Page 104 of Tempting the Player
“Yep, he sure did,” Jane says proudly, shooting me a questioning gaze. Maybe it was an asshole thing to do, claiming her like I did, but I don’t know these people as well as she does and I’m not sure I want them knowing the real reason I’m with her. And to be fair, the real reason is muddied as hell at this point.
“I’m a huge Rams fan.” He extends a hand. “I was pissed when they cut you. You’ve got a hell of an arm.”
“Uhh, thanks,” I say.
Ted shakes my hand last. Mackenzie gives me a shy wave.
“You sounded so good,” Jane tells them. “Is that one of your new songs?”
I fade into the background and take a seat on a couch pushed against the far wall while Jane catches up with them.
Mackenzie talks a mile a minute. The girl obviously idolizes Jane and wants her opinion on every little thing.
Eventually Eric interrupts. “Are we ready to go again?”
Jane comes over to sit next to me while they play. She’s on the edge of her seat, eyes continually scanning over each member like she’s memorizing every single part of the song. The guitar, the drums, the vocals. She’s all lit up.
They play two or three songs, stopping between each to let Jane gush over how good they are. And they are. I’m enjoying listening to them almost as much as watching Jane listen to them.
When they’re done, Jane stands. “The set list is so good. I love the original songs.”
“None of them are quite right to end the show on though,” Eric says.
Jane nods thoughtfully. “What if you did one of the cover songs for the final song? Something that will have everyone singing along.”
“Not a bad idea,” Lennon says, looking around at his other band members.
Ted approves with a simple nod and Mackenzie’s smile is so big that her agreement is obvious. She’ll go along with anything Jane says.
“Which one is the question.” Jane paces in front of them with one finger pressed to her lips.
“Mac kills on ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love.’” Ted taps out the beginning of the song.
“The ending is kind of blah though,” Eric says.
“What about ‘Teenage Dirtbag’?” Mackenzie suggests.
It looks like her bandmates are about to argue, but then she says, “Let’s just try it.”
“All right.” Eric pushes his hair off his forehead.
“Jane, sing it with me once?” Mac asks her.
“Oh no. You should do it like you’re going to that night.”
“Please?” The girl begs. She places both hands out in front of her like she’s praying. “One time?!”
“Okay, okay.” Jane reluctantly steps up next to Mackenzie.
She looks nervous as the guitar and drums start, but when she opens her mouth to sing, all that hesitation is gone.
Her voice gets to me every time. It’s sweet but hard, soft at times but still fills the room. I’m mesmerized and caught off guard when the song ends. A beat of silence hangs in the air as the music drifts off.
Mackenzie is the first to break the silence. “Holy shit, that was amazing! You have to perform it with us at the Spring Fling.”
Jane’s immediately on the defensive. She backs away and shakes her head. “I can’t. And you don’t need me. It will be just as amazing without me.”
“No. It won’t.” Mackenzie places both hands on her hips and faces the guys. “Back me up here. What better way to close the show than performing that songwithJane? People will lose their minds!”
