Page 67 of Mine

He made a face. “Okay. Listen, dude. Word of advice, okay? You’re a good looking guy. She has a lot of power. Don’t let her take advantage of you, you know?”

My breath whooshed out of me from his implication. “Jack. You’re not saying you think she’d use that to try and fuck me? Surely not.”

“I’m just saying, it happens all the time. That woman has no feelings. Plus, she’s a lot older than you. You’re too young to be fucking around with someone likethat. It wouldn’t be good for your career to get entangled with her.”

Everything went dead cold, and I didn’t just shrug him off, I shoved him back. And without skipping a moment, I did something bad. “You’re fired.”

Jack’s expression scrunched up with laughter, but the longer I stared at him, the more it melted into shock. Then more shock. Then anger.

“What?”

“You’re fired,” I repeated. “One, you’re not a fucking feminist. You were repeatedly a dipshit in the garage yesterday, and I just have zero interest in working with someone with so little respect for women. Two, what you just insinuated is beyond disrespectful to both me and Pepper.”

“Pepper?” he scoffed. “So you’re on a first name basis then? Already fucking her?”

“Jack,” I warned, my temper scorching all reason. “Get the fuck out before I break your jaw.”

“I’m not stupid. She’s hot as fuck, Salt, but you should tread lightly given who she is. This is a stupid thing. I get that you’re young, but?—”

“She’s just an acquaintance,” I lied. “Get the fuck out. Now.”

What she was, wasmine. And I needed to touch her now, the way I’d been imagining since we got off the phone last night.

“Sure,” Jack sneered. “Musicians talk, man. This was fucking stupid. You don’t piss off the band.”

I sighed and unclasped my mask, giving him a look that made him take a step back. “Do I need to tell you to leave again?”

“No. I’m out of here. Good fucking luck with that record deal. You’re gonna need it if you become her little pet.”

I stood still, clenching my fist as I watched him pack up and go. Tyler and Eric approached warily, but Tyler shook his head.

“I don’t know what that was, but that fucker was off beat half of the time. I got a good bass player who would be down to fill his spot,” Tyler said.

I breathed out slowly. “That would be great. Sorry.”

“I’m glad he’s gone,” Eric said with a shrug. “Bad vibes.”

“Agreed.”

Tyler grimaced. “You’re not dating the CEO, are you?”

“No,” I said. “She’s here to listen tonight. That’s all.”

Both of them accepted that. The three of us debriefed, and I glanced up as Tara waved from the stairs. “Put in a good word for us with your boss, please. A record deal would change our lives for the better.”

Before I could say anything else, Tara darted up the steps onto the stage. The other band members shuffled up behind her. The crowd was super engaged tonight, and I felt the excitement in the air, magnetically charged. I looked through the doorway at the stage as the lights changed from red to a pearlescent blue that made the four of them pop.

“I’m out for the night,” Tyler said. “See you Monday for practice?”

“Yeah, if that works.”

“I’ll be there,” Eric said.

“Great. See you then.” I took my guitar to its case in the corner and put it away carefully, tossing my mask into a black bag next to it. I pulled out a black hoodie and tugged it on, my stomach twisting at the thought of having to cross the bar right now. But, with any luck, everyone’s focus would be on Tara’s band. I grabbed my guitar case and bag, and left the room.

“Salt!”

Fuck. All I wanted was to get to Pepper. Why the fuck was everyone up my ass today? I turned as Dale approached me down the hall.

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