Page 5 of Heartbeat Highway

“Where’s your girl, K?” Maxim asks. The guy in the Britney shirt approaches him, and Maxim signs his right tit this time. Howl fans may not be the prettiest, but damn, they’re loyal. I project my best scowl, grateful the Britney/Howl fan is completely out of tits to sign.

A shadow crosses K’s face. “Studying.” He spits the word like it’s ancient Sanskrit and he’s barely mastered English.

I mean, if the guitar pick fits.

“Ease up on her.” My drumsticks rap more quickly against my thighs. “It’s her second year exams. It’s a big deal.” Law school has not been any kind of joy ride for Lily. Beyond the slogof work and study, the social scene has shut her out. Bunch of virtue-signaling assholes, if you ask me.

“Thisis a big deal, Bo.” K spreads his tanned arms wide. Whatever time he doesn’t devote to practicing with the band is devoted to sunbathing and working out shirtless on Venice Beach. Since the last time he made it to practice was three days ago, he’s probably well on his way to melanoma and monkeypox by now. “It’s our first real tour. We’re practically as big as Crooked.”

This is categorically untrue, but arguing with K is like trying to force slime to maintain its shape.

A beat up silver sedan pulls into the Van Nuys parking lot, and my drumsticks fall to my sides. “Lily’s here,” I say softly.

K rips his gaze off his reflection in the bus and turns to the car.

I can’t stop watching, either. Lily steps out, her hair up in a messy bun held together with pencils, an oversized UW sweatshirt hanging over her full-figured frame in indecent ways.

“K!” She waves to the both of us and runs in our direction.

K is tense beside me. “She couldn’t have dressed up?” he mutters. As soon as he says it, his expression morphs into a gigantic smile and he lifts Lily off the ground in a movie-worthy sweep. “Lil!”

“I’m so glad I didn’t miss you.” Her gaze meets mine over K’s shoulder and she moves her mouth.Hey, Bo.

Hey, Lil, I mouth back. My heart thumps in my chest.

Maxim snorts behind me, and I turn to avoid having to watch K kiss Lily.

“Something you want to add?” I ask.

Maxim glances over at Lily, shaking his head. “Just sorry for you. Haven’t seen anyone have it that badly before.”

I cross my arms over my chest, my drumsticks poised to tap on my left shoulder. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Sure you don’t.”

“Guys! Seriously!” Dan barks, pointing at the open door of the tour bus. “We have to get on the road in the next five minutes or we’re going to miss our first stop.”

“Ooh, wait!” Lily breaks out of K’s embrace, a smile on her face. “Hold on. I got a present for you guys.”

“Is it something dirty?” K says, into her ear but just loud enough so all the rest of us can hear as well.

“No.” Lily laughs. “Just wait. I’ll be right back.”

She runs to her car, and I try to ignore the way her jeans cup her perfectly round ass. I fucking love a curvy woman.

K places his hands on his hips, even as he watches some of the groupies from the periphery of his vision. I can’t prove he’s cheated on Lily. Trust me, if I could I would have told her.

“I’m going to marry that girl,” he says.

My heart drops lower than my balls. Holy hell, I hope not.

Lily returns, holding a pink box of donuts. “For the road,” she explains, handing it to an unimpressed K. “I woke up early this morning and got the strawberry-filled ones from that place in Glendora. A little OG Route 66 love. For luck.”

K’s lack of reaction causes Lily to bluster, but then he wipes the look off his face and beams at her. “It’s perfect. Thanks, Lil. We’ll love it.”

“Have a great tour.”

“I wish you were coming.”

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