Page 57 of Disharmony

“Damon…”

Damon is still standing by the stage with his bandmates. Zach’s mouth turns into a rare snarl as he thrusts his phone in front of Damon’s face. Shit is hitting the fan, but Damon doesn’t seem bothered. He shrugs in response to Zach, tucking his hands into his pockets and leaning casually against a wooden beam, similar to how he did the night I ran into him in the woods. Zach is the self-selected leader of the band, but Damon doesn’t seem to care about his opinion.

“Alexa Frost broke up with him,” Cookie murmurs, shoving a webpage under my nose. A beautiful model on the screen has a sad expression and a pout that screams for publicity. It’s always the same when an A-lister’s work dries up, and her name hasn’t hit a headline since last year’s Victoria’s Secret campaign. “He was cheating on her.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Are you surprised?”

Damon Archer has a reputation as a ladies’ man. I’d be more shocked if he proposed than fucked someone else.

“Hello!” She shakes the phone like I’ve lost my mind. “This is Alexa Frost, we’re talking about. Look at her.”

She’s gorgeous in a way that sells overpriced clothes to people wanting to be like her, but she could be a bitch for all I know. I scroll down the page in boredom and roll my eyes. Apparently, Alexa found texts from another girl on his phone. You’d think guys would have learned to use the lock function by now.

“She’s better off without him,” I say. “Once a cheat, always a cheat.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Zach Royal’s raised voice makes the hall descend into silence as everyone listens in. We have a front row seat to the latest celebrity scandal. This drama will be the talk of the camp for the rest of the week. “You broke up with her?”

Damon yawns. “I didn’t think it was relevant.”

Zach realizes his outburst has attracted attention. He straightens the buttons on his flannel shirt and warns, “We’ll talk about this later.”

“Why?” Damon smiles mischievously. “I thought you liked having an audience.”

Campers gasp in shock, but I snort loudly in amusement. Too loudly. Loud enough to attract attention. Damon’s eyes dart in my direction, but I lower my head. This cap better disguise me.

“Way to go, Ash,” Cookie mutters under her breath as Zach marches out. Levi mumbles something to Damon, and the two of them follow him out.

“I couldn’t help it,” I say, then turn to Declan. “Didn’t you think it was funny?”

Declan doesn’t acknowledge me. He’s too busy staring out the window; his head is in another place. What is going on with him?

He gets up and says, “I have to go.”

Cookie sighs melodramatically. “Who says girls bring all the drama?”

* * *

News of my singing rehearsals with McCallister being canceled comes as a welcome relief. A note is pinned to the studio door explaining how he is meeting with the producers of Popstarz. He could have simply written that he can’t attend, but the fucker can’t resist the chance to brag.

I plan to return to bed and watch my favorite film, The Breakfast Club, on repeat. I ignore the approaching whispers from Tiffany and the Lockets as I turn to go. Rehearsals are canceled, but they aren’t going to miss out on practicing. I should be doing the same, but hearing about Popstarz has diminished any enthusiasm I have left.

My phone buzzes.

Ripper: I’ve been thinking about you.

So far, our conversations have revolved around our work and music.

I’m hopeless at reading men’s signals. My few past crushes and encounters have ended in disaster. On my first date, I accidentally headbutted the guy when he tried to kiss me. We never spoke again. The second date was with an alternative drifter passing through town. Dad found us making out in his car, then threatened to arrest him unless he left town immediately. Thankfully, Dad didn’t show up ten minutes before when I was awkwardly losing my virginity in a two second fumble. I was sixteen but lied about my age, and Dad became extra cautious about me dating after that… not that I can blame him.

I stare at Ripper’s text again. Is he flirting or being nice?

Me: Good things?

Keeping it flirty, but friendly.

Ripper: We’re coming back to Wilderton to record in a few weeks. There’s an underground studio there. Do you want to listen in?

I squeal and almost drop my phone in a pile of leaves.

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