dangerous—drawing everyone in. She flirts with the audience, teasing them with every note and sway of her hips, but her eyes repeatedly find mine, making sure I know exactly where her heart lies. She’s mine, and every look she gives me reassures me of that. No one else comes close.

The last song fades, and Brandy bows to thunderous applause before running off stage with her band. But I can’t just let her slip away. I’m a man on a mission, pulled by something primal, and I weave through the crowd in search of her. I find her out back, surrounded by her bandmates and some guy in a suit who looks like he walked straight out of a corporate office.

“For real?” George asks, his face lighting up.

“Yes,” the suit replies, all business. “But we need to move quickly.”

Brandy has a grin on her face that tells me she’s already decided. Her eyes flick to her bandmates. “We’re in,” she says without hesitation.

The suit holds out a card, but before she can grab it, he pulls it back, smirking. “Don’t tease me now.”

“I’m many things…” Brandy replies, her voice low and confident, “… but I never tease. I go after what I want.” She takes the card from his hand, her smirk daring him to challenge her.

He nods, clearly impressed, but his next words piss me off. “The band name sucks. We’ll come up with something better in LA. You’ve got three days to get there.”

“We’ll be there,” George says, puffing out his chest.

The suit’s eyes narrow as he looks at George. “You sure that bus of yours can make it?”

George crosses his arms. “Don’t diss the bus, man. She hasn’t let us down yet.”

“If we have to…” Brandy cuts in, “… we’ll walk.” There’s fire in her eyes, the same fire that’s been there since I met her. She’s not just hungry for success—she’s starving for it.

They shake hands, but from where I’m standing, the suit holds on a little too long. My jaw tightens. He winks at Brandy before walking off like he’s got some claim on her future.

Brandy waves the card like it’s a golden ticket, practically vibrating with excitement. “Yes!” she shouts, her voice ringing out as George sweeps her into a bear hug. One by one, the rest of the band piles on, laughing and cheering, all buzzing with raw, unfiltered joy. “We need to go. We need to pack up and go now!”

“Brandy?” My voice slices through the chaos, and she looks up, her eyes wide, her face brighter than I’ve ever seen.

She untangles herself from the band and practically throws herself into my arms, wrapping herself around my neck like she never wants to let go. “We got a record deal, Whiskey!” Her words tumble out, breathless and brimming with disbelief.

In that instant, I feel it—the thrill of her dreams coming true but also the sharp pang of losing her. She’s already halfway gone, her mind running miles ahead, chasing the future that’s finally within her grasp.

“You’re leaving?”

Brandy nods, eyes sparkling. “Yes. We have to be in LA in three days, or we’ll miss our window.”

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