Page 92 of Living on the Edge

“You were always going to say yes,” Sam teases, kissing the side of her face.

“You got me there.” She smiles up at him, and I’m not sure if their devotion is sweet or sickening.

I really am a crusty fuck sometimes.

“I can totally leak the news,” Ryleigh says, pulling out her phone. She types something and then reaches for Kirsten’s arm. “Come do a video with me.”

“Okay.” Kirsten gets in the shot, and they chat for a minute as Ryleigh explains what she wants to do.

Kirsten nods and then Ryleigh does the video right then and there.

“Guys, look who’s Rockin’ with Ryleigh today!” she gushes. “It’s Kirsten Aiken! We just had brunch and now we’re going to the venue to start setting up for the Dakota Rocks Festival! Hey Kirsten… do you have a surprise for fans tonight?”

“I might.” Kirsten winks. “But if you want to find out what it is, you need to be by the main stage at six o’clock. And that’s all I’m going to say about that!”

“And if you want to see your girl, Ryleigh, I’ll be there too! Come find me—I’ll be posting selfies from the event all night so come take a picture with me! See you later!” She ends the video and turns to us. “How was that?”

“You’re fucking amazing,” I say, pulling her in for a kiss. Her lips are warm against mine, the faint taste of maple syrup lingering.

“I hope it’s enough,” she says.

“Oh, it will be,” Kirsten says. “Once you post it, I’ll share it on my own socials, and we’ll get lots of coverage. Although… what are we gonna sing?”

Jonny is thoughtful. “What about ‘Close Your Eyes Forever’? It’s old school but you can’t go wrong with Ozzy and Lita.” The rock ballad from Ozzy Osbourne and Lita Ford is a classic.

“I’ll have to learn the lyrics,” Kirsten says, “but it shouldn’t take long.” She starts typing something into her phone and then nods. “Oh, yeah, I can do that… I know more of the lyrics than I thought.”

“I think I can fake the guitar parts,” Sam says. “We’ll just make it ours.”

“I used to play it in an old cover band I was in,” Mick says, “so I’m good.”

“I’ll listen to it on the way to the venue,” Tate says. “It can’t be that hard.”

We’re all immersed in the plan as we get on the bus, and I’m suddenly grateful for these people. My band, because I wouldn’t have any of this without them. Kirsten, because she’s as sweet as she is talented. And now Ryleigh. She didn’t hesitate to do something to potentially help us out of an unfortunate situation, even though it’s not the kind of post that will necessarily do anything for her brand.

Or for the article she’s writing.

She’d been up late last night typing away on her laptop, and it was obvious she was struggling. I hadn’t wanted to bother her, so I focused on the book I was reading. She’s smart and good at what she does. I have no doubt she’ll get past whatever this is, I just wish she would open up more. It seems like the closer we get, the less she tells me about what’s going on in her life.

Like she has a secret.

I can’t imagine what it could be, but I’m the last person to judge someone for having secrets. I know her financial situation embarrasses her, and since that might be part of it, I’ve tried to be patient instead of nagging her about what’s happening. I think she wanted to talk to me a few times but always stops just shy of baring her soul. I guess I have my work cut out for me, but generally speaking, things are really good between us.

So far, it feels like the situation with my connection to the Hollingsworth family has blown over. With the exception of Jonny. He’s still pretty surly and there’s been no one-on-one contact between us, but my hope is that it’ll change at the party tonight. We’re either going to fight or make up. What else can we do?

“Shit, they’re already at the venue,” Ryleigh mutters.

“What?” I look up in confusion. I’ve been so lost in thought I didn’t notice we’d already arrived.

“I just got a text from Taryn—Karnal Death is here. They plan to spend the day hanging out and doing some interviews in the green room and stuff. The event is making a big deal about them being added to the lineup.”

“I know where I won’t be,” Jonny says, getting up and off the bus before anyone else.

“I’m going to go find Taryn,” Ryleigh says to me. “Do you mind?”

“Mind if I come with you?” I ask. “You know what they say—keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”

She grimaces. “Sure. I mean, I have no intention of hanging out with Callum if I can help it, but let’s go find them.”

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