Page 13 of Omega Rock

You know? No, I actually have no idea what it’s like to be kicked out of an award-winning, multi-album band.

“Yeah,” I say, because what else do I say to that?

Aiden’s phone buzzes again. He glances down briefly while picking up his beer and nods. “Leo and Noah are here, arrived at the same time.” He sets down his beer and types out a quick text, then looks to me. “Actually, I should have grabbed your number earlier, sorry.” He hands his phone to me. “Want to text yourself?”

Aiden Paltier wants my phone number.

My eyes go embarrassingly wide. The blush returns to my cheeks. And yeah, sure he wants it because we’re working together, but it doesn’t take away the teenage fantasy of Aiden having my damned phone number.

“Sure thing.” I take his phone and text myself while he stands, opens the exit door wider, and waves. By the time I hand his phone back to him, Leo and Noah enter and Aiden moves to my side of the table where he sits backwards on the chair, leaning his chest against the chair’s back.

“Here,” he says to Leo. “Take my seat, and feel free to open the door wider if you want. Al won’t mind.”

Leo claps Aiden on the shoulder. “Thanks, man.”

I watch the exchange, which feels purposeful, although I’m not sure why.

Noah then sits between Aiden and Leo. “How are we doing tonight?”

Aiden nods a quick thank you to me and then taps on his phone. All of ours ping in unison. “There, group chat. That’ll make things easier.”

“Doing great,” Leo replies, then shoots a look to me. His deep brown eyes meet mine and just the look alone sends an excited zing of energy through me. God, he’s so hot. They all are. And not just because they’re musical legends, or alphas, or anything like that. It’s just everything about allthreeof them, their very presence itself, vibrates at a frequency my body seems to like.

We’re all basically strangers, but I feel at home.Thisfeels right, sitting around a table together, like we’ve done this all our lives. And yeah, there’s a part of me hoping it’s not something seriously parasocial as far as Aiden and Leo are concerned.

But… I really don’t think it is.

“Yeah,” I finally reply to Leo.

“We made some magic earlier, boys,” Noah says, then laughs. “Sorry, and lady.”

“No,” I say with a chuckle. “It’s okay, and I totally agree regarding magic.”

Aiden indicates the beers he bought for all of us. “Please, help yourself.”

Noah takes his and clinks bottles with Aiden.

Leo inclines his head. “I appreciate that, but can’t today.”

He and Aiden share another weighted look before Aiden waves him off. “No worries, I’m sure it’ll be drunk. Mia?”

Don’t drink.But it’s just a beer.Just one.

I’ll sip it.I reach for one of the remaining beers and clink bottles, too. “Thank you.”

Aiden sits back. By now, the sadness in his eyes is gone, replaced by a relaxed tone. “I do agree with Noah, though. That was magic.”

Leo flags down a waiter and requests a water pitcher for the table. “Gotta admit, yeah. Never felt that with Lost Time.”

“They never treated you right,” Aiden replies.

Leo shrugs. “They didn’t know what to do, unlike Darius and Jordan. Those two fucked you over, man. I’m sorry.”

Aiden sips his beer. “Their loss.”

The waiter returns with a water pitcher and glasses. Leo fills one for himself. “Hope we’ll all be more understanding of health issues than our past bandmates.”

“You know it,” Aiden reassures.

---