We look into each other's eyes, and I feel a pull toward him. I lean in, and he comes even closer. His lips are just a breath away from mine, and I jump back. He lets me go.
"Thanks for everything, Foster. See you at school."
I rush out of his room and down the stairs. I give Foster's parents a polite goodbye and hurry out of the house.
I almost kissed my boyfriend's best friend.
"Come on, my cousin has a spot saved for us," Olivia says as she drags Emma and me to the front of the line.
We're at a bar called The Machine Shop to see No Left Turn, a local punk band. I don't know any of their music, but I'm excited to have a girls' night for my eighteenth birthday. Emma says the guys in the band are gorgeous and have been making a name for themselves.
At the door, we show our tickets and the bouncer gives us green wristbands to show we’re underage. We make our way to the front of the club towards the stage. Olivia's cousin works as the club's security, and he has an area blocked off for the three of us to the left of the stage.
"Thanks, guys. I haven't been to a concert like this before. I'm so excited," I tell them. Olivia rolls her eyes, but Emma hugs me.
We stand around, chatting and taking everything in before the show starts. I'm glad I went for flat-soled shoes since we'll be standing for hours.
"Is Cole nervous about the game tomorrow?" Olivia asks me.
Of course, she had to bring Cole up.
"He's ready. He's confident that they have the best team. Foster wants to get it over with. The practices on top of schoolwork have been brutal for them."
"You've talked to Foster about it?" Olivia asks me, not bothering to hide her shock.
"Uh…yeah, he's Cole's best friend and tutoring me in some of my classes."
Olivia looks livid before her face relaxes. "Are you bummed you won't be at the game? I heard it was impossible to get tickets. Families only.”
"I'll be there. Mr. Thorne will be out of town, so I'll drive there with Mrs. Thorne. We leave in the morning."
"Oh, that's great. Cole and Foster will be happy to have you there."
I look over at Emma, who has been watching us talk silently, and she shrugs.
A few minutes later, a man gets onstage and announces No Left Turn. The guitarist plays a few chords, and the crowd goes wild. He smiles at the bassist, who runs on the stage behind him. They nod to the drummer, and he starts the beat.
Emma was right. They're all very attractive. The guitarist has shaggy bleach-blond hair dyed royal blue at the ends. His tight t-shirt and ripped jeans show a lean body covered in bright tattoos. The bassist has shaved dark hair and a lip piercing.
I look at the drummer's hands working and pause. Those tattoos look familiar. My eyes travel over the naked expanse of a toned stomach and chest to connect with green eyes I’d recognize anywhere.
"Why is the drummer staring at you?" Emma leans over into my ear and asks.
"I know him."
"Oh really?”
"He's the hockey coach's son. I talked to him at that party a couple of weeks ago. I had no idea he was in a band."
I enjoy their set and lock eyes with Talon a few times as they perform. The crowd gets really into their music. They put on a polished show like they’ve been performing together forever. I can see why they're gaining popularity.
As they play their encore, Olivia's cousin comes over to us again and says something to her.
She squeals and turns back to us. "The band has invited us backstage."
Emma turns to me and smiles, "Thank you, birthday girl."
We follow Jesse, Olivia's cousin, through a door on the stage's other side leading to a large open room. A recreation area has two long couches and a big television on the wall, and all three band members lounge there, sharing a bottle of alcohol. A couple of scantily clad girls are giggling alongside them. A few other people are standing around as music blares from the bar outside.
