Page 26 of Omega Rock

That feels like a stupid question, because the real important one is actually: Do we believe we can play a full set together?

“Ten songs is a lot,” I argue. “This is our second practice.”

Wes raises an eyebrow. “Only the second?”

He doesn’t know about Mia or her heat. I’m not sure what to say, and neither are Leo and Noah apparently.

So it’s a good thing when Mia speaks up. “We’ll work hard today and be ready, Wes. Don’t you worry.”

But he should. And I know he will.

Wes nods once, then claps loudly. “I’ll let you get to work, and I’ll go about making you some marketing collateral quickly for the show. A logo, a banner. Something.” He’s starting to sound like a stressed art teacher.

Wes leaves the studio. Silence befalls us for a long minute afterward, at which point I turn to my band. “Well, that’s unexpected.”

Noah plucks a few strings on his bass. “To say the least. Think we’re ready?”

Leo exhales loudly. “He’s not wrong—we can do covers, pull on old stuff. I’ll probably not hang around Sound House before or after, though.”

“No worries.” Leo’s autoimmune disease puts him at severe risk of infection. It’s why I gave him the seat closest to fresh air at Al’s the other night, and why I’ll make sure any and all venues we go to accommodate him. “Mia?”

Mia smirks. “You bet. This is our chance to prove we’re here to stay. Don’t you want that, Aiden?”

Don’t you want that?

Her voice boomerangs through my mind. Yes, I want that. And her. Andthis. All of this. But those are strong words, so instead, I say, “I’ll do anything to prove Exit Fate may just be starting, but we’re not a rebound band or a passing thing.”

I’ll do anything to shove the largest fucking middle finger in Darius and Jordan’s faces.

“Then it sounds like we have a lot of work to do,” Mia says before opening up her guitar case. “And lucky for you all, my focus is fully on music again. Be ready to be amazed.”

Oh, Mia. I was amazed the moment we first met.

ChapterNine

MIA

Wes’s announcementthat in less than a week after starting the band, we’re to debut Exit Fate at a showtomorrowis actually insane. The only thing keeping me anchored about it in any way is the fact that Aiden and Leo seem calm, and that with Noah, we’re all back to making absolute magic today.

After Wes leaves us to practice, we run through as much as we can. The fact of the matter is that despite the talent in this room and the magic we’re makingwiththis talent, we only just got together.

“Chances Sound House will even have an audience?” Noah chuckles. “Never seen the place empty before, but I suppose there’s always a chance.”

“You must all be from the city, then,” I say. They all nod an affirmative. I’ve been to Sound House a few times, always as a fan of bands playing there, but it’s a venue too large for me to perform in at the moment. Well, the previous moment, I suppose.

“Wes will fill it, I’m sure,” Aiden says a little dismissively.

I raise an eyebrow. “Are youhopingit’ll be empty?”

Aiden gestures to the mess we’ve made of the place while rehearsing, which was less practice of material we’ve written this week and more just making sure we have the ability to time well against each other.

Aiden’s afraid of getting in trouble with his previous band, so Designation Outsider songs are off the table. Leo didn’t much care if he pissed off Lost Time, so we’ve picked up some of their songs,Dreaming Late, and a few other classics to cover.

“No,” he says, but I can tell there’s more, so I stare him down until he relents. “Darius is up my ass about Exit Fate.”

“Screw him,” Leo comments. “He’s always been a bastard. If they wanted you to be cool, they could’ve done things any number of other ways.”

Aiden inclines his head. “Told him as much, but it still has me worried.”

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