Page 9 of Syncopation
Chapter Four
Ray guessed the record company signing Zavier hadn’t taken too long, because the very next day, Carl ordered them back at the same studio space to practice. They were all dressed casually, thank goodness. Dom tended to put away the stage persona for rehearsals. It was weird to play when he was all up in Domino and the rest of them were in ratty T-shirts and jeans. ThrewRay off to see Dom ready for stage when they weren’t performing.
Apparently, Dom had told Zavier who he was—or rather Dom claimed Zavier guessed. Of course Mr. Perfect had figured it out. Ray resisted the urge to roll his eyes on the ride over from the hotel when Dom recounted the story.
Mish watched the streets go by out the window. “He’s way better than Kevin.”
Ray grunted. Yeah,he was. Always had been, even in high school. With any luck, Zavier’s playing would get them on the road again, and make the record company happy. Kevin’s departure and the aftermath still ate at him—they’d be watching closely. He owed it to Dom and Mish to get the band on track and Carl off their backs.
She leaned back and fixed her gaze on him. “You don’t like him.”
Dom squirmed on theseat next to Ray, but he ignored that. “It’s not that I don’t like him, it’s...” He waved his hand, because really, he had no reason to hate Zavier Demos.
He just couldn’t stand the guy.
Zavier was everything Ray had both wanted and wanted to be back in high school. Beautiful, outgoing, talented, sexy, and smart. Zavier could have had and, if the rumor mill had been anything to go by,did have anyone he wanted back then.
Not that he’d wanted Ray, though. Not as a bandmate or anything else.
Later, when Ray was getting his associate’s degree at the local community college and struggling with his music, Zavier was off becoming a professional musician and the toast of the fucking wine, cheese, and tux set.
What galled Ray was that Zavier truly wasthatgood. His playingduring the audition yesterday had set that in stone—and that was without any rehearsals. With some time practicing together? They’d have a killer sound.
The worst, though, was when they walked into the studio and Zavier was already there, in a tank top and jeans, idly twirling a drumstick. He met Ray’s stare and smiled.
Back in high school, Zavier had sported one tattoo—a scene like onefrom a Greek vase with meandering patterns and a figure of a woman with an owl, but in brilliant colors—on his forearm. Ray had committed every line, color, and swirl to memory. Later, he’d realized the woman had to have been Athena.
Now? Zavier was covered in ink. Sleeves up both arms, and more that disappeared beneath the fabric of the tank. Ray bit down on his tongue to keep from lickinghis lips. Last thing he wanted was to be caught ogling Zavier, especially with Carl in the room. He headed over to a table where bottles of water had been set out.
Carl, standing over by the door, coughed in that fake way he did whenever he wanted their attention. Ray didn’t pay him any mind. Instead, he grabbed a bottle of water and cracked it open. Only when Carl coughed again did he turn.
“Glad to see you’re able to be on time for once.” Carl’s smile was knife-sharp. “Though I bet that has more to do with your bandmates.”
Dom flinched and Mish straightened. Ray spoke before they could. “Yeah, everyone knows I’m the slacker.” He took a swig of his water, and shrugged. “Drummer’s early.”
Zavier stilled the stick he’d been twirling. “They say traffic in Los Angeles is horrible,so I gave myself extra time from the hotel.”
“You could learn something from him, Ray.” Carl tapped his forehead with his finger. “Plan ahead.”
Ray shrugged again. “Well, we’re all here, aren’t we?” They’d even been about five minutes early. Would have been earlier if Dom hadn’t forgotten where he’d put his phone. But slip-ups were always Ray’s fault. Bandleader, after all.
Honestly,he’d rather Carl pick on him than anyone else.
Ray stole another glance at Zavier to drink in his tattoo-covered glory, and caught Zavier watching him with a furrowed brow. No malice, though. Not like Carl’s twisted smirk and glare. At least with Carl, Ray knew exactly where he stood.
He met Zavier’s stare. “We should get to work.”
“That’s the most sensible thing you’ve said in weeks,”Carl muttered. “Guess getting you out of the bottle worked.”
This time Dom straightened and Mish stepped forward, her voice ringing out. “Hey, you f—”
Ray spoke first. “How long do we have ’til we’re back on the road?”
“Five Asylum starts their tour in less than two months.” Carl strode over to the table Ray had grabbed water, pulled out a swivel chair, and sat his snarky ass down.“You’re getting almost equal billing and play time with them, so you damn well better be ready.”
Jesus. Five Asylum was a huge band, chart-topping for more than a decade. And Twisted Wishes had six weeks, maybe seven? Brand-new drummer. No pressure there.
Ray swallowed his fear along with a gulp of water. “Let’s go, then.”
