Page 16 of Wild Stars

“I ain’t never seen anyone frown while eating a rice crispy treat,” I reply, grinning like an idiot just to make a point.

“Darren....”He shakes his head, but I don’t miss the way the corners of his mouth perk up.

“Just saying.One rice crispy treat won’t erase your abs overnight.”

Richie purses his lips as he grabs the wrapped treat from me and I smile victoriously.

“I’ll make a deal with you,” Richie offers as he tears open the package.

“What’s that?”

“We go back into that studio, we play our fucking asses off, and after?We go out to Fuku for some sushi and drinks with the guys.Kick back, relax a little.Maybe we can get some press out of it,” he says with a half-smile.

I chew the last bit of my rice crispy treat, leaving no crumbs.

“Deal.”I grab my drink as the machine shuts off, casting my brother a genuine smile.“Thanks, man,” I say.

“For what?”Richie asks.

“For always having my back and making me feel like less of an asshole.”

Richie’s gaze softens.“You’re not an asshole, Dare.You’re just a fucking brat,” he teases as he finishes his treat.

I sip my coffee-not-coffee as he comes up behind me, and we exit the breakroom, heading back to the studio where Ines and Spike look bored as hell as Penny elaborates about something with her hands up in the air.

“You guys ready to get this show on the road?”I ask, pulling their attention.

“Fuck yes,” Spike says as he all but jumps out of his seat and heads for his instrument.

Richie takes his place and grabs his bass.

“Take it from the top withOn The Edge.”Penny says authoritatively.

I strum out the first few chords of the song, channeling my best impression of a rockstar, and focus on the music.

And for the moment, that’s enough.

CHAPTER6

Mateo

“It’s sonice to go out again, like we used to,” Celina says with pouty lips.“I missed this.”

Hailee toasts her cosmopolitan with Celina’s vodka redbull.

I take a sip of my cocktail, some concoction of Japanese coffee-flavored whiskey and cherry blossom liquor, which is not as sweet as it sounds.Then again, I prefer a strong drink with a bitter bite.

Geo smiles as Hans—Hailee’s make up artist—nods in agreement.

“It’s nice to see Sleeping Beauty leave his tower once in a while, too,” Geo says with a smirk.

I roll my eyes.“I do things.I’m not a shut in,” I bite.

It’s true.I do leave my house and studio.I’ve even got a standing reservation at Saint & Sinner, the newest sex club that opened up.

Hailee appraises me with an annoyed glare, almost as if she can read my mind, and I think maybe that’s not as good as it sounds.

It’s not like I’m a sex addict or anything, I just...need to relax once in a while.

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