Page 30 of Living on the Edge

I need to get some air, but since this is Crimson Edge’s hometown, it seems like everyone and their brother are hanging out.

Sam’s mother is here, Tate’s parents, and a handful of people whose names I’ve already forgotten. Jonny is making out with a blonde as if they’re not surrounded by friends and family, Mick is talking to two girls who appear to be trying to convince him to take them with him, Tate is chasing one of the roadies from Nobody’s Fool with a water cannon, Sam and Kirsten are deep in conversation with his mother, and I suddenly feel like a fish out of water.

As nice as the girls have been, I’m not one of them. And butting heads with Angus is getting tiresome. This is my job, and he’s making it harder on me. He doesn’t have to like me, but Sasha said he needs to cooperate, so I’m going to remind him of that.

I don’t see him in the backstage area, so I wander out back toward where the bus is parked. There are trucks and semis back here too, and Crimson Edge’s roadies are busy packing their gear into the trucks, so I try to stay out of their way. The door to Crimson Edge’s bus is open, and my gut tells me Angus is nearby.

I’m just about to get on the bus when I hear voices raised in anger.

“I told you not to come!” That’s Angus’s voice.

“We’re brothers, and I miss you. Plus I like the music. What the fuck, dude?”

“Someone could recognize you, and then they might recognizeme.”

Recognize him?

What is he talking about?

I’m frozen in place, listening.

“Jesus, Auggie, no one cares about me.”

“You’re still a Hollingsworth.”

Hollingsworth?

The pharmaceutical billionaire Hollingsworths?

I’m confused, but rooted in place, listening.

“Alden, you need to leave. Before someone recognizes us and everything blows up in my face.”

“Dude, you’re bummin’ me out. I want to meet Nobody’s Fool and?—”

“I’ll make it up to you, okay? Please, can you do this for me?”

“But you guys are leaving Minneapolis and then?—”

“Dammit, Alden, I’m not fucking around. You have to go.” I hear footsteps and realize they’re about to leave the bus.

I scurry around the bus and press my back flat against the side, my heart thumping as I hold my breath.

If Angus catches me, I’m done.

There’s no doubt in my mind he’ll make sure I get sent home.

But now my curiosity has gotten the best of me.

If he’s one of the Hollingsworth heirs, that’s big news.

The kind of thing that would make Rich chortle with glee.

The kind of thing that could get me a staff position—with health insurance.

I hear their footsteps as they come off the bus and their voices fade as they walk in the opposite direction. I wait another minute and then peek around the side—they’re gone.

Whew.

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