Page 11 of Omega Rock

I glance up at the rear-view mirror and see the blush still keeping my cheeks pink. Yeah, they fucking knew.

My fingers shake with excitement as I pick up my phone and video call Sable. My entire body is thrumming with vibration from everything that just happened. Inspiration, the instant clicking, the anticipation of what this might become, all from a single meeting. Even Aiden went from looking not super thrilled to eager.

Sable picks up on the second ring. Her bright face greets me and I let out a little scream of excitement. She returns it without questioning what’s going on. “Tell me!”

“Wes is starting a new band.”

Sable’s eyes widen. “And?”

“Leo Altis is the drummer,” I offer.

“Oh shit! Wait—was he there?” Sable was a huge fan of Lost Time before they let Leo go and their music went downhill.

“Oh yes, he was.” I grin wider—if that’s even possible at this point. “He and this bassist named Noah. He’s ex-Juilliard apparently, really good at his craft.”

“Stunning, this is so exciting, Mia!” She lets out a squeal. “This is the exact opportunity you deserve. I’m so happy for you! Think your father might know of him?”

I hadn’t even thought of that. Dad retired a few years ago, and I don’t know how long it’s been since Noah was kicked out, but it’s possible. “I don’t know, but I’ll ask. And I haven’t even told you the best part.”

That freezes her. “What’s that?”

“Aiden Paltier is the lead guitarist and second vocalist.” I try to say it deadpan but I literally cannot.

“Shut up.”

I laugh. “It still doesn’t feel real. I mean, the news about Designation Outsider just broke last night. If they threw himoutlast night, which is kind of the impression I’m getting, Wes must have known it was going to happen or called him literally after the news stories went live. Because this was wild.”

“Mia,” she says as if I’ve done something wrong, but I know she doesn’t mean it that way. “Wild doesn’t begin to cover what you’ve just told me.”

Tears brim in my eyes—happy ones. “I know.”

Then she goes serious for a moment, and I already know what Sable is going to say before she says it. “Mia, you’ve gotta take this seriously. Don’t screw it up.”

She meansdon’t drink anytime soon.Or too much. Preferably ever again. But I can’t imagine a rock band without parties and alcohol.

“I won’t,” I promise her. “I got here with a hangover. Not sure how it happened, but as great as today was, IknowI can play better without one. So no more.”

“It’s not just that,” Sable says as she lowers her voice so I’m forced toreallylisten to her. “Leo and Aiden, they’re in their thirties. Their bands kicked them out. They’re going to take this very seriously, and while they clearly are okay with having someone so young with them, I just…”

“What, Sable?”

“Just take it as seriously as they do,” she warns. “There’s a lot of experience in that room. Even with the ex-Juilliard bassist. Man made it intoJuilliard.”

“And I’m just an overnight viral story?” I snap before thinking better of it. I know Sable doesn’t think that of me. She’s seen first-hand the hard work I put into this. But my parents don’t, my followers sometimes don’t, and until today, there’s never been any real opportunity of moving out of this limbo I’ve found myself in.

Sable, to her credit, doesn’t take the bait. She smiles sweetly at me in that verydon’t ever say that againbest friend way, and then firmly says, “You’re talented, Mia. And you’re ready for this or Wes wouldn’t have put you in that room. I’m just reiterating what I’m sure he’s already said: This could go places, so listen and learn, first and foremost.”

Don’t drink a ton.What both of them didn’t say. Don’t party, don’t fall into all the stereotypical traps. We haven’t even had an actual practice yet, let alone a gig or anything else.

All we did was talk and play a single song. It’s that simple.

And that magical. Because we definitely created a certain kind of magic within three minutes and forty-five seconds, too.

“I’m going out to dinner with them in a little bit,” I tell Sable. “I’ll find something to do until then.”

Her brow creases. “Carnation Studio’s pretty far away. Call me when you get back tonight?”

I nod. “Absolutely.”

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