“Still.It’s so amazing.”Bailey grinned back at me then she tilted her head as a look of consideration swept over her face.“Wait, what did you get in for?Do they admit kickass drummers?I thought it was all classical stuff.”
I sighed.I really didn’t want to take this little jaunt down memory lane.“I was admitted for music composition.Writing, not playing.You guys ready to go again?”
I jumped up from my slouch and headed for my kit before either of them replied.No doubt they were exchanging looks behind my back.
“So…” Lark drawled as she settled behind her keyboard and a feeling of dread pooled in my stomach.
I really didn’t want to talk about it.
Any of it.
“We still haven’t settled on a name,” Lark finally drawled.
Relief left me a little light-headed.“That’s because you’re still pushing for something with goddess in it.Not a fan.”
I didn’t want any connection to the Tin Gods.We were our own band with our own sound and talent.
“Fine.”Lark pouted exaggeratedly.“What’s your suggestion then?”
“I don’t know.I just want something with meaning.”Groaning, I finger combed my hair in agitation.I put my heart and soul into my last band only to get screwed over at the eleventh hour.These girls weren’t anything like my last band of assholes, but I’d had a lifetime of betrayals even before my asshole ex.
It was hard to trust anyone.
But I was really trying with Lark and Bailey.For the first time in a long time, it felt like I’d finally found my place, and it was with these girls.Awesome women I’d literally do anything for.I had a shovel in my trunk and everything.
“You’re both overthinking it.”Bailey laughed.“Do you seriously think the guys in 3 Doors Down gave it this much thought?”
I scowled.“I didn’t get any say in my last band’s name, and I’ll be damned if that horror show happens again.”
“Aw, come on.”Lark smirks.“Alien Attraction isn’t that bad.”
“It is when it’s your boyfriend who comes up with it!”I exclaimed.“Do you know the complex that gave me?”
“You gotta love the alliteration though,” Lark replied seriously before nodding.“But agreed.Your ex was a tool.”
“A teeny, tiny tool, who shouldn’t live rent free in your head for another second.”Bailey frowned at me.“You gotta let that shit go.Don’t let a boy be a reason you do anything.Or keeps you from doing something.”
“You don’t have to tell me.”I scoffed.“I learned that lesson the hard way.Juilliard?The real reason I didn’t go?I ran away with Mr.Tiny Tool.I threw away my future because of a boy.Never again.”
For a second it felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room.I was back in that damn foster home with Frank trying to break into my room and Parker standing bug-eyed on the other side of my window.
Then I took a breath, and I was back in Lark’s garage with the two of them staring at me.
I didn’t want to know the expression they’d make if I told them the whole story.
So I hitched a shoulder and raised my eyebrows at them.
Lark and Bailey did that thing where they had a whole conversation with each other using only their eyes.
I rolled mine and scoffed.“Can we get back to making music?We have plenty of time to settle on a name.It’s not like we’re turning away gigs.”
“We could be, you know?”Lark raised her eyebrows.“With all the amazing songs the two of you are writing, we should start getting our name out there.”
“And what name would that be?”I drawled.“Ice Queens?Wasn’t that your last brilliant suggestion?”
“Size Queens!”Bailey shouted.“We should let our audiences know what to expect with us.No small dicks need apply.”
Lark and I booed her.After a beat, she laughed.“I wasn’tserious.But I agree with Lark, we really do need a name.”
